Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-20
BIC FORTUNE LEFT
BY KING GEORGE
Wealth of Slain Ruler of Greeks
Is Built Through Shrewd
Speculation.

eIdllon OF al inc european mOnaTchS,
George, ruler Of the Creeks, who was as
sassinated. &massed a trem endous for
tune. the start OF Il in shrewd Apecula,
ton in American grain years ago, act
ing on the advice OF hrs friend. Gen
eral Meredith Read. His holdings in
cluded enormous farm acreage
throughout hts kingdom, a feet Of
steamers, control of the Greek rail-
way lines, OF the ooHntry's milk
trust" its "currant trust" and extern
sive palaces and lands In Paris, Vienna
ard Denmark
But with MS great wealth he hrs
kept his commoner attitude and a
whimsical disposition TO declare him
self almost q pauper He protested to
his so~ George, who made such a
fizzie o. the administration in Crete
and was driven out OF the country for
his ineficiency because the latter was
80 extravagant The son had Just
treated his father 70 a rather big din
ner.
'Still your wife n wealthy" added
tho king. When married chose a
wife who could prepare roast-wben
could afford TO buy IT,"
Purchasing one OF his Copenhagen
palaces. George uncovered a splendid
oil Gobelin tapestry, over which the
Danes were making great TODD The
kiEg ascertained its market value and
promptly sold #, receiving for It al
most as much as he paid for Che en-
tire palace. but FORGETTING the regard
OF .he indignant Danes.
When George first landed on Grecian
soil TO rule over the nation 10 Which
he had been chosen king, he could not
speak a single word OF modern Greek
That was one OF the first things he
h1d 70 learn He lost no time in Sc
curing competent tutors and spent
hours day learning the language Of
his adopted country and acquiring an
accent which Was eventually to be so
perfect that there fs said TO have been
no one In Athens who could speak bet
ter Greek than King George He also
sroke English fuently. and INDEED,
most Of the other European tongues.
When ne was in his prime George
was devoted to sports and particularly
ADEPT AZ wrestling The annals OF the
Greek court tell Of the sudden appear
nnce az about that time OF q note
worthy wrestler, calling himself
George Pupadoulus who strored
through the innumerable country fairs
o. Greece participating in the amateur
matches and winning them almost
steadily
But his adventures in this connec-
ton were brought to a close. At one
small fair he as uEual defeated all
ccmers in wrestling contests. And
here 70 was noised about that he was
a professional Thereat he was sub
1Ccted 10 so severe a mobbing, the
Greeks being hot headed. that he was
obliged 10 appeal 20 the police FOR pro
lection. and 90 reveal the fact that
George Papadoulos. the champToS am
atcur wrestler. was no other than
King George Of Greece,
George was easily approachable His
mode Of living was far from regal
with breakfast as soon as possible AZ.
ter his rising hour OF a m. all
through the year. He frequently dab
bled AZ cooking himself and was in
C"dinately proud OF startling salad
Of his COncoctlon. lie walked about
the streets and delighted IN chance
meetings With persons who did not
recognize him
One evening his majesty was on his
way Co the Piracus. smoking a cigar.
An officer passed by, and not recog-
mixing him. asked him for Il light. The
king shook on the ashes OF his cigar
n fFA o. l.
might light his own with g. The Off
Ger then recognized his ruler and drew
back confused
Look sharp said the latter. as ]
am IN q hurry tonight"
Simplicity was the rule OF the court
al Athens The captain Of an Ameri-
can warship was once asked 20 dinner
10y King George and rather dreaded
the ordeal However. he came back
delighted with his majesty, who. he
said. shook hands with him like any
American gentleman" and then per
suGded him 10 ask riddles and romp
' tn the children
George was particularly devoted 10
youngsters and animals. his favorites
among the latter being dogs He had.
too. keen sense OF humor. and wrote
IN his wifa's confession book" that
his idea o. happiness was to have al |
ways sovereign without a crown"
He delighted in taking his recreation /
IN the fields. He could pillow. cut and
bind corn. milk COWS and could. at a
pinch, run a farm single handed.
lie discovered that majesty Is not
Inconsistent with LONELINESS. and /
taught his people that monarchy does
not mean snoLbery. Strolling IN the
suburbs Of Athens, King George came
across a peasant whose horse had slip
ped. scattering his CARLOAD OF veEe-
tables in all directions While the
countryman swore at his horse. the
king picked up the potatoes and cab
6ages and putting a coin in his hand
said:
"OD Rnofhar orraay,v grs+,,S 20