The New York herald., 1922-01-01


Copyright, 1922, by THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
London, Dec. "a.
n TEWS dispatches tell of the strenuous
NJ official visit to India of the Prince
Of Wales. They do not tell, however,
of the strain under which the Prince labors
public of the rigid training he must undergo
TO keep fit. A royal visit to India always is
trying. The present trip is probably the
most trying yet undertaken by the imperial
family.
For this reason the aura Of romance which
surrounds the young man who is bravely
seeing 1t through Is intensified rather than
diminished by this great ambassadorial ad-
venture. Even the ordinary person who in
ordinary circumstances visits India can
hardly return from that land of princes,
pageantry and purple skies without being
invested in the mind Of the stay at home
with a suspicion of it's glamour. When the
Prince of Wales returns he will be to the
popular mind in Britain a more romantic
figure than ever.
Various writer's have told us that getting
fit and keeping fit are this young mans chief
obsessions. Lately we have been asked to
believe that he rises with the sun, exchanges
pajamas for running kit and sprints daily
from st. James's Palace. where he has his
Dlendge, to Buckingham Palace and back in
time for breakfast. But if this were true
all London would be lined up along the Mall
to see IL happen. There is another little flaw
in the story too. Edward Prince of Wales
does not take breakfast-at any rate, not at
the conventional hour. He has it overnight
when he goes to bed. in the shape of sand
wiches and biscuits, which suffice him until
lunch time the next day.
But although he is not obsessed with the
notion of keeping fit, the subject certainly
has a comfortable share of his thoughts
This was demonstrated during his recent
seaside vacation. which unexpectedly af
forded me an opportunity of studying his
habits Released from the cares of state, he
went down to Brighton the metropolis OF
the south coast, where, in a quaint and quiet
old Georgian manor house. he found welcome
freedom from the worries incidental to the
solemn business of understanding a king.
Royalties often choose severely practical
ways of spending their leisure. enforced or
otherwise BY standing in n back room of
one of the half dozen or so villas that over
look the manor house garden one could
watch blue shirted, belted figure bent to
the task of lawn moving. occasionally stop
ping TO wipe a glstening face with blue
handkerchief That was the Prince of Wales
getting fit for India. One heard the clatter
of the machine every morning and most
afternoons. There was no doubt about his
taking the job seriously.
His daily regimen was that of the sensible
holiday maker rather than that Of the get
At quick enthusiast. Relaxation was its key
note, a small balance of strenuousness being
supplied by the moving.
At 10 A. NJ. he rose and, garbed in rough
tweeds motored to the golf links. Published
reports had II that he consistently carried
off all the honors. AS a golfer, however the
Prince did not and does not distinguish him
self. Unlike some other royalties one could
name, he does not expect to win because he
is who he is. He was several times soundly
beaten at Hove. and cheerfully admitted the
fact
Returning at noon, he would shed his coat
and get to work on the lawn. In this con-
nection he said jocularly to the gardener:
"I1l send you my bill when 1 get back. It'll
be pretty stiff-labors gone up. you know!"
He further observed on another occasion
that "a man must perspire if he's to keep
fit" A prince who believes in persplration
must surely be an inspirationi
OF lunch no more need be said than that