New-York tribune., 1920-12-26
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tho persons and per-
sonages who wander in and out Oh + Ieu-
eric Villiers's memoirs!"
1t was famous motion picture direc-
tor speaking.
"They would make a gathering which,
for color and variety and picturesque
ness, would outshine even Chaucers
Canterbury Pilgrims. For here, in ad-
dition to all tations and degrees of men,
would be all the races and breeds of
the world. The veteran war correspond
ent and soldier of fortuns who tells the
story of his amazing career in Villers;
His Five Decades Of Adventure, pub
lished in this country by Harper e.
Bros, has dined or fought or chatted
with most Of the great and the near
great, the famous and infamous charac-
ters Of the last half century.
"Think Of them," the director went
on, "King Edward VII, Bill Nye, the
black King Of Abyssinia and Ella
Wheeler Wilcox, Lord Kitchener, Edwin
Booth, General W. T. Sherman, Thomas
Hardy, Gar Alexander III, Thomas
Edison, Cecil Rhodes, the King of the
Gypsies, Turkish cutthroats, Kaiser Will
helm, the Emperor Of Corea, Fuzzy
Wuzzies, Arabs, Japanese field marsfals,
King Ferdinand Of Bulgaria, and beg
gars, brigands and fighting men Of all
nationalities and degrees of blood
thirstiness, appearing as the author
knew them in camp or drawing room"
And one had to agree with him that
it would be a remarkable picture.
King Edward as a Sportsman
Villiers knew King Edward VII when
he was Prince Of Wales and one Of the
best game shots and keenest sportsmen
in England. Always entering heartily
into the spirit of a party, the prince
was particularly happy when nc could
break away from the conventional life
Of London and the court. AS q guest Of
the Earl Of Fife at his shooting lodge
in the Scottish Highlands at a time wher
the heir to the British throne was there
Villiers knew him rs a most charming
companion. He says:
"On being introduced TO him, if yol
should address him as your royal high
ness more than once, it was almost .
personal affront to him. After the first
meeting it was usual to address him as
one man to another-Yes, or No, sir.
"The entire time the Prince OF
Wales was with US the men were fish
Ing or stalking all day. After dinner
there was a gathering Of hundred
gillies, the earls retainers, who
marched down from the hills to the
screel Of tho pipes, bearing the slair
stays, which were placed in rows II
the courtyard. A huge bonfire was
built in the quadrangle. The gilles
with their pine torches stepped ir
pitch, set afiare from the fire, stooe
at attention.
Prince, Led tho March
by this time the diners had &oastce
the prince, the pipers had screelec
their hardest as they stalked around
the festive board and were now mark.
ing time under the veranda This wa.
the signal for the earl and his visit
ors to file out into the quadrangle
when the pipes burst out again into s
lively reel.
"The Primes Of Wales, the Earl Of
Fife and two other guests responsi
bic for the death Of the beasts now
seized f1aring torches from the hands
Of the nearest gillies and took turn.
IN dancing around the dead stays. Then
to wild yell and an ear-splittine
screech from the pipes, all the guests
headed by the prince, took wild lear
through the bonfire"
Wellington-the Iron Duke Of Wator
loo fame--is almost the only persor
mentioned In the book whom Villicrr
did not know personally. But then. al
the time Of the fnmouo aoldicr's death
tho present dean Of war correspond
cnts was only eight years old.
| 0ncs at IA dinner to Henry " Stan