The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-30
BY la MARau1sE DE FoNrENoY

THOUGH King George has pub
~ licly announced his determine
~ ton to keep np his fathers
racing stable and breeding stud.
yet Edward Wis death is great
misfortune for the English turf: one
which VIII be felt in every department
of racing affairs. Quite a number OF
the principal owners OF racing stables
men who have kept them up at a con
siderable expense from Il sense of OBJ
llsatlon to- what they consider due
the national sport, will now retire
from the turf. They would have done
SO years ago. by way of protest against
or less dishonest business gamble
what was formerly tho sport OF men
OF birth and honor. had 1t not been
now that he has gone ii is doubtful
whether there Is any influence that
vent them from putting into cxecu-
ton their Intentions
How much the turf In England de-
pended upon the late King was best
shown by the fact that when 1t was
known that he would be present at
the Newmarket meetings the latter
We're crowded. whereas, II his absence
was assured, the attendance was abb
solutely nil.
King George. is much fonder Of rid
ing than his father. has an Infinitely
better seat in the saddle. owing to the
fact that he was taught riding by
an Englishman. whereas Edward VII.
received his instruction in equestrian
ism from a Hessian. selected for the
purpose by the late Prince Consort.
But he does not care for racing espe-
cially for racing as now conducted.
while Queen Mary is seldom or never
seen on race-course.
r: announced that the King has
leased his fathers racing stud to Lord
Derby. This does not, however. mean
that any of the horses entered for the
part therein. being all disqualified by
Edward Wis death. The Earl of
Derby. who will be remembered by all
those American Journalists who were
In South Africa as special correspond
entS during the Boer War as censor
of the press. under the name of Lord
Stanley ut was during. his fathers
lifetime), is one of the three so-called
"catskin" Earls. the other two being
the Earls of Shrewsbury and of Hunt
ingdon. That Is to say. they are the
only peers of their rank whose earl
doms date from before the seventeenth
century, and derive this peculiar. ap-
pellation, not, as some people believe.
because cats skin was used In lieu of
er1nine for the bars that adorn the
peers. but because prior to the seven
teenth century earls were privileged
to wear four bars of erminc. as the
narquesses do to-day. instead or the
present times restricted. This was de-
scribed in the corrupt Franco-English
of medieval times as "quatre skins.
quatre being the French for four,
and which was naturally shortened
into ''catskins.
It is interesting to recall that Lord
Derby might have been to-day occupy
ing tho throne of Greece as It's ruler.
n. q TS1~ h RI 7FNt
his grandfather preferred the exist,
ence and prestige Of great BRUSH
noble of enormous wealth and ROYAL
ancestry Che is descended from Ed
mushroom, turbulent kingdom in the
Levant. For the Greeks In the early
sixties offered their crown. first of all
to King Edwards sailor brother, Prince
Coburg. and after that to the tour
tenth Lord Derby 1t was the rejec-
ton of their offer, first by Prince Al
fred, and then by Lord Derby; ,, when
OF Denmark, who now reigns as George
| Lord Beaconstield condemned the
Lord Derby of tho day for declining
the crown of Greece. railing at him
for being utterly devoid OF iHlag'ha-
Eagle and Child.
The Lords of Derby had, however.
already had some experience OF sover-
eighty, for, from the reign Of Henry
of Derby, towards the close Of the
reign Of George III, that is to say. for
over 800 years, they exercised rights
Of sovereignty over the Isle OF = Man asA1
subject to the suzerainty OF the BRUSH
crown. The Earls of Derby We're, In
fact. styled "Ikings Of Man" and not
long before the death of the lato earl
he presented to King Victor Fm!nanuHl
coins in the world. a series OF coins
mlnted during the reign Of the house
of Stanley over the Isle OF Man, and