The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-29
GREAT LOVE
STORIES
OF HISTORY
GEORGE " AND MRS,
FTTZHERBERT
BY Albert Payson Terhune
Copyright. by -. Aaiaor.l

Copyright. by tas AarAor.l
Al the time when King George III.
of England was losing his long light
against the American colonies the cid
est Of his nine sons was beginning TO
cause that stubborn ruler almost as
much sorrow as was our revolution.
This son. George Augustus Freder-
lex. prince of Wales, was later to be
come George N. and the greatuncle
OF EngIand's present king. He was
about the most worthless specimen OF
humanity that ever disgraced the Brit
ish throne. Nevertheless, as young
man, his good looks. magnetic person
ality and surprising charm of man
ner won for him the title OF the first
gentleman of Europe" His intensely
proper old father brought him up in
rigid teachings OF morality and pro-
priety. But before he was - the
prince plunged into every known vice.
Choosing for his friends the widest
youths Of the day, George ran the
gamut of low dissipation. His morals
were the scandal Of the court. His
gambling was worse than reckless. He
drank heavily. Worse than all. he
had not an atom of honesty in his
makeup. He cheated outrageOusly
"welched" on his gambling debts and
employed such crooked methods il
games of chance that the Jockey club
is said TO have refused him the priVi-
leges Of the betting ring. Nor was il
only in sporting matters that this first
,, gentleman of Eu-
rope" proved him
self corrupt. He
violated England's constitution. was a
most abandoned liar. false to his tru-
est friends and devoid of the first prin-
ciples Of decency.
Americans who detest the memory
OF George III. for that monarch's treat
ment of our country may be interest
ed to know that he suffered untold
misery for his sons vile behavior and
was forever involved in trouble over
the princes endless misdeeds. The
young man allied himself with the
statesman Fox and others of his IA
theirs political foes. His gambling
debts were so huge that parliament
was frequently called on to appropri-
ate money for their payment. His in
come of 100000 year was spent be-
fore it was drawn.
In 1885, when he was only IS, the
prince fell in love with a widow, Mrs.
FitZherbert. who was six years older
than himself. She was different from
most Of the women he had met in that
she seemed more or less Indifferent to
his Vaccinations. This served to make
the spoiled youth all the more eager
to win her. Mrs. Fitzherbert had be-
gun life as Maria Anne Smythe. a girl
of no especial rank or expectations.
At ~ she married one Edward Weld.
who died few months later At %
she married Thomas Fitzherbert, and
at % was once more widow. Later,
she set herself to win Prince George.
George. finding her apparently cold
to his suit, begged her to be his wife.
and she at last consented. Their re-
ligiOns differed. This fact of itself
according to the laws of the time, for
babe the unicn. Moreover, by the
royal marriage act. the prince of
Wales could not marry without the
consent of the king or OF parliament.
Neither consent was given. Neverthe-
ding occurred. The ceremony was per-
formed in secret. Yet rumor of it
| reached parliament Fox asked George
if the report was true. George vehe-
mently denied it. Fox, on the strength
! of the princes assurance, made for
NAL denial in parliament that the
prince was married. 4 friend. meet
ing the statesman next day. said:
Il hear. Mr.. Fox. you have denied
the fact of a marriage between the
prince of Wales and Mrs. Fitzherbert.
was present at the wedding"
George, cornered in the lie, declared
that Fox had never received such de-
NAL from him, and said Indignantly to
Mrs. Fitzherbert:
Maria, have you heard what Fox is
saying? He actually declares we are
not married.
Mrs. Fitzherbert's influence on
| George was all for good. She brought
out the best side Of his nature and
was faithful, devoted wife to him.
Ten years later a match was
| planned between the prince of Wales
| and princess Caroline of Brunswick
| The king promised to pay George 5
debts if he would marry the princess
George agreed
But the marriage
ure. George treated Caroline with
| brutal contempt, neglected her and
| spread false reports as to her char