The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1910-05-07
EDWARD VII, LATE
KING OF ENGLAND.
BY JAMES A. EDGERTON.

Edward VII. was tact. He was
the master Of 81. IL, "T fash
ion. of etiquette. He WAS IN
embodiment of that much mi>uSed
word gentleman" an incarnation Of
the conventional and the correct, He
was high priest of the gosi'ei If ,iiS-
tom With him courtesy n:,> Il tine
art and usage was the highest :;niA"ri-
Nv. While his life knew m;.ny So AN
dals, they were so decorous that they
were forgiven. He was the gentleman
even In his vices AS Prince of Wales
his role was difficult one difficult IN
the sense that, while he was next 10
the throne and often called upon TO
represent the throne, yet he must never
overstep the bounds and assume any
of the prerogatives of the>crown. The
universal testimony is that he was let
ter perfect In the role As king ne
showed another aspect Of the same
quality. He was his own foreign min
lister. the first diplomat of Europe
Here be was in larger field of form.
the etiquette of nations. Ii was the
one held which by habit and training
be was best fitted to fill. His nice
observance of the proprieties extend
I'd to internal affairs. While he was
king in fact as well as name. he never
went beyond the close limits that free
England had set about his Office. 10
put it In a word, he never made breaks.
Despite his punctilious regard for
81 10 said that the laTG'
king personally disliked fuss and
feathers. II so he managed to conceal
the fact most effectualiy! He prob
ablye had more fuss and feathers than
any other man on earth. except the
kaiser. If he did net enjoy that sort
Of thing he was both a great martyr
and q great actor. 1t does seem rather
amusing that modern up to date ns-
lions rig out their kings Ia plumes and
liter and ribbons like schoolgirl or
butler, but perhaps 1t Is no more
amusing than the fact that they have
kings at all. Maybe the Two things go
together and are In keeping. But 1t
is not surprising that the gorge OF
full grown man should rise at 1t. s"
II edward did not like fuss and feath-
ers the fact Is much to his credit
His Genial Popularity.
Another thing is to be said in his
favor. Aside from his office. he was
popular as man. This was true
when he was Prince of Wales and
true when he was king. 1t was ire
auently stated that if Great Britain
were a republic and plain Albert Ed
ward Victim offered himself as an in
dependent candidate for the presiden-
CIV he would have been elected by an
immense majority. An amusing though
touching illustration of his general
popularity comes to mind. An Aus;
tralian gentleman was once in London
and. observing carriage with two
mounted policemen In front asked his
own bus driver as to what parsonage
was inside the closed carriage
What Her. was the reply. Don't
cher know? That's is most gryshus!"
What. The king:'
..Yuss: that's i'm, right enough.
Surprise was expressed that the es-
corr was so small. How were these
two policemen to protect the king in
case of row? The driver laughed.
Why, COS goin' to 'urt i'm. mister
There aini no one In london 'ud touch
air Of rs .ead. FPS good bloke- e
u.s..
This expressed the feeling Of the
man In tn. street. who In the ease Of
dsneor. ~-~"'d have been his sover
eisn's volunteer bodyguard. 1t va.
the conviction that Edward was "a
good bloke," which was felt not only
throughout Great Britain and her colo
MES, but In practically all lands. that
gave him his hold on the heart Of the
world His efforts TO end the Boel
war and magnanimous treatment OF
the burghers, his friendship for peace
and diplomatic alliances with other Eu.
ropean nations looking to a prevention
Of war, his aloofness from factionism
and party. his personal leaning toward
democracy. also toward advancement
and huma nitarian measures, his kind.
~ attitude to Ireland and furtherance
Of liberal concessions in her behalf
his gentlemanly and considerate bear
ing, his exploits as hunter of big
game. his success as a farmer and
raiser Of prize stock, his popularity
among the tenants on his, estates his
social qualities and reputation as q
good fellow and sport. his model quail
ties as a husband and father. his com
mon sense and tactful department. til