The Washington herald., 1911-02-08

According to Lord Rosebery, to pre-
pare the speeches of royal parsonage.
such as King Edward, ranging, as they
do. over almost every subject under the
sun, from art to agriculture and from
chemistry to cattle-breedinE. one would
require the combined eloquence Of De-
mosthenes and the varied erudition Of an
encyclopaedia. So said Lord Rosebery
not very long since: and. indeed. it is
only necessary to look over list OF
the subjects which have inspired the
oratory of King Edward or King George
to marvel how one little head could carry
all the knowledge displayed by them.
AS a matter of fact, no one head could
carry such encyclopaedia knowledge as
these royal speeches exhibit. and it often
becomes necessary to employ the prod
uct of a good many clever brains.
Although King George. like his father.
by natural aptitude and long training is
a ready and ELOQUENT speaker. he has
neither the time nor the knowledge
necessary personally to prepare the
speeches ne has to deliver. Take. for
example, the opening of new wing to
4 hospital. on which occasion it is neces-
sary to give a history of the hospital
and its work. to refer to the distinguished
men It has given to the world, and to
the part it has played in advancing
medical and surgical science. Now, these
are all matters which call for expert
knowledge on a subject of which the
King is naturally as ignorant as the
average layman.
iS this TINA that tho hasn't II
authorities come gallantly to his assist
ance and practically prepare his speech
for him. A committee Of the principal
officials is formed, the records Of the hos
pftal are carefully searched, and the
result of the committees work is en-
bodied in a speech Of perhaps an hours
duration. This speech, or statement, IS
then carefully revised and cut down to
the required length, usually quarter OF
an hour at the outside. and Of course in
vested with as much interest and literary
merit as the committee can put into it.
The next step is to make four type
written copies of the speech. Armed with
these. the committee arranges q confer
ence with tn Kings secretary. who
makes such suggestions and amendments
as he deems advisable and submits his
revised proof to his majesty. who fire.
uuently rewriteS It to suit his individual
taste. When it has thus received the
royal approval the manuscript is sent to
the printers and reproduced In purple
letters on vellum, in which gorgeous form
it is sent to his majesty.
In his early years. King Edward used
to learn these prepared speeches by heart.
It may be said that he was aided by an
excellent memory. which. IN conjunction
with his natural ability. Of course. en-
abled him to deliver them with all the
effect OF impromptu utterances. On one
occasion, 1t is said. when he was to make
a speech at the Royal Academy banquet.
he had omitted memorixing. and found.
much to his dismay, that he had in some
manner forgotten to take tho prepared
COPY of his speech along with him. He
proved equal to the emergency, however,
and. trying as It was to an inexperienced
speaker, he delivered one OF the; best
speeches Of his life, to the surprise and
delight Of his auditors, to whom he mad
confessed his predicament. SO
In later years, when experience had
begotten confidence on his part his mar
esty Vas always content to master the
facts and figures to b used IN his
speeches ana 70 trust to the inspiration
Of the moment Tor their delivery. How
happy. this msthod Invariably pFoveo-
how naturally and gracefully ~ ex-
peoaood himsolE-&hooo who Wefe @ygtv-
ilagod 20 hoas him Wsll Amsw.S eE
"llng 0dWax6s happasst ss6orts. nvs
koeo 1essoaSy. s'v1gU thqeo which weks
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