The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-16
Xavier Paoli in october Mcclure's.


INN ascending the British throne
King Edward did not sacrifice to
~ his new responsibilities either his
old friends or his taste for travelling. 1t
is true that, when staying on the conti-
nent, he led a more sedentary, more re-
tired life than before; but he knew ev-
erything saw everything and kept in
touuch with everybody who interested
him. He worked prodigiousy. whether
on the train, on board his yacht or at
the hotel; and he was remarkably skill
full in combining serious matters with
amusement.
L may say that it was during these
last nine years that / most often had
the occasion and the opportunity to live
in the immediate circle of Edward VII
AS matter of fact l accompanied him
on all his journeys on French soil; and
l will now try to recall these quite re-
cent memories.
The King was fond of travelling, but
he liked to have everything arranged
and settled beforehand. He had In
herited his mothers methodical mind.
He was very particular about the de-
tails of his journeys and extraordinary"
clever at insuring his own comfort.
soon as he had decided upon going to
the continent-and he generally fixed
the date two months in advance-he be-
gan by sending for his courier, M. Fehr.
NJ. Fehr was a Swiss by birth and had
begun by being a curier for a well
known tourist agency. In that capacity
he had often been intrusted with the
arrangements for the journeys of the
| Prince of Wales and he had the good
luck to secure the princes favor. This
| was the starting point of his fortunes.
| The prince took him into his own serv-
| ice; and when, at last, King Edward
assembled the throne. M. Fehr found him
self raised to the title of "the Kings
courier" He was highly intelligent,
very active and wonderfully able man.;
and he knew how to arrange all the
particulars of journey, settle the whole
programme, assume the entire RESPONSE
| bilty and look after his royal masters
! interests. 1t came within his province
to choose the royal residences, to make
term with railways, to engage the
Kings rooms at hotels and to pay the
|
hotel keepers when he thought that the
charges had been laid on too thick"
for the matter of that, he did not hest
tate to insist on reductions that some
| times came to as much as so per cent.
His rough appearance and loud way Of
talking made 1t difficult to oppose him.
The Kings suite, when travelling, was
| comparatively small. 1t usually con-
sisted of two equerries and a physi-
clan. Gen. Stanley Clarke for a long
time formed part of this little peripa-
tetio court in the capacity of chief
equerry to the King; he was afterward
appointed to the office of clerk marshal.
| The equerries-in- ordinary, who took
turns in accompanying his majesty.
were Col. Fritz Ponsonby, the son of
Gen. Sir Henry Ponsonby, who always
travelled with Queen Victoria; Col. Sir
| Arthur Davidson, Capt. the Hon. Sey-
mour ]. Fortescue and the Hon. John
H. Ward And the doctor invariably
chosen was that good Sir James Reid,
a frank, loyal scotchman. whose mex
haustible gayety delighted the whole
court
The staff of servants included two
Wallets and two footmen. The first valet.
M Meidinger, was an Austrian by birth.
He filled the offices of groom of the
chambers and butler Of the sovereign S
household whenever his majesty was
travelling incognito. The King, whom he
had served for IS years, was very
much attached to him and allowed him
certain familiarities. 1t was he who
awoke his majesty every morning; and
when he entered the room, the King.
still half asleep, regularly asked him
the same question:
whats the weather doing today,
Meidinger?"
Meidinger also put out the King
things, brought him the newspapers,
and made sure that his royal master had
everything that he wanted; for the King
always dressed alone.
Hawkins, the second valet, was an
Englishman. He looked after all the
details to which the dignity of the first
valet did not allow him to stoop. One
of his chief duties was to make the
royal bed.