The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-09
MOST surprising. yet entertaining
book is King Edward IN His True
Colors." by Edward Legge, pup

a MOST surprising. yet entertaining
N book is King Edward IN His True
Colors," by Edward Legge, pub
lishcd BY Eveleigh Nash, OF London.
Mr.. Legge 10 an Enslishman or family
and position. very loyal to the monarchy.
who thought It necessary to write book
defending King Edward from all the as-
versions ever cast upon him by politicians,
journalists and others. Mr.. Legge had
known the King and heen q member al
fashionable society for tlfty years.
sir. Legge's method Of defending tho
King IS 70 repeat damaging statement
shout him and then offer a very feeble
8efutation. or. IN some cases mono at all.
eontentlng himself with merely denouno-
ms the hbeller as a cad or viper or
something OF that kind. In this way be
has succeeded tn bringing together in n
handy form nearly every statement about
the King TO which the royal family could
object,
The starting point OF the LeEge book is
defense OF the King against the criti-
cisn contained IN the long article upon
hin vrit,en by Sir Sidney Lee 10 tho
Dictionary OF National Biography" III
this article Sir Sidney Lee. in very
scholarly and temperate manner. pointed
out that the King was not In any sense a
statesman, that he had not planned the
understanding With France with which ha
was often credited that he was merely
I'm agreeable, rather self-indulgent man
of the world. VINO followed the current o.
popular feeling
King George, Queen Alexandra and
other members OF the royal family and
leaders OF the aristocracy were exceeding
~ annoyed by Less article, and loyal
Journalists suggested that II ought to be
withdrawn. That was not done.
When Mr. Legge's hook appeared. these
royal end noble persons took II up with
k~All -
find Il refutation OF all the criticisms
OF their late sovereign. After some time
1t dawned upon them that l. was really
a compilation OF all the unpleasant things
ever said about the King without any ade
quate rcfutstion OF them, ard now 1t IL
difficult 10 say whether they are more
angry NTH Lee or With Legge.
Mi LegEe shows us that the King was
more remarkable for eating heavily than
for craftsmanship or mental accomplish
ments, that hs drank freely. gambled,
practised nearly every form OF self-inou
eencc. had IN exaggerated conception o.,
his own dignity lost his temper for triv-
ial causes and liked 10 De surrounded by
sycophants
Where WAS King Edward VII. whether
as Prince or as Sovereign seen at his
best asks MIR. LeGge pompously. Many
people thought him quite at his bes; at
the dinner table, and perhaps they were
not very far wrong
Behind the Princes chair stood ono
Of his own tall servants. who attended
80 all MIS- wants. Now aud again II II. II.
said few words 10 those on his imme-
ilHte right and left but only in the
href intervals OF the courscs. For the
time the good cheer before him claimed
his attention ~ knew what Talleyrand
said 'Pare2 mo! dun nutre plasr. uui
Sc rcnouvelie trois fois par jour eft Qui
dure uns.. heure chaQue fois.' (Tel mo
Of another pleasure that can be repeated
three tilnes day and lasts an hour each
tiue)"
Mr. Lesge SAYS hat the King when
P'ince enjoyed good-natured chaf. and
goes on 10 tell an incident which shows
that he turned a young man out Of mis-
house for triflpg familiarity;