Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-10
OF WALES FRIENDS
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS HAS A
RETIRING DISPOSITION.
Only Small Circle Of People Per-
mitted to Enjoy His Intimacy.
Not Much Of a Talker.
From London Answers.

From London Answers.
What is known in sosiety as the Marl-
borough House set is far smaller now
than when the king was Prince of Wales.
The present heir to the throne though he
tnherits many of the qualities which
have made his majesty the most uni
versally popular monarch that ever wore
the English crown. is admittedly of a
reserved and rather retiring disposition,
and the circle of people who are permitted
to enjoy his intimacy is a small one.
Sir Arthur Bigge. the princes. private
secretary. is rather a taciturn Individual,
and story is told that on one occasion,
when the prince was sitting next to him at
a state banquet at Buckingham Palace,
given by Queen Victoria, his royal high
ness remarked to him humorously: II like
sitting next to you, Sir Arthur, for, like
myself, you prefer thinking to talking
Two great friends of the prince are Lord
Crichton and the Hon. Derek Keppel.
Both are equerries to his royal highness.
Mr.. Derek Keppel. like the prince, takes
a keen interest in foot ball, and when
the latter attends q match is usually
the equerry in attendance on his royal
highness. Lord Crichton is the best shot
in the household and nearly as certain a
marksman as the prince-which Is saying
good deal. Lord Crichton, by the way,
likes to retire to bed early the night be-
fore big shoot, as many sportsmen
jealous of their reputation do.
Canon Dalton. chaplain in the Prince
of Wales household, is held In very high
esteem by the prince. The canon is, of
course, considerably the princes senior
in years, and was at one time his tutor.
Canon Dalton has a rooted objection to
being photographed.
Outside Royal Household.
Outside the members Of the royal house
hold the princes most intimate friends
are. perhaps, Lord Mountstephen and
Lord Iveagh; both frequently have had
the honor of entertaining his royal high
ness in town and at their country houses.
The 9rince, it is we'll known. has a very
great dislike to ceremonial and wishes
to be treated. as far as is consistent with
etiquette. as an ordinary guest wherever
he STAYS. A rather characteristic story
is told Of his royal highness when he was
a guest at a country house party some
years ago. Among the guests was a
young man, who very correctly addressed
the prince as your royal highness," but
he repeated the expression more often
than was necessary. my dear sir" said
the prince at last. II know l am a royal
highness, but please do not remind me Of
the fact so very often"
The prince is not at all as much of a
clubman as was the king when Prince OF
Wales. Indeed, the only club the prince
frequents is the Marlborough. to which
institution all his personal friends belong.
The prince is known not to approve al
together Of club life.
Reformed Club Loafer.
There Is younger son Of we'll known
peer, now farming very extensively In
Canada, who, some years ago. was what
| might be termed a confirmed club loarer.
On one occasion he overheard the prince
| make some remarks about the amount OF
| time many young men nowadays wasted
| in clubs. Two months later the son of the
| peer in question had sailed for Canada.
| But for the princes remarks which /
overheard he said to a friend before he
started, ~ believe l would have gone on
| wasting my time until / was too old to
| be Of any use in the world"
| But perhaps the Prince of Wales really
most intimate friends are his children.
| Not so very long ago the Princess Mary
| expressed wish one day to pay a visit
| to the zoo. The prince had arranged to
leave London for Scotland that afternoon.
but he altered his arr gements and took
, the prip iesss,s Mary Prince Henry to