The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-15

queen N1ctOfla-s piahe' ioi NS- $3.50
riage Of King George TO the present
Czarina and their Illustration now have
come to light for the first time. Appar-
entity mo Queen had set her heart upon
King George Duke OF York, as he then
wasJ wedding the beautiful Princess
Aiix of Hesse. who was ultimately led
to the altar by Nicholas IL. On more
than one occasion her majesty proposed
to her son, then the Prince OF Wales
later King Edward. that the Duke OF
York should be pressed to marry the
Princess Of Hesse. Edward, however
had decided notions regarding marriages
of,convenience, and he declined to enter
into his mothers plans, adding that each
of his children was free TO marry the
man or woman of their choice and that
he would be no party to coerclng them
in the slightest degree.
The same authority tells OF startling
instances of strained relations between
King Edward and his nephew the
Kaiser. There was, seemingly. not much
love between them, as the emperor ire
uuently made unguarded and reckless
criticisms of his suncle's private life and
OF his associates and intimate friends
Even after Edwards accession to the
throne of England the relations OF the
two monarchs showed little improve
ment. The last time the King met the
Emperor at Homburg some one asked
one Of Emperor Williams sisters how
the twain got on together. ''Oh, Uncle
Edward was as suave and courteous and
correct as he always is, and my brother
was as awkward and as impossible as
ever" was the stunning reJoinder.
They got on as we'll as they could, but
10 lima @WNNa
for the Kings departure" court dig
nltary at Berlin, questioned on the same
subject. replied by quoting well-known
popular saying. They cannot bear the
sight of one another
The Kaiser, whatever he may be to-
day. years ago was anti-English. and
an illustration OF his attitude toward
English affairs is that when the En-
press Frederick (his mother was near
ing her end. and she expressed a wish
to see the eminent English doctor, Sir
James Reid, later one of King Edwards
physicians in ordinary, the Emperor
caused his mother TO be informed that
II she persisted in her intention he
would place himself in front Of her room
and bar the English doctors entrance.
This is an English version and lacks
the true ring. For Wilhelm loved his
mother. But even had he done so I'M
feeling a thing, who could blame him
for considering what an English doc
tor, Mackenzie, had done TO his father!
Genial and affable though the late
King Edward always tried to be, he
could on occasions assert his dignity
and position in no uncertain manner.
As a host he could be gracious and
enjoyed a certain amount OF chatting:
but woe uHtO those who abused the lib
erty. equality, and fraternity which pre-
vailed under his roof. At Marlborough
House one night in the SOS the prince
and some of his guests were playing
billiards. Prince Edward was not in par
tiCularly good form, and, after rather
a bad shot, one Of the younger men
| shouted, to the amusement and disgust
of the others: II say, Wales, pull
yourself together" The prince made no
reply. but, reckoning to a servant, said:
Call Mr.. IS carriage"
Another Marlborough House memory
concerns King Edwards fondness for
tripe. In the younger days the King
liked tripe suppers. This delicacy was
supplied to MARLBOROUGH House and to
those who entertained the then prince
| at supper by a purveyor IA pork butch
err Of TOttenham Court Road.
The fact that King Ferdinand, COM
mander-in-chief of the Balkan forces, has
! black charger, which he has named
Varna, after the place of that name on
! the Black Sea. where his summer palace
is situated. reminds one Of the affection
which has existed between celebrated
soldiers and the horses which have &C
| companied them through their numerous
campaigns.
One of the most famous war horses
was Lord Roberts, gallant charger.
Colonel. which died a few years ago.
| and lies buried near the Royal Hospital.
Dublin. Colonel was a gray Arab. which
Lord Roberts bought in India. and. he
rode the animal in Kandahar. Lord
Roberts was very much attached to the
animal. and when Queen Victoria award
| ed medals TO the soldiers who had gone
through the Afghan war the hero of
Kandahar proudly hung around his
chargers neck the Kabul medal with
four clasps and the Kandahar Star OF
Bronze.
The best known of Lord Kitchener
war horses was a handsome chestnut.