Evening star., 1936-01-24
BY MICHEL MOK.

the Pragger Wager. The phrase was
the first of q special lingo, in which
his father was referred to as the Kag-
ger and his mother as the Quagger.
Even the wastepaper basket was re-
the pager wager bagger.
This may not seem quite good
enough for oxford, but the undergrad
yates thought it was immense. The
Pragger (now the Kagger) liked 1t.
too. He liked it particularly because
it proved that the ice had been bro
ken, at least q little.
The prince mixed, as freely as pos
sible in the circumstances, with the
other men. But as a general rule there
was, Of course, no real cameraderie.
Wales always had to put the other
fellow at his ease before q converse
tion could take on the semblance of
intercourse between two human beings.
He developed q perfect technique at
this leveling process.
Evolved Famous Phrase.
From his oxford days dated his
custom of telling people, "Oh. for
Gods sake, sit down." when they
jumped to their feet on his appear
ance.
Throughout his stay at Magdalen
Wales. in the manner of Karl Heinz,
"The Student Prince" tried to prevent
the students from curbing his free
dom. But, unlike the hero of the play
and operetta dealing with royal life In
Heidelberg, he had Indifferent success
They tell the story Of little dinner
party which Wales had promised to
attend on condition that there would
be no speeches. But some one forgot
the agreement, called on the prince
for a speech toward the end of the
meal. At once, the cry was taken up
by the entire group.
Wales fingers first nervously tapped
the table, then fidgeted his bow tie.
He rose. A burst of cheers. He raised
his hands. He said: Il wish you fel-
lows wouldn't make such a damn
FUSS" He sat down, finished his des.
sert.
One Real Friend.
He had no real friends at Oxford
except Maj. the Hon. w. E. S. Cado'
gan Of the 10th Hussars, his equerry,
who was killed in the war. And there
was always the inevitable H. p. Han
sell, his tutor, who had room next
door to the princes suite in the
Student Prince"
touch. But MIR. Hansell was much
older man and though their relations
were cordial enough they naturally
couldn't be chummy.
Wales learned to cut lectures. He
learned to play fair game of soccer.
made the second eleven. He played
some polo, too, and rowed . bit,
though he never coxed for oxford. His
efforts on the banjo improved.
All this was well enough in its way,
but the prince never liked being at
college very much. To him going to
Oxford had been irksome in the first
place. Entering the university, a
thrilling event in the lives of most
lads, to him had been in the nature
Of going back to school,"
After attending Osborne, the Naval
College in the Isle Of Wight, and the
pomp and circumstance Of his official
investiture as Prince Of Wales, the
royal cadet had joined his ship, the
Wales, from boyhood fond of stren-
uous outdoor activity, loved life at
sea. And with characteristic determi-
nation, he applied himself to his du-
ties, became a good officer.
Social Education Continues.
But unfortunately, the fun lasted
only three months. He was the heir
apparent; the course Of education
mapped out for him was comprehen-
sive in the extreme. Next he was
shipped to Paris, as the guest Of the
Marquis de Breteuil, to perfect him
'elf in the continental social graces-
'iding in the Bois, making tea-cup
He proved an apt but
bored pupil.
Then oxford. What, Wales liked
BEST there was his time in the Officers
Training Corps. Here was another
chance at doing things in the open
4. r. H, in his own words, was al
ways - great believer In sweating"
His teacher in the o. T. G. was
hard-bitten sergeant major. who
showed him how to take his rifle
apart. clean 1t and put it together
again. Wales knew more about it
han the professional army men, but
1e never let on that he did.
He spent the prescribed fortnight
n camp, emerged q lance corporal.
Now, Wales has been showered with
'rders. ranks, distinctions; II, like Sir
James M. Barries "Old Lady" he
'hould wish to show his medals-all
II them at one time-their weight
would prevent him from standing
rect. But it's doubtful II any honor
upon him ever pleased him
ls much as those corporals stripes.
Any wonder? Here was something
1e had achieved by the sweat Of
1is own brow. II he ever put on
lust the least bit Of side, It was when
1e came back to Magdalen College
! corporal.
War Fever Rose.
No sooner had Wales reached his
lazzling rank than Britain went to
var. It was August, 1914. Wales was
70. Wales was fairly choked with
,atriotic emotion. Wales wanted to
ight-nght for England.
He forgot that prospective Kings
1 England don't fight-not these days.
The prince had q tough time Of it.
III that he accomplished at first
vss . small, but violent war Of his
'wn with the late Lord Kitchener.
Wales original impulse was to 60
ieht back into the navy.ss Tact
ully, It was explained to him that
battleship carrying him automati-
ally would become the pick Of Ill
he enemys maritime targets. The
rince saw The poant "ysG," he M,