The Washington herald., 1911-10-03
Late Kings Letters
Not to Be Published

There is no truth in the state
ment, which made the round Of the
London press the end of last month,
that King Edwards letters and papers
are to be edited for publication by the
Duke of Argyll. husband Of the late
Kings sister, the Princess Louise, as
sisted by King George and Queen Alex
andra. hear that the story that a
quantity OF King Edwards correspon-
dence has been sent to Balmoral in
order that King George may compile
selections for publication is an invention.
There will be no question of pub
fishing any part of the late Kings let
ters and papers for many years to come,
seeing that the world is still awaiting
the appearance of the letters of Queen
Victoria, covering the last forty years
of her reign. This does not mean that
the Duke of Argyll may not compile
one of those authorized" biographies
which are of little interest and Of no
historical value, but it is safe to pre-
dict that no correspondence of any i'm
portance would be contained in any such
conventional work.
There was an immense gathering last
month at the "Braemar fest" The King
and Queen drove over from Balmoral,
accompanied by Lord Rosebery. Admiral
Keppel. Mr.. Birrell. and the gentlemen
and ladies in waiting. This gathering,
which was started in 1916, benefited
greatly by the active support of Queen
Victoria, who enjoyed the games and
took a keen delight in the so-called
muster Of the clan" On the other hand.
King Edward was bored by the whole
affair He laughed at the clans. recog-
nizing the absurdity of the business.
which reached its climax in the year
when the late Sir Charles Forbes ar
rived from Newe with his Highland
ers."
The fact is that that Balmoral and
Dun "Highlanders' are nothing but serv-
ants Of the estate, gamekeepers. and
gillies. and the alleged clanship is
piece of fantastical nonsense. Besides,
the immediate surroundings in the Prin-
cess Royal Park at Braemar are not so
picturesque as when the gathering was
held at Invercauld, or Old Mar Lodge.
Court ceremonials which are held un-
der exceptional conditions invariably re-
suit in all kinds of ''tracasseries" and
disappointments. A Ievee and drawing
room are 10 be held at Calcutta at the
end Of December. and any one gifted
with ordinary common sense would sup
pose that an individual on the vice-regal
list would be qualified. as a matter OF
course, to attend one or the other Of
these ceremonials. 1t appears. however.
that the question as TO admission has
been referred to London. and it may
be hoped that the decision of the court
authorities will permit the attendance Of
all on the vice-regal list.
The matter is exciting considerable dis
cussion at Calcutta. 1t would be absurd
to apply in India any system OF ex-
clusion, considering that the courts and
levees in London are now attended by
such vast mobs, including most literally
all sorts and conditions of men and
women. It may be hoped, il the de-
cision Of the court officials, who are
usually saturated with pedantry and
prejudice, is against the vice-regal list.
that the government will take the mat
ter in hand. as the royal visit to Call
cutta will only do harm II II produces
irritations and heartburnings. Cabinet
ministers will take a larger view of the
affair than court functionaries.
In view Of the durbar 1t was announced
that the headquarters of the government
Of India would remain at Simla to the
time Of the viceroy's departure to Delhi,
and that the removal Of the different
departments to Calcutta would be left to
the discretion Of those in charge. The
result is that all the ofices are to be
transferred to Calcutta, as usual, in
November. with the exception of the
public works department and revenue
and agriculture department. over which
the Hon. r. w. Carlyle presides. Mr.
Carlyle has decided that these two de-
partments shall winter in Simla, only
camp Offices" with a small proportion
Of the staff, being taken down to Cal
cutta.
This order has naturally created a
feeling OF hardship among the clerks
who are to stay at Simla. Most of them
are Indians from the plains who are
not acclimatized to the rigors of win
ter in the hills, nor is there accommoda-
ton at Simla suitable for the cold sea-
son, most Of the houses they occupy in
the summer being unprovided with fire.
places and chimneys Their discomfort
is aggravated by the fact that they will
be deprived of the chance Of seeing the
King and Queen, which the clerks Of the
other departments will enjoy at Calcutta.
The order is presumably the outcome
of zeal for economy, but why 1t should
be practiced in the case of these two
departments alone is inexplicable, and
under the circumstances the proceeding
seems to be decidedly unfair to the men
concerned.
Prince Arthur of Connaught, who was
present at the nuptials of Prince Ivan,
eldest son Of the Grand Duke Constan-
tine Nicolajewitch of Russia and Prin-
cess Helena Of Servia, as the representa-
tive of the King of England, and who
thereupon visited the Crown Prince and
Crown Princess of Sweden at their
chateau Of Drottingholm, near Stock
holm. and returned to England and pro-
ceeded to Balmoral on a visit to King
George and Queen Mary. Under the old
system the bridegroom would also have
been a grand duke and an imperial high
ness, but the new family status Of the
house of Romanoff, which was adopted
by command of the Inflated late Car
in 1882 provides that this title and style
are to be enjoyed only by the sons and