The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-06
PERSONAL SIDE.
King Edward Known to More
People, 1t Is Said,
Than Any Other Monarch That
Ever Lived.
POPULAR WITH ALL.
Fond Of Travel, Sport and of
Children.
Anecdotes and "reminiscences of
His Life.
POPULAR WITH ALL.

|
! King Edward, by reason of his long
years as a traveller when the Prince
of Wales, has been said to have been
known by sight to more people than
any sovereign who ever lived.
He had visited practically all of the
civilized lands long before the time
when he was called upon to assume
the throne, and everywhere he was
greeted by great crowds, always good
natured, which cheered him and wish
ed him well.
| His love of travel, his fondness for
| sports, and his ability to enjoy joke
! made Edwards life prolific of anec-
dotes. His love for children, too, has
| been the basis of many kindly stories.
The extent to which the term the
| business king" was justified when ap-
piled to King Edward is illustrated by
a story told of him shortly after the
death of Queen Victoria. He had two
relatives "in trade" a state of being
on which English society is prone to
frown, the relatives being the brothers
of the late Duke of Argyll.
An intimate friend asked the king
how he liked it.
"You know the great firm of -"
he asked. well, I would go into
partnership with them tomorrow If
they would have me-"
AS an indication of the kings kindly
nature a story is told Of how he went
to the aid of a blind beggar trying to
cross Pail Mall in the midst of heavy
traffic. AS soon as he observed the
plight of the blind man he went to his
rescue, took him by the arm and led
him safely across the street.
The incident was forgotten until
some time afterwards, when a massive
silver inkstand was received at MARI
borough house bearing this inscrip-
ITO the Prince of Wales: From one
who saw him conduct a blind beggar
across the street. In memory of
kind and Christian act"
In Marlborough house there was a
small marble slab on which sat small
hottie of cognac and a decanter OF
water To what purpose these were
put was not known. No one ever had
been seen to use either, and their pres
ence liz the entrance was a puzzle to
many. They represented emergency
precautions and were the result of an
odd incident in the early life of Edward
while Prince of Wales.
A mayor from one Of the northern
towns had come to Marlborough house
to see the future king with reference
to a proposed visit to his town. The
dsy was hot and the mayor embarrass-
eo. The result of the heat and the
enabarra ssmeut was that the frightened
visitor tainted, at the IeeC Oh Ino pIJHCS
and before he had spoken a dozen
words.
A restorative was called f3r, but the
butler could not be found and there was
considerable delay. After some time
the liquor was secured, the mayor re-
viVed, and put at his ease so far as
possible.
After that experience the cordial was
kept where 1t could be found readily in
case other visitors met the same fate
IS the mayor from the northern town.
Once while travelling in Paris as the
Prince of Wales the king went into
picture gallery, and while busy sight
seeing was observed by two Americans.
One offered to wager that he was the
Prince of Wales and bet of $40 was
made. 1t happened that the remarks
of the bettors had been over
heard by the prince and the members
of his party. Soon one of the two men
approached one of the companions of
the prince and inquired who he was.
THE Earl of Chester" was the re-
ply.
The American returned to his COM
panion and admitted that he had lost
the bet He was the winner, but the
victim of a cruel joke on the part of the
Prince, who also was the Earl of Ches-
ter.
On some of the hunting excursions
which he was fond of taking while
Prince of Wales, Edward ran counter
of the prejudices of farmers against
the hunters who tore down their fences
and tramped over their fields, and in
these experiences the fact that he was
the future kind did not alter the case
a bit.
On one occasion while Edward was
an undergraduate at Oxford he with an
equerry was taking a cross cut over
fields when they ran into an angry
farmer who was f1ourishing a pitchfork,
The equerry attempted to explain
who it was that was crossing the fields.
prince or no prince" replied the
farmer. 'FPn have sovereign before
you pass"
The money was paid and the prince
remarked afterwards that "a de-
termined man could do wonders with a
pitchfork and a little persuasion"
King Edwards good humor was pro-
verbal There are few men in private
life who could face the house of lords.
have their headgear crushed down over
their ears by the swinging fists of en-
thusiasstic friends: and and yet emerge
natr-ed laugh. Yet King Edward
actually passed this test
History seldom records an instance
of any subject having struck the king
and vet survived and being accounted
one of the most estimable of men. This
record, however, belongs to the veteran
Lord WemysS, who recently celebrated
his eighty-third birthday. The incident
occurred in the house of lords.
There was a vigorous debate on. Ths
king, then heir apparent, was seated on
the cross benches listening eagerly. I'M
mediately behind him Lord Wemyss
arose to address the house. He be-
traved his earnestness in the subject az
issu~ by the wild, vigorous swinging of
his arms.
More than once the earPs fists swoop-
ed dangerously near the princes shin
ing hat With a period of eloquence
the venerable peer concluded his ad-
dress Down came his arms in a
gesture delivered with all the vigor he
could command plump on the crown IF
the princes high hat, driving it down
and over the royal eyes.
The earls argument ended right