Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-14
How Royalty Gets Its News.


their lives apart and know little on
nothing about what is going on in the
outside and workaday world may have
| had some foundation in fact in the old
days. Speaking generally, it has abso-
lutely none now.
Even the late sultan of Turkey, ABB
dul Hamid, who was generally consid =
cred to be stepped in the eXclusiveness
of The East and wrapped up in him
self and his own personal schemes,
took good care to be informed of what
was going on, not only in his kingdom,
but outside it.
His chief source of information, apart
from his spies and the diplomatic rep
resentatives Of Turkey in the various
European capitals. was derived from
French newspapers. These were de-
liVered regularly at the royal palace,
and it was the duty of Two officials TO
read them through and commit any
thing which they considered of inter
est tn the Sultan to memory.
Admitted to the royal presence, they
were called upon to recite what they
had learned, and If the Sultan had
doubts upon any point they were call
ed upon to produce evidence, and woe
hetide them if it was not Immediately
forthcoming and failed to substantiate
their verbal statements.
queen Victoria had the Times read
to her, and articles dealing with per-
sonal matters were carefully cut out
and pasted in volumes bound in royal
blue. There are scores of these in the
library at Windsor and they have
a tl,. fx-s.,
piers.
King Edward was not fond of read
ing, but the latest foreign kilograms
We're always placed before him and OK
tracts from important speeches deliv-
cred in the Houses of Parliament were
cut out and pasted on sheets OF paper
fer his perusal. As is well known, the
late King took a keen interest in sport,
and he was always kept supplied with
The latest Information on that topic
Special articles in the foreign maya =
zines and reviews We're boiled down
and conveyed to him, generally at
dinner. This was the great occasion
when the days doings were reviewed.
King George is a firm believer in do
ing things himself, and he personally
reads the leading newspapers. His
Majesty's private secretary saves 4
certain amount of time and trouble.
however, by marking articles and
items of news of special interest. The
King often jots down notes while ne is
reading.
Some of these notes take the shape
of queries asking for further informa-
tion on some particular subject, and it
;a.y f,, Int 81 b. - ~,
see that it is supplied His Majesty
has a remarkably keen memory, and is
therefore able to converse on a very
wide range of subjects.
In this aspect he resembles the KAT
ser. who is very hungry reader,
and is able to absorb a vast quantity
of information in q very short time.
He reads the papers quickly, and is
especially interested in technical and
engineering papers and in journals
dealing with shipbuilding gunnery and
other. warlike matters.
He las alse a sense of humor and al
ways gl2nces at the leaGing comic pa
pers Should any subject appeal par
4idalarly TO him, he has experts there
on summoned to the palace. and over
cigars and beer he fires off his ques-
tions and expects to receive the fullest
information.
The annual cruise which he taxes
on the imperial yacht is the great coca
sion for these denominations. A
distinguished company of naval mill
tary, scientific and business men &C
companies him, and if any details he is
in search of cannot be supplied no time
is lost in telegraphing to some one who
is in a position to give them.
Tho Emperor of Austria very rarely
reads himself. He is read to. The ag-
ed monarch still takes the keenest pos
sible interest in the political move
ments III his country; he also likes to
keep abreast of the times in military
subjects. Literature and the arts do
not however, appeal to him.
The Gar has a paper OF his own,
specS lily printed each morning. 1t is
the most exclusive paper in the world,
for only two copies are supplied, one
for the Gar and the nther for lis
private secretary. 1t IS a two-page
sheet containing a digest of the news
of the world compressed into tabloid
form. Needless 10 say. everything cal
culated to disturb mis- Majesty's peace
of mind is carefully omitted.
The King of Italy has a literary lean
ing and is fond of reading magazines
articles, taste shared by the King
of Denmark. who is thoroughly inform
ed on the literary movements of the
day and we'll able to converse on them.
The King of Spain has a great ambi-
ton for everything English, and Eng
iish papers and magazines figure on his
study table His Majesty is more q
worker than reader however, and 1t
is the Queen who supplies him with
much of his information.
Details concerning his own kingdom
are supplied by his secretaries and an
official who holds the post Of court
newsman and is supposed to BE up in
all the social gossip of the hour
The King takes much interest in mo-
toring, flying, shooting and other
sports. He also follows the trend of
masculine fashions in London and Is
L,apt advised ia the Ia test STYLES.