The Washington herald., 1913-03-15
COURT GOSSIP ON SUBJECTS
OF GREAT GENERAL INTEREST

stood came out clearly after the doings
at the Cottesmore last season, when a
! committee, on which the landowners
were very poorly represented. proceeded
to election in the face of objections by
the latter
The West Norfolk Hunt is regarded as
the one most intimately connected with
the British throne, though. as matter
| OF fact the Garth should hold that posi-
| tion. This is the hunt where there has
| been only one change Of master in three
reigns. whereas the West Norfolk is less
fortunate. As hunting countries both may
be considered equally bad.
The fact that Prince Albert, King
Georges second son, has embarked on a
naval career by joining the crew of the
British warship cumberland as cadet
shows that past traditions in regard TO
| naval training of English princes are
continued to be observed. 1t is intended
4 that Prince Albert, like his father. shall
be thoroughly trained in naval mat
ters His elder brother, the Prince oil
Wales, 1t will be remembered. spent some
months at Dartmouth, studying as much
Iseamanship as il was considered needful
for a future King of England to know.
The naval training of Prince Albert.
who is now making his first long cruise
at sea- will cover considerable time. And
| II is an illustration of the thorough man.
ner in which this training is to be ac-
complished that when the King. his fatn-
er, heard that preparations had been
made on the Cumberland for housing the
prince in a cabin. he promptly vetoed any
such distinction and directed that his son.
during the ensuing cruise should in every
respect be treated an ordinary cadet.
L IN
therefore will sleep in a hammock.
The sending of the second sons" to
sea is quite in accordance with prece-
dent. 1t will be remembered that King
| George, with his elder brother, the late
| Duke of Clarence, spent two years on
| the training ship Britannia and then
made a voyage round the world in the
| Bacchante. After that voyage, while his
brother left the sea, King George, being
then only a second son, remained in the
navy, and during his naval career con-
formed closely to custom.
So far az promotion was concerned, he
owed little to any advantage derived from
his exalted rank.
In this respect his naval career differed
from that of his uncle. the Duke OF Ed
inburgh. who was a pupil of Capt
Harris D. the IIlustrious. the prede-
tfSSpf pl ltlt BRITANNIA bhl Nii'' ~ hAS
regret skipped the grade of sublieuten-
ent and commander and became a captain
in the navy at the age Of twenty-five.
Prince Henry of Battenburg, who re-
Gently succeeded Sir Francis BridSeman
as first sea lord OF the British Navy.
is the most notable instance of royal
parsonage attaining A high position in
ne naval world. II is interesting to
recall. however. that Prince Edward Au-
Gustus. a younger brother of George III.
went To sea at the age of nineteen. was
posted the following year. and after only
four years OF service hosted his flag
as second in command in the English
Channel. Prince Edward was entered on
the ships hooks as volunteer FOR
wages and victuals. His first command
er. who afterward became his flag cap
tain was Lord Howe.
Prince Edwards brother. Prince Henry
Frederick. also entered the British naval
service as a midshipman. when he was
twenty-three years of age, and was like
wise made captain before he had been
many months at sea. He was a flag
officer at the age Of twenty-five.
ArchdukA Rainer of Austria, who died
at the age of eiShty-siX. was one Of
the most popular members Of the i'm
perial Hapsburg family. He was en-
lightened and progressive I'm his political
views, and objected strongly to the pow
erful clerical influence in affairs OF
state He was OF literary and artistic
tastes. and interested in scientific sub
jects. His extensive estates pass to
Archduke Leopold Salvador. as he leaves
no children. and his widow, Archduchess
Marie Caroline. whom he married in 1852,
inherits his large personal fortune.
The archduke who was half an Ital-
ian by birth. was brought up at Milan.
his father being Niceroy of Lomhardy
from 1915 to 1sis. His sister married
King Eivtor Emmanuel of Sardinia in
1872. later first ruler Of united Italy,
hence he was great uncle to the present
King Of Italy. He is the only Austrian
prince who has visited the Italian
Court at the Quirinal since 1870.
The task Of the autograph collector of
to-day is by no means an easy one.
Celebrities receive so many requests for
their signatures that it is scarcely sur
prising that they are obliged to make it
rule to decline. In fact some we'll
known men and women have printed cir
culars containing an intimation to this
effect. which they forward in reply tOI
requests for their autographs.
There is, however, a collection of auto
graphs which should make the amateur
collector more enthusiastic This Is the
remarkable collection TO be seen in the
smoking room of Hazells Hotel. at the
corner of Exeter Street in the Strand
Londom. 1t belongs to the proprietor of
the hotel. the collection comprising more
than 1000 autographs of English and for
eiSn personageS of distinction.
Each autograph has been written on a
card or a piece of letter paper carefully
mounted. framed. and classified according
to the particular section of the collection
to WHICH ii belongs. There are. for in
stance scores of autographs of famous
musicians, singers, conductors, violinists,
&c. In many cases the autographs are
written al the foot of a photograph The
signatures of theatrical celebrities. "a
nous judges and lawyers. noted writer's,
jockeys. explorers, artists, statesmen,
royal academicians. music hall celebrities, |
actors and actresses, Lord Mayors of
London for a generation past, and many |
other autographs are to be seen, taste |
fully arranged.
About twelve years ago that hotel man |
began collecting. Every autograph has |
been sent to him personally in compliance |
to his request for an addition TO the |
collection. OF course, he met with rebuff. |
For instance, when he wrote to Sirl
William Howard Russell, he bluntIy re-
piled that he might as well ask him for |
his hat and coat as for his autograph.
But, generally speaking, l have been
treated very kindly indeed. and l suppose
that two out of every three people
have written to have complied with n ..
request. l have not had the whole Of my
collection framed, as that wouI.. have
meant the cutting up of sevegIi of my
autograph albums which include auto