The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-07-16


given I'm England said the princess.
and I assured her that she might do
so. She commanded me to drive. and
when Il was time for the first per-
Torrance | drove her and her four
children. one of whom Is now King
George of England. and Grand Duke
Michael OF Russia, who climbed up
beside me on the box seat. I can tell
you I was pretty much frightened for
I knew II anything Glanced to hap
pen to them while In my care I would
have everyone In England denounc-
ing me. The ride was made I'm safety.
and thereafter the old stage coach
was booked up for weeks ahead by
members of the nobility. as whatever
the princess did was Immediately
the fashion and the others had to do
likewise. ! also had invitations TO
every royal house and became what
Is known as the lion of London for
the season. They always have to
have a lion during the season in Lon
DON" added the general a bit humor-
ously. 'the same as they have a
belle OF the season.
Queen Visited Show.
Queen Victoria had not been to
see a performance of any kind since
the death of her husband, Prince Al
bert. but the royal children talked so
much about the show that on Thurs
day following our Monday opening I
received a royal command to give a
special y-minute performance for
her majesty the queen. IL was some
task to keep the thousands of people
who wanted to see the show from
coming in, and when told that II was
by command of the queen they would
sneer and say That's another Yam
kee lie Her majesty never goes to
a performance II was necessary to
! call u troops to clear the way, and
when the people saw the queen drive
I'm they skunk away abashed.
The Indians with the show we're
very much disappointed at the small
house and kept muttering bad bust
ness but we explained to them that
they must do their best as the large
woman sitting in the box WIS the
Mother of the Country the same as
our president was the Father of our
Country The performers all did their
best, and the queen sent word that
she would like to see the entire show,
which vas given for h"r. as we were
proud to oblige her. She sent word
to me by her equerry that she wished
to see Colonel CoGy, and he man pre-
senting me to her majesty. She
asked me to show her the tents where
the performers lived in camp. which
| did. and while we walked along a
little half breed Indian boy who could
talk very good English trailed along
at u side. having heard that this
woman was the mother of the coun-
try The queen placed a very moth
erly hand upon his head and said,
My little ID how 10 you like Eng
land?'
81 don't think much of it, the lad
replied with alarming candor.
And why don't you like II smiled
the queen.
oh said the boy a bit scornful-
ly. I don't think much Of any IN
try that has a squaw for a chief!'
Prince Wanted Stage Coach.
One day a man rushed 10 me
breathless and said that the prince OF
Wales and a large party had arrived,
and wanted the stage coach turned
over to them. in order that they
might ride around the arena. I had
been cutting out the common lords,
and letting someone else drive them,
but I now told the driver to let me
hold the reins, and yelled to the cow
punchers that they must give their
hottest battle. saw there were
about $50 equerries, or guards sur
rounding the royal box, and as I drove
up the prince and party arose. and
four gentlemen. dressed I'm citizens
clothes. were helped into the coach.
The prince said, Colonel, II you have
no objections, I will ride with you
Get right up said I. your = royal
highness does me great honor
well we had a great battle and
after II was over | drove up i'm front
of the royal box and stopped so quick
ly that the royal party vas given
quite a jar. AS the prince was dis
mounting from the seat beside me he
paused and looked back quizzically.
"'I guess II never held four kings
before he said, nodding toward the
coach. You see, the four men I'm the
coach were really kings of different
countries. thus CARRIED as civilians. I
was a bit astonished, but my Yankee
wit came to my aid.
! "'Well. I have held four kings be-
fore I replied. but never four kings
and the royal JOKER
The general paused in his reminis-
cences of those old days. when he
hobnobed with royalty. and smiled I'm
restrospection: then he reused him
self to his duties as host and ordered
his attendant to bring glasses of cold
milk which he and the reporter drank
together. the general vowing hat he
tolerated nothing stronger. He then
caused his carriage to be driven to
the side of the car and calamity drove
the reporter back to her office In his
own equipage behind the beautiful
white horses. the man who had driv-
en- royalty declaring that he neither
cared for nor could drive an automo-
bile.
Sunday was almost as much of a
circus day as is Monday. Shortly after
noon yesterday, the two sections of
the Sells F1oto and Buffalo Bill show
arrived in the city. There were forty
eight cars in all. Both sections came
straight from Norfolk. Neb., the first
arriving at 1920 and the second at
II: 40. They were unloaded back of
the Northwestern passenger depot.
This was In itself a show. A crowd
was soon gathered about the Mace.