Evening star., 1923-03-25

might almost say. republican, party IN
the United Kingdom. He was bitter
foe of royalty, and as member OF parlla-
ment for Sheffield was always the
first to protest against money peinS
granted to the members of the SOW
ereign'S family. one autumn day
King Edward. then Prince OF Wales,
and his Consort happened to pass
through Sheffield on their way to
their Highland castle Of Abergeldie.
Their special train only halted for
about ten minutes in the station, just
long enoughm to change the engines
and to examine the wheels But the
prince made good use of the time
Hearing that Mr.. Mundella was on
the platform of the station awaiting
some friends and that he was billed
to deliver one of his usual infiam-
matory and almost revolutionary ad-
dresses to his constituents In the aft
ernoon. he sent one of his gentlemen
in waiting to summon him to the
royal train. After shaking hands
most heartily. he presented him to the
princess, who. following her hus-
bard's cue. was especially gracious
and winning to the radical leader.
The prince thereupon explained. II
hear, my dear Mr.. Mundella, that you
are about to deliver one of your elo-
quent addresses to your constituents
this afternoon. I do wish that you
would oblige both the princess and
myself by availing yourself of that
opportunity to inform the good peo-
pie of Sheffield how sorry we are not
to he able to stay here for a few days
on our way north and that you would
tell them with what pleasure we look
back to the loyal and enthusiastic
demonstrations with which they well
coined us on the occasion of our last
visit"
At that moment the engine whis-
tied, the bell changed and the royal
special moved out OF the station Mr..
Mundella bowling low in response to
the friendly smiles and waves of the
hand of the prince and princess The
same afternoon he completely stag
gered his constituents by appearing
before them in the role of an ennis
sary from royalty instead of in that
of its most bitter assailant
On rising to address the meeting
he began: Gentlemen and ladies, /
have been commissioned by their
royal highnesses, the Prince and
Princess of Wales. to communicate
to you the following gracious mes
sage" which he then proceeded to
deliver in his most unctuous and SEN
tentfous manner.
After such an opening it was OBJ
viously out Of the question to expect
him to deliver one of his customary
diatribes against royalty. and. like
Balaam of old he blessed those whom
he had started out to curse. From
that time forth Anthony Munj alla's g
political sentiments underwent \ con-
siderable change. The ex-factory
boy became a frequent visitor and
then a welcome guest at Marlbor-
ough House and in a short time grew
so much reconciled to the doctrines
of monarchy that he quite abandoned
his hopes of a future presidency of
an eventual British republic to be-
come a privy councillor to Queen Vic
toria. He subsequently held office as
cabinet minister in one of the Glad
stone administrations and died at
heart a bigoted tory after quarrel
ing with most of his liberal associ-
ates.
Hundreds of similar instances could
be cited to illustrate King Edwards
, tact in thus making friends. In the
late sixties and the early seventies
, the late Sir Charles Dixie was one
of the bitter adversaries of the reign
| Ing family in the house of commons,