The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-05-07
Played a Shrewd Hand In the
, Political Game, Was Famous
| As a Sportman and a FavOrite
[ on Two Continents.

ham, small village in the county of
Norfolk. There he lived the life of
an English country gentleman.
The affection and esteem in which
the prince held were never better ex-
emplifed than in December, 1871,
when he was attacked by typhoid
fever and for some weeks hung be-
tween life and death. The anxiety of
the public was intense, and the news
of his recovery was greeted with
great Joy.
Later the prince visited India and
ireland, engaged in solidifying the
empire. He started intvrcolonial and
international exhibitions. He encour-
aged and literally subscribed to pub.
lie charities. He was a liberal patron
Of art and Of the drama. 1t is impos-
social factor. He dictated fashions
and dominated manners. On him fell
the full responsibility Of the arrange
ments for the celebration of his
mothers jubilee in 1887.
In 1862, accompanied by Dean Stan
ley, he made a journey to the east, in
including visit to Jerusalem. The
young prince was now of marriage
able age. Speculation was rife as to
who would he the lady of his choice.
The question was settled in the early
part of 1868, when his engagement
was announced to Princess Alexan-
dra, the eldest daughter of the king
of Denmark. She was three years
younger than the prince and, though
comparatively poor, was beautiful and
accomplished. The marriage was eel
ebrated in st. Georges chapel, Wind
sor castle, on March 10. 1868.
All England rejoiced over the event.
Tennyson, who had just been made
poet laureate. wrote one Of his fine
poems, "A Welcome to Alexandra"
on this occasion. The princess soon
made herself very popular with all
classes of the British public, not only
by her outward grace OF manner, but
also by her virtues and amiability.
The prince himself had always shared
in this popularity, although the stern
err puritanism Of his potential sub
stories Of his dissipation.
It is impossible not to mention two
notable things-the baccarat scandal
and the death of the princes eldest
son and his heir, the Duke Of Clar-
ence. The card scandal came up in
the winter Of 1890 while the prince
was visiting Mrs. Arthur Wilson at
Tranby Croft. Sir William Gordon
Cumming, cavalry officer of good
family, was charged with cheating. 1t
was said that he increased his stake
after seeing that the cards were in
his favor. II was famous trial; the
prince was witness, and Sir Will
liam Gordon-C Cumming lost He mar
ried the daughter of an American mil
lionaire, Miss Garner of New York,
and retired into private life.
Two years later the Duke of Clar-
ence fell victim to the grip. 1t was
a great blow to both the prince and
princess, bereavement from which
they never fully recovered. After the
funeral the prince retired to the deep
est privacy. 1t was many months be-
fore he could take up his public du-
ties.
King Edwards Politics.
No political party had ever been
able to rightly claim the king of Eng
land as an adherent, or even as an
active sympathizer. He had always
managed to keep conspicuously clear
OF party or sectional interests.
In 1868 the late king Of Sweden in
itiated Albert Edward into the mys'
teries of Free Masonry. His father
had refused to associate himself with
the craft, but the prince had views
OF his own. In 1875 he was elected
grand master of England. AL one
Free Mason dinner, when the prince
presided, the list of subscriptions
reached the enormous sum of $3.50,
900. the largest amount ever raised
ut a festival dinner.
On Aug. 0, 1902, following the death
OF Queen Victoria, the prince was
crowned king. his coronation having
been postponed from June 26 because
OF Illness. The coronation was one
of the most notable events of modern
times.
Americans knew the king as Q
game sportsman. He began that ca
reer early. When he was only II
years old, accompanying his father
on deer stalking expeditions, he was
the best shot In his family. In man
hood the royal colors-purple, golt
band, scarlet sleeves and black vel
vet cap with gold fringe-was a fam
iliar sight on all British race courses
of the first class. His name
often stood high in the list of win
ming owners. He was generally agreed
to be capital judge of horse. Hi
greatest triumph was the winning o
the Derby by Persimmon in 1896.
Effect Of Kings Death.
From a political and other point
of view the death OF the king Is re
garded as particularly disastrous. Th'
greatest constitutional crisis in gen
erations hangs over Great Britain
King Edward was familiar with al
the features OF the situation, whicl
will be particularly trying to his sue