The Washington herald., 1912-08-24


The palace in which the King Of Eng
land sleeps ID patrolled nightly by watch
men. who pass along the corridors al
night long. Inspecting doors and win
dows. The men wear carpet slippers 70
deaden the sound OF their footballs and
are trained especially for emergency
work In case OF fire. In addition to this
night patrol there is always q sentry
on duty outside the chamber In which the
King sleeps.
King Alfonso OF Spain is guarded at
night by specially selected soldiers who
take charge OF the keys OF all the palace
doors each night. These men see TO II
that the doors are not unlocked until az
ter dawn. and no one is allowed TO enter
or to leave the palace until after
"reveiile" has been sounded. The
guards sleep outside the royal bed
chamber so that no one is able to enter
the door without awaking them.
Albert OF the Belgians Is another care
fully guarded monarch whom no one may
disturb once night has set in. Soldiers
patrol the corridors OF the Kings pal
ace and his valet locks himself in the
ante-chamber, which no person In allow
ed to enter. The valet Is forbidden to
open either door until morning under
penalty OF death.
The Gar, the closest guarded Of all
rulers. is protected at night by several
companies of soldiers. including English
men and Germans. secret service men.
and a body OF his own Cossack regiment.
They all. however, work Independently
of each other.
The Sultan Of Turkey Is watched over
at night by a number OF soldiers and
several of his councillors. who remain
near his bedchamber until morning. The
Padisha changes his sleeping apartment
quite often-all rulers do this at inter-
walls. He has his choice of forty bed
rooms
The Pope is guarded by an attendant.
who has to watch the welfare Of his
master through a spy hole in the wall
of his bedchamber. Thus the Pope
truly prisoner in the Vatican" is al
ways under observation.
But by far the most sensibly though
the least guarded monarchs are the
Kaiser and Emperor Franz Josef. There
are two sentries. one at either side OF
the front entrance to their palaces. pick
ed soldiers of the Footguards. who are
relieved after two hours OF patrol. Both
carry loaded guns. revolvers. and bayo-
nets. Almost across the street Is the
guard house Of the arsenal. A shot or
a loud outcry even would bring aid in
a couple of minutes Within the palace
of either of these rulers no special pre-
cautions sre taken. excepting the mes
sengers and the aids (Fluegel Adju-
tanten) on duty. Old King Wilhelm
used to say. IF any one can get by my
two grenadiers outside he is welcome to
come at me,'' He was right The pre-
caution Is simple. not costly. and ex-
ceedingly effective.
hear that King George is planning
to do away with the long established
rule to have a member of his cabinet at
his elbow whenever he leaves London for
a trip to the country or abroad. The po-
sition Is onerous to the sovereign as well
as to the minister. II Is supposed to be
filled by each member OF the cabinet In
turn. the period OF duty varying from a
week to a month. But in actual prac-
tice never more than two or three min
listers are chosen to act In this capacity.
each ruler having his especial favorites.
The late King Edward frequently dis
pensed with the services of a minister
when he went abroad, and the old custom
OF having a member of the cabinet at
Windsor when the court went there does
not now prevail. In these advanced days
OF telegraphs and telephones. motor
cars. and other methods of rapid inter-
II is not considered nec-
essary that a minister Of the Crown
should leave his duties for so lengthy
a period.
Queen Victoria was very exacting She
insisted upon a minister being In attend
ance wherever she went She was a
brilliant conversationalist and required
her ministers to be equally brilliant Lord
who was more a thinker than
q talker, used to complain about the
after-dlnner conversations at Balmoral.
II was cold, but the Queen, with her
love OF fresh air. would have many win
dows open: and Lord Salisbury, who was
susceptible to chills. passed many an
agonizing hour. half frozen, making
Balmoral and at Osborne was very lin
tied.
At the former the minister's suite con-
sisted of a small bedroom and a sitting
room Then there was room for the