New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-19
Anglo-American Memories
LxXII.
THE LATE KNe-soME PERSONAL AND SOCIAL INCIDENTS AN
PRESsfoNs
Copyright. 1910. by George W. sHaley.)


/, talk went on as before. Not an aiusion
to the offence or the offender.
His sense of social responsibility
showed itself in an unexpected form
during the Boer War. There grew up
among the aristocracy passionate
patriotism which sent heads of great
families and elder and younger sons
headlong into the field The King
thought this feeling threatened to have
grave consequences. He approved it,
Of course, and encouraged it. but he
thought limits ought to be set to a
fervor which seemed not unlikely to
extinguish an important part of the
nobility. He sent for a number Of men
in great position who had resolved to
go and advised them u wait. saying,
with his usual good sense:
Enough men of your class have gone
already to show your devotion; more
than are really needed for the purposes
of war Wait a little If matters go
badly it viii be time enough then for
you to depart
One secret of the extraordinary social
power Of both Prince and King lay in
his knowledge of social matters. No
body was SO well informed He had
about him numbers of men. and of
women, who took pains to send him, or
bring him. the earliest account of any
social incident or gossip. It was known
that he had these sources Of inforna-
ton, and that whatever was known to
any one was known to him Such
knowledge as that was a weapon It
was not che of which he made use. or
needed to make use. The fact that he
had it was enough
He liked news also, and took pains
to get it. If there were a political or
Ministerial crisis, you might be sure that
Marlborough House knew all about it
He had a certain number of men in his
suite or Of his acquaintance from whom
he expected, and generally got, early
intelligence There was a sort of COM
petition in supplying him. If you were
first you were thanked. IF you had been
anticipated, he remarked dryly and with
a good humored twinkle in his very
expressive eyes: "Oh, yes very inter
esting, but I heard it an hour ago"
When I was leaving England in 1885
for America the Prince gave me his CT
pher address and asked me to cable him
as often as there was news I thought
might interest him. That may serve to
show US Americans how much he cared
for American matters and how complete
~ he returned the good will we have al
ways borne him since his visit to the
United States in 1850 I told the Prince
my first duty was to The Times" since
was going home as their correspondent.
Subject to that I should be glad to send
him what could. The difference of time
was such that he might well enough get
a dispatch before midnight at MarIbor-
ough House, which could not appear in
print till next morning. But you know
that's just what I should like" said the
Prince
From beginning to end the late King
has lived his life. ever full life, possibly
not always a wise life. Who can be wise
always? Who likes a man who is al
ways wise? His faults in youth were of
a kind which were recognized as belong
ing to men The blood which flowed
strong in his veins came down to. him
through centuries of ancestors TO whom
the restrictions and pudencies, often
hypocritical. of modern days were IN
known. And if we look at the result, at
the crown of all, at the matured charac-
ter which made him one of the greatest
servants of the state, of any state, ever
known in history. need there be any criti-
cism or any regret? Not perhaps the
white flower Of q blameless life, but was
there ever one? But a great human life,
compact Of good and i'll, and so flower
ing into the greatness Of a great King.
Perhaps the best summary is PascaTs:
"Quupe gie est heureWse guand ellie
commence par rGnaour ct qu'eITe fnit par
FGmbHion
For the Kings ambition was never for
himself; he had no need 70 wish TO be
other than he was. 1t was an ambition
for the good of his people c. W. 8