The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-27
Prince de LignO Does Not Know Us.

Having favored Washington with a
weekend visit and caught fleeting
glimpse of the Capitol, the Monument,
and the White House-always IN pleasing
ocular evidence to the average visitor
and noted, in passing, a few other things
not TO be overlooked, including the
weather, Prince Henry de Ligno, attache
Of the Belgian Legation. is sojourning In
New York. which. he avows. he finds
decidedly more to his liking than the
National Capital,
This frank, impetuOus avOwal fills our
soul with grief! It would I'll it with
resentment but for the self-restraint
which we constantly and scrupulously
practice.
Washington is obviously the victim of
an all too hastily formed impression on
the princes part-a taxicab impression.
perhaps-and It Is only fair for him to
give the city another chance, a closer
view and more deliberate inspection. be-
fore stamping US forever with his dis
approval
a weekend stay is not enough. Last
Saturday and Sunday the sky was over
cast the atmosphere chill and heavy. and
January doing her worst to make things
disagreeable and forb!dding. This &C
counts for it all, we are sure.
Prince de Ligno must see Washington
under brighter auspices; see it Ieisurely,
and allow Washington 10 catch more than
a feeting glimpse Of him. He should see
+ street on a sunshiny afternoon. be-
tween and O'clock. and let its adorable
habitues, the prettiest on earth, see and
inspect him. He should stroll up or down
Connecticut avenue at a propitious hour,
when fashion is out for an airing, and
permit that gay. discriminating throng to
take his august measure. washington
would then become to him a veritable JOY
forever, we truly believe.
The prince, We are told, has spent much
Of his life in Paris. More recently. how
ever. he has served his kingdom-served It
with pTincely grace, no dOubt-at the
that wherever he goes now he finds
the changed environment somewhat
soberly marked. But Washington. after
al. is not so lacking in Partisan charms
as he rashiy concluded after his cursory
weekend look about, As for Morocco. we
lack intimate knowledge but have always
been given TO understand that love Of
that Oriental capital was largely an ae-
CURED taste, quite easy to be overcome,
II one would only try. We fear the prince
is not trying. Really. he has not given
Washington half chance-not one-tenth
OF chance indeed. An acquaintance
with Washington is not TO be formed by
fitting through our midst In a taxicab.
Prince de Ligno is sure to tire Of New
York He viii return to us Il is the
lure Of the Great White Way, mayhap.
that keeps him there. It dazzles prince
and plebeian alike, enmeshes them by its
tawdry splendOr. diverts them for a while,
yet pals upon them in time. So in the
case of his highness it will be. He will
find it neither Paris nor Morocco, and will
willingly break away. After that-well.
it win be ali the easier then to like Wash
ington. He win not merely become recon-
ciled, but actually fall In love with this
fair. pleasure-loying, and fascinating
American Capital, which, in cordial turn.
in keeping with its characteristic fondness
for titled visitors will readily erobroc,
him with all its heart
Prince Henry &c Ligno has something
yet TO see and learn. First Impressions
often are misleading, and we forgive him
much. On his next weekend visit we
hope TO hear he has been taken in proper
and capable hand-by Capt. Archibald
Butt. for example-and shown what we
have to offer. Then all VIII be well.