The Washington times., 1923-03-09
.SNAzf'S K | n c
USESU. 6.
AUTO
Tells Reporter How He Hunts
Lions In lt-Sport
Enthusiast.
BY international News Service.

A1AVOAAA4SSAOAA1A
LONDON. March s.-Though the
king business" is in the midst OF a
great slump a king is a king, and
it's not often even in these days that
an ordinary reporter is granted an
interview by a king.
There is one king, however, who
has a proper perspective Of the
power Of the press and its represen-
tatives and is always ready to greet
reporters on an equal basis. It's the
King of Swaziland.
Sobhuza II, King Of Swaziland,
has no undue pretensions as to his
own Importance and has a fair con-
ception Of the courtesy due reporters
and receives them. Furthermore,
upsetting all of the usual kingly
traditions, he gives interviews.
The King of Swaziland visited re-
Gently in London, and it was with
no great difficulty that he was inter-
viewed, despite the fact that he was
more or less busy with conferences
with the Duke of Devonshire, col
onial secretary, whom he came to
London to see in order to attempt
to induce the British government to
put the ruler of Swaziland on its
payroll. The British government Is
already paying the salaries of sew
eral potentates, and the King of Swa.
ziland sees no reason why his pay
check shouldn't come from White
hall.
Has Oxford Air. 1 +
A youngster, as kings 60. is Sob
huza III, but he has an air about
him-a strictly Oxford air. He wears
his hat at a rakish angle, and his
white teeth glimmer in sharp con-
trast to his dusky complexion, as he
smiles constantly.
Right at the beginning Of the in.
terview the king began an attempt
to dodge the regal honors. He an
nounced that he would rather be
called prince" than king" and,
in fact, he liked the title paramount
chief" best of all.
Sobhuza didn't care to discuss
world politics, but he was full of
talk about his likes and dislikes.
II love music and the opera. and
plays, and the noble cathedrals and
hope to see all of them in London, I"
he said. "In Swaziland we have no
picture house."
This didn't sound terribly excit-
ing, and 1t looked as though the in
terview was going to be a "dud."
"Ah, but I have a car" said the
king, his face alight. Now all
Americans are interested in cars.
Lets CO." numbled the reporter.
Has American Auto.
eyes," chimed in Mr.. Seine Of
the kings suites land It's beauty"
Maybe Mr.. Seine Is on the Amert'
can automobile company's payroll,
maybe not; at any rate, he took up
the interview.
"You should see the chief when
he rides in his car at night on
shooting expeditions. The head.
light is dazzling"
Here the king interviewed and
took command Of the interview
again.
"Ah! a few months ago Seine
hearing that lions were close to
our rendezvous, I ordered three
fires to be lit In a triangle, and we
slept In the center Of them.
"And after we had shot some
gemsbock and MISUNDERSTANDING
buck-the next morning we discov-
cred. that we had actually been
sleeping in a lions lair.
Sport! How love sport! Seine
here thinks he's good shot, but
beat him easily"
The king then discussed the
sporting proclivities of King
George and the Prince of Wales
and then turned his discussion to
Vandyck portraits of the royal
family, and the interview petered
out, but 1t was an interview with
a king.
Oh, yes! The king asked that
the story that he eats three rab-
bits and four chickens at every
meal be denied. He says he is
not that kind of a king.