The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-03
PURCHASES INSIGNIA
OF ORDER OF GARTER

Slr hichard made present Of II
TO Lord EeaconsNeid. when the latter
became a Knight of the Garter. on
mis- return from the Congress- OF Bor-
I'm. ia 1873. At BeacOnsneld's death
'Hls JeWeIled star disappeared, and soma
tmr ieter turned up In shop window
at Baden Baden. There was a cOnsid-
cradle cutlery from English people over
the offer OF such an article. even
though a eplica. for public sale. and
4 iumoer OF the admirers of the late
Duke OF Cambridge raised a fund. pur-
nased Il, and presented IL 10 him on
me Diamond Jubilee OF his service
in the British army. OF which he was
pr 20 many decades the commanderin-
hi"f He left II. not to his natural
sons the Fitz-Georges. but to the late
Kind Edward, and 1t Is now In the pos
-s.ion ot King George. together with
that other diamond studded replica OF
the Star OF the Garter. presented TO
him at his coronation. IS the result
OF a public subscription among all tho
Georges OF Great Britain, from peers
to laborers.
It Will De seen from the foregoing
That the Garter insignia which Henry
Chapman has purchased can be nothing
but fac-simile and the price paid
indicates Of course that 1t is not even
studded with the most inconsidera BILE
OF gems.
Cross royal personages
and heirs apparent when they volun-
~ appear III court ana take tHeiE
places in the witness box. instead of
giving testimony in their own palaces
10 comm ssion. or else merely oy
affidavit, is ticklish matter. and un-
less the cross examiner possesses rare
tact. is apt TO create awkward situa-
tons. sometimes pregnant with inJus-
When Sir William Gordon Cumming
was charged with a mistake while card
playing. during the SIN celebrated
game OF oacarat played a, Tranby
Croft. in 1889. he IS said to have given
a written pledge never again to touch
a card. while on the other hand IL is
also stated that every one present at
the game also signed a paper snlemnly
pledgins him or herself not 10 reveal
the affair as long as Sir William ad-
hered to his pledge. In some way the
whole matter became known-not. how
ever. as generally believed. through
the Countess of Warwick since she
was not q member OF the house party,
OF Tranby Croft. Sir William evil
IDENTIFY believed that IL was Mrs. Arthur
wilson who BETRAYED him since whom
forced by his fellow officers of the
scots Guard and by the governing com
mittces of MS club to attempt TO clear
his reputation. it was against his host
css at Tranby Croft that nc brought
his memorable suit for Islander. His
Clarke, former Solicitor General. a
self-made man Of strong character.
but without nnesse or tact. The Prince
Of Wales. 5 one tho members of the
Daccarat party. was invited by Sir Ed =
ward TO furnish his testimony in the
case. and insisted upon doing so in
open court. instead OF shielding him
self behind the prerogatives OF his
rank.
One after another the so-ealled sigma
tories to the pledge OF silence being
under oath. We're asked by Sir Edward
whether they divulged the secret and
= "A tad tar -t,,r- Il
When the heir-apparent took the
the stand Sir Edward oss-eXamined
him with degree of independence
which led those present to believe that
he would mar his prospects of future
prefermcnt. But, neglectlrg, OUT OF
respect for mis- future sovereign. to
ask him the same question--haA hc
broken the pledge ?-the prince, in
view Of the denial OF all the rest was
left To bear the weight OF the obvious
! imputation. Imagine the situation'
on the face of II. at least, the public
was given the opportunity 10 balance
party against the involuntary silence
of the prince. The latter was exceed =
ingly angry and greatly distressed
at the position into which he had been
forced by this piece Of loyal stupidity.
and in private vigorously denied that
he had ever so much as limited about
q scandal.
1t speaks volumes for the late King s
succeeded to the throne. instead OF bar
ring Sir Edward from his court he
bestowed upon him membership in his
Privy Council. II I refer to the above
incident. much discussed in private.
hut never in print, Il is because Sir
sidney Lee, in his much criticized bio
graphy of Edward VII. alludes briefly
10 the Tranby Croft house party.
Prince Napoleon, the Bonapartist
pretender. and his wealthy consort,
Princess Clementine OF Belgium. have
with the help OF the latter's money
purchased the Belgian Chateau and
1000 acre estate of Ronchinne, near
Evrehalles in the neighborhood Of the
French frontier. and will enter into
occupation next week The object OF
this move. of course. IS TO pu; them
selves within easy reach by n:otorcar.
If ihair "a nnrnr acrnss th.a hnrda,-