The Washington herald., 1911-01-31

being less important. are destroyed. Spe-
cial precautiOn is taken when destroy
ing those letters to guard against any
one learning any part Of their contents.
The process used is not a common one.
Each letter is put into a machine which
blackens every particle Of writing. Then
the letters are torn up into diminutive
fragments by one of the Secretarial stafY
in the presence of the Kings private sec
retary. and the pieces are taken away in
bags to a room in the clerical depart
ment where they are burned in the pres
ence of the private secretary.
BY the way. King Georges personal
check book also is in one of the two bu-
reaus mentioned. The King draws. COM
paratively speaking. very few checks, as
all of his private accounts are settled
by his private secretary or through A
clerk in the secretarial department.
The key to the Queens Jewel boxes also
is guarded with great care. 1t is kept in
an iron safe, the key to which is in charge
of one Of the ladies in waiting. 1t is a
small golden key, fastened to link in
a bracelet. worn by the lady in waiting
who has charge OF it,
Queen Mary, like Queen Alexandra be-
fore her. dislikes carrying keys. and rare
ly. if ever. does SO. Queen Victoria re-
tained charge of most of her private
keys herself She carried them in the
pocket Of her skirt with a specially made
! fastener. which precluded any possibility
of the keys falling out
When queen travels. special precau-
ton is taken to safeguard the royal jew
els. They are practically never out of
the sight OF trusted detective until the
destination is reached
Apart from the few small keys attached
to his watch chain, the King of England
carries no keys about his person. One Of
the keys on the royal chain opens a small
safe in which are kept papers and doc
uments pertaining to the private affairs
Of some members of the royal family
who have placed them in lie Kings keep
ing.
Some Of the rulers Of Europe carry no
keys at ALL fearing attempts on their
lives by those who may suspect that those
keys open receptacles containing impor-
tant state papers, &c. A notable excep-
ton is the German Emperor. who, it Is
well known. carries quite a bunch OF
keys. but for the most part to Offices Of
his government. which he visits now and
then quite Unexpectedly. also keys to the
residences of intimate friends. where the
Kaiser not infrequently goes for recre-
alton. meaning in his case conversations
with leading citizens in almost all walks
Of life-merchantS. bankers, manufacture
ers, and industrial leaders. from whom
the indefatigable monarch gathers a
good bit of the information which ulti-
mately guides him in deciding important
questions of domestic policy.
Wilhelm simply '1ets himself in" with
his latchkey to the home Of any of his
! friends whom he has picked out for a
| talk upon a question that happens to
trouble his mind just then. But, of
course. he Is expected. for he is well
guarded. though often he does not know
it. And he has his aid-de-camp on duty
notify the man he has picked out for the
nights victim"
Quite different 1t is with the Gar. 1t
| is true he carried keys also, or, better,
one key, but 1t does not do duty for as
practical purpose as those Of his col
! league at Berlin. 1t Is the key to the
holy shrine of ST. Isidor, the patron saint
of the house Of Romano6. Thither the
| troubled monarch. more often than gen.
orally is believed. wends his sorrowful
steps to pray and TO seek that which
nothing In this world ever win give q
RomanofI on the AusEevite throne. name
| ", rest and contentmsnt. FLANEUR.
(CuvvneAt M u NoOuD NsuUnD8 aun6fnAal