Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-11
4 Prince and a Real
Boy

he is in many respects still boy. He
was such real boy when | knew him
five years ago.
He was eighteen then-a well-built
though somewhat short English lad,
blue-eyed and red-cheeked. with care
fully brushed fair hair. and merry
smile which contained more democracy
and comradeship than aristocracy and
royalty. Accompanied by two plain.
clothes men, he was attending Mad
dalen College, Oxford. where l was so
fortunate as to be studying during the
fall and winter of 1912 and 1913
By choosing Magdalen from the twen-
ty.two colleges of Oxford the Prince
greatly disappointed the dons = Of
Christ Church, for his father. the
present king. and his grandfather,
of Christ Church. However. as the
Prince himself explained. his tutor,
who was no end Of a good fellow. had
been a Magdalen man. and Magdalen
was the place for him.
The colleges at Oxford are for the
most part built in the quadrangle form,
and Magdalen is no exception. AS one
draws near the entrance, he crosses
a stone bridge over a quiet stream.
shaded by English willows-a stream
broad and deep enough for the long,
narrow scull-boats used by the stu
dents. The rooms occupied by the
Prince during that year We're on the
left of the quadrangle and near the en-
trance. They We're on the second floor.
and were in no way superior in size
or furnishings to those occupied by the
average student
Being SO near the lecture rooms.
which We're but across the quadrangle
one would have accounted it no great
task to be on time: and yet | regret
to say that the Prince of Wales was
not infrequently late to his bi-week.
ly lecture on English Poets. attend
led those same lectures. though, truth
to tell it was some weeks after my en-.
trance into the class that I discovered
the identity of the bright-faced boy who
sat near ME. ! did note however that
the black-robed don never began his lee
ture until this lad arrived, ten minutes
late though he might be: but, think.
ing only that late entrances disturbed
the flow OF bis carefully chosen words,
waited annoyed that one small Eng.
iiolI IVY ShOtiu tdhS Jul pISC1OuS
! discovered later that the Prince
was himself annoyed at the time-honor-
ed custom which forbids professor
to begin a lecture attended by the
Prince until His Majesty shall appear
One afternoon we had waited longer
than usual. The don was becoming
Ivisibly impatient, as were his students,
lwhen the door burst open. and breath.
less boy appeared. his short Oxford
gown hanging from his shoulders, and
his cheeks red from his hurried run
Il wish, sir" he said. bluntly though
politely. II wish you would not wait
for me. It's not fair to the others"
at is the custom, sir. as you know"
replied the don, quietly.
Then all at once | realized that the
boy who sat next to me was the
Prince Of Wales, the heir to the throne
! of England and her vast possessions.
After that he was rarely late One
late fall afternoon as |. a trif1e late
! myself, was hurrying through the
quadrangle, bicycle came up to me,
and its rider jumped off at my side
1t was the prince. his square Oxford
cap in his hand and truant smile up
on his face.
Would you mind telling the don I'll
not be there today?" he asked pleas
ant. Its too jolly out of doors for
English poets! Don't you think so,
| too?"
| did think so, told him, and
! would gladly give his message. He
| thanked me, bowed again, and was
| off
At Oxford discovered that with the
| exception of some marks OF Difference,
due to customs long observed. he was
regarded and treated as is the student
| in whose veins flows no royal or titled
! blood. In the dining hall at Magdalen
| he sat at a long table, lined by boys
Of every class and of every walk of
| life from the sons of dukes and earls
| to the sons of tradesmen Truly in
Oxford's halls royalty carries no pass
ports and is assigned no privileges
IN the eyes OF his fellow students,
many of whom | met during that year,
| the Prince of Wales was good fell
| low" They liked him because he was
likable, and honored him because he
was a lad of high principle, not be-
cause he was their future king He
| further won the regard of the dons
and the added respect Of the better
| class of students by allying himself
on the side of the crew adherents.
| There are in Oxford two ciques or
sets to one of which the more wealthy
or titled students attach themselves.
! One is the crew" and the other the
! horse" The first is composed of
| those who love wholesome sport for
! sports sake. and who are especially
! interested in the work of the rowing
| crews and their practising for the
yearly regatta at Henley, The mem
, bers of the horse set, on the other
! hand. give much time to the races. to
| the betting which is always contingent
and TO more or less dissipation. For
saking the pTecedents set by several
| of his roya' predecessors, Edward AL
| bert scorned the horse set al oxford.
| which set was at that time undeniably
| fast in its behavior and was proud
to associate with the finer. cleaner.
! though more often untitled followers
| of the river sports.
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