Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, May 11, 1910, Page 5

a ~EOWARD VIL, LATE Character Study of the Distinguished Sovereign Who Was Europe's First Diplomat and Head of the Greatest Empire In History of the World. By JAMES A. EDGERTON. ERHAPS the chief trait of King Edward VII. was tact. He was KING OF ENGLAND An Eminently Safe Man With Sound Principles and Attractive Human Qualities--Beloved by the British Masses--A States- manlike Peacemaker. eign’s volunteer bodyguard. It was the conviction that Edward was “a good bloke,” which was felt not enly the master of form, of fash- | throughout Great Britain and her colo- ion, of etiquette. He was an | nies, but in practically all lands, that embodiment of that much misused | gave him his hold on the heart of the word “gentleman,” an incarnation of | World. ' war and magnanimous treatment of the conventional and the correct. He was high priest of the gospel of cus- tom. With him courtesy was a fine art and usage was the highest authori- ty. While his life knew many scan- dals, they were so decorous that they were forgiven. He was the gentleman even in his vices. As Prince of Wales ; his role was a difficult one—difficult in the sense that, while he was next to the throne and often called upon to represent the throne, yet he must never overstep the bounds and assume any of the prerogatives of the crown. The universal testimony is that he was let- ter perfect in the role. As king he showed another aspect of the same quality. He was his own foreign min- ister, the first diplomat of Europe. Here be was in a larger field of form, the etiquette of nations. It was the one field which by habit and training he was best fitted to fill. His nice observance of the proprieties extend- ed to internal affairs. While he was king in fact as well as name, he never went beyond the close limits that free England had set about his office. To put it in a word, he never made breaks. Despite his punctilious regard for the formalities, it is said that the late His efforts to end the Boer the ‘burghers, his friendship for peace and diplomatic alliances with other Eu- ropean nations looking to a prevention of war, his aloofness from factionism and party, his personal leaning toward democracy, also toward advancement and humanitarian measures. his kind- ly attitude to Irelard aud furtherance of liberal concessions in her bebalf, his gentlemanly and considerate bear- ing, his exploits as a hunter of big game, his success as a farmer and raiser of prize stock, his popularity among the tenants on his estates, his social qualities and reputation as a good fellow and sport, his model quall- ties as a husband and father, his com- mon sense and tactful deportment, the universal good will left him as a leg- acy by his mother—all these, coupled with the fact that he was head of the greatest empire in history, combined to give Edward VII. an enviable place | in, the world’s esteem. The World’s First Gentleman. He was not a great man perhaps, not a genius in any sense of the word, not a mighty captain, not a reformer or a leader of new departures, but an a THE LATE KING EDWARD VIL. king personally disliked fuss and feathers. the fact most effectually. He prob- ably had more fuss and feathers than any other man on earth, except the kaiser. If he did not enjoy that sort of thing he was both a great martyr and a great actor. It does seem rather amusing that modern up to date na- tions rig out their kings in plumes and glitter and ribbons like a schoolgirl or a@ butler, but perhaps it is no more amusing than the fact that they have | Maybe the two things go | But it | kings at all. together and are in keeping. is not surprising that the gorge of a full grown man should rise at it. So if Edward did not like fuss and feath- ers the fact is much to his credit. His Genial Popularity. Another thing is to be said in his favor. Aside from his office, he was popular as a man, This was true when he was Prince of Wales and true when he was king. It was fre- quently stated that if Great Britain were a republic and plain Albert Ed- ward Wettin offered himself as an in- dependent candidate for the presiden- cy he would have been elected by an immense majority. An amusing though touching illustration of his’ general popularity comes to mind. An Aus- tralian gentleman was once in London and, observing a carriage with two mounted policemen in front, asked his own bus driver as to what personage was inside the closed carriage. “What! He?’ was the reply. “Dont- wher know? That’s "is most gryshus!” “What! The king?” “Yuss; that’s ‘im, right enough.” Surprise was expressed that the es- cort was so small. How were these two policemen to protect the king in case of a row? The driver laughed. “Why, ’oo’s goin’ to ’urt ‘im, mister? There ain’t no one in London ’ud touch a ’air of ’is ’ead. ’E’s a good bloke, ’e is.” This expressed the feeling of the man in the street, who in the case of danger would have been his sover- If so he managed to conceal | eminently safe man, with sound prin- ciples, good impulses and attractive | human qualities. He will probably not occupy a large place in the world’s history, but will be remembered as a likable man in spite of his crown. So long as there must be kings it is a pity there are not more of his type. Perhaps the best thing about him was that he could efface himself, knew his Place and kept it, was never afflicted with that disease sometimes observed among rulers—a swelled head. He had enough poise to refrain from making himself a laughingstock, He- never took himself too seriously. He was sane, wise and comfortable, an en- larged edition of a good natured Eng- lish squire. While he was not a mere figurehead, neither did he make him- self a nuisance. He did not meddle with things that did not concern him, avoided the ridiculous attitude of try- ing to pose as a universal overseer. Even before he became king he was generally acclaimed as the world’s first gentleman, and it was his per- sonal quality quite as much as his heirship to the throne that gave him this primacy. Edward VII. was born in Bucking- ham palace Nov. 9, 1841. “Is it a boy?” asked the Duke of Wellington of the nurse. “It’s a prince, your grace,” answered the indignant wo- man. It was a distinction that would be appreciated by a toady. The world is thankful for the fact that it was a boy as well as a prince and that he grew up to be a man as well as a king. In the home circle the future king was called Bertie. He showed no startling originality either in youth or afterward. In all his long life he said nothing that the world considered worth quoting or remembering. While he had titles, offices and distinctions by the score, the only things he ever actually achieved by his own efforts were the winning of the Derby and the many prizes he took for blooded stock reared on his estate at Sandring- ham. Measured from the intellectual side, his life was sufficiently eommon- place. Yet he was finely educated, had the most distinguished private tutors and finished his university course at Oxford. He spoke several languages with ease and in his day was perhaps the best royal linguist in Europe. The gift of many tongues is a social ac- complishment, and in anything that pertained to social life he was at home. The first really important event in Edward’s life was his visit to the United States and Canada in 1860. While in Washington he stayed with President Buchanan at the White House. On a visit to Mount Vernon he planted a chestnut tree by the side of the grave of Washington, the man who had whipped the prince’s royal ancestor, George III. There is evi- dence that Albert Edward did not care much for King George, however, since he was inordinately fond of Thackeray, who lashed-the four Georges with a whip as cutting as that of Junius. It fs not on record that this trip to the United States had anything to do with Queen Victoria’s friendship for the north during the civil war, yet it is by no means impossible that her mind was unconsciously influenced by talks with her eldest son and prospective successor. ‘Che very fact that he had been here and knew the situation at first hand would cause her to seek light from him. Americans may there- fore owe the dead king more than they know. Loyal to His Friends. One of the most admirable traits of the king was his loyalty to his friends. It mattered not what fate overtook them, his hand was open to them still. There is the well known case of the officer in the Boer war who came home practically disgraced, but who found no change in his former crony and then royal master, As Prince of Wales | Edward had not access to state se- crets, but this was more than made up to him by his freedom to form friendships with leading men all over Europe. One of the strangest and closest of these assoctations was with Gambetta, the republican leader of France. It was one of the most con- spicuous intimacies of the prince’s life, but was by no means the only indica- | tion of his liberal tendencies. | There must have been a peculiar | charm about the person and manners | of this king that gave him such sus- tained popularity throughout life, a popularity that enabled him to set the fashions for the English speaking world. So universal was the liking for him that even the scandals blazoned abroad were unable to shake it. To- day about all the world remembers of the most notorious one of these epi- sodes is the phrase coined concerning his efforts to protect the name of a woman, “He perjured himself like a gentleman.” Another charming trait of his char- acter was his loyalty to his mother. | Before his accession he uniformly for- bade the drinking of his health stand- ing, remarking that he was only a | subject. He went often to the theater, but refused to have his coming or go- ing noticed or announced. He also in- sisted on paying for his boxes and or- dered that if he were late the play should not wait for him. The same thoughtfulness for others was shown | in other ways. Lord Savile, who often | entertained the king, was once asked about his royal guest. “My dear sir,” he replied, “you would never know that he is other than an ordinary guest. He has the utmost consideration for every one, down to the servants, and nothing an- noys him more than to think he has put any one out of the way. He falls in with any suggestions made for his entertainment, and I have in my time | had many guests who occasioned me | considerably more trouble.” His Marriage a Love Match. The marriage of the Prince of Wales | to Alexandra of Denmark was due to a love match. One of the incidents | still remembered was the presentation of a ring to the bride, the setting of which was made of precious stones | whose initial letters spelled his home name, “Bertie.” They were a beryl, | an emerald, a ruby, a turquoise, a ja- cinth and a second emerald. In his public treatment of his wife and sons the king always showed the same nice observance of the proprieties and con- ventions that marked all the other af- fairs of his Ife. That this courtesy was natural and not assumed is revealed by an old story of a fire and a reporter. The Prince of Wales one day went to a fire with the Duke of Sutherland. Want- ing to know the details, he asked them’ of a newspaper man. At the end of the interview he handed the scribe a cigar. Tearing a sheet out of his note- book, the reporter carefully wrapped this up and put it in his pocket. “Don’t you smoke?” asked the prince. “Oh, yes, your royal highness,” answered the reporter, “but I am not likely ever to get another cigar from the Prince of Wales.” The prince laughed and, once more producing his cigar case, said, “You had better have another one— this time to smoke.” King Edward was about five feet eight inches tall and weighed in the neighborhood of 200 pounds. He was not especially devoted to athletics or exercise, but did more or less hunting and spent as much time as possible on ‘his farm at Sandringham. He was an inveterate smoker, was fond of mid- night dinners and liked the pleasures and comforts of life. In the field of statesmanship his most conspicuous activity was in the line of composing difficulties. He was ever patching up quarrels among his friends and after he came to the throne enlarged his pacific efforts to the courts of Europe. In future, there- fore, he will probably be best remem- bered ag the peacemaker, Devoted to All Outdoor Sports -- Exceptionally Able Business Man. Practical Expert on Air- ships--The Four Georges Who Preceded Him. wife of an English king since the time of James II. They have six children, of whom the eldest, Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, will Some day, if he lives, be king of Eng- land. As William Howard Taft is the greatest traveler among American presidents, so George V. is the greatest traveler among English sovereigns. His Bacchante cruise represented no fewer than 54,679 miles. During his colonial tour six years ago he and the queen traveled over 45,000 miles, of which 33,000 were by | sea, and in all those journeys, with the exception of Port Said, he never set foot on any land where the union jack did not fly. Again, on his famous trip to India the prince traveled 8,807 miles by rail- Life Story of ‘the Sailor Prince” Who Has Become Monarch of the British Empire -- A Mischievous Lad and Great Lover of the Sea. By WALTON WILLIAMS. a HE king is dead! Long live the king!” The cry which has been heard at intervals in England for more than a thousand years is heard once more. The kings come and go, but the king- ship lives on. Of old it was a title of almost terrifying power, the complete sovereignty of a nation concentrated in one man, Now it is little more than aname. Yet tradition, social prestige and some vestiges of political power make it mighty even yet. The idea of royalty yet dominates the European mind. The king may be shorn of many of his prerogatives, but he is still the king. Edward VIL., kindly and tactful gen- tleman, fondly named “the first gentle- man of Europe,” was known of all men. George V. is scarcely known by KING GEORGE V. his own subjects. He is forty-five years old and, as he comes of a long lived family, should have an extended reign. The title he takes is not partic- ularly promising, as the other royal Georges were a trifle ill starred. Thackeray reviewed them with biting sarcasm, nor have other writers been more sparing. George I., commonplace in mind and appearance, touched by some scandals of bribery and mis- tresses, advised to abdicate at the bursting of the south sea bubble, which was laid at his door, reigned from 1714 to 1727. George IL. even more mediocre and obstinate than his father and of equally licentious life, still knew enough to choose good min- isters. He carried the reign forward to 1760. George III., on the throne for sixty years, of more ability but of more obstinacy than his grandfather, George III. is chiefly remembered as the king who lost America to England. George IV. reigned but ten years, yet had more matrimonial misfortunes than all the other Georges and gave England all of that royal name she could stomach. That was ¢ighty years ago, and the world can forget much in eighty years. Let us hope that George Y. will redeem the name. He certain- ly cannot make it worse, not only be- cause of the supreme badness of the other Georges, but because the people of England now rule the realm and the king has little opportunity for evil even if he had the disposition to be bad. A Second Son. The new king, whose full name is George Frederick Ernest Albert, is the second son of King Edward and Queen Alexandra. Born on June 38, 1865, he came next in line of succession through the death on Jan. 14, 1892, of his elder brother, Albert Victor Chris- tian Edward. As a lad the king had a very mis- chievous disposition, and his many pranks led his father to send him to sea “to tone him down a bit.” He spent some years before the mast, got into a troublesome love affair, but finally emerged with serious habits and a reputation that has since clung to him of “the sailor prince of the British isles.” The chief events of King George’s life thus far have been his marriage and his trip around the world. On July 6, 1893, he was united to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, popularly known as “Princess May,” the grand- daughter of the first Duke of Cam- bridge, Queen Victoria’s uncle, a charming and cultured woman, who fs none the less popular in England because she is the first English born —_—_—_——- way alone» He spent twenty-eight nights in the train and delivered fifty speeches and performed a multitude of ceremonies. Canada is better acquainted with the personality of King George than she was with that of King Edward, who only once visited the Dominion. In the seven months during which he was away from home in 1901 the new king traveled 40,000 miles by wa- ter and many hundreds of miles on land, a total distance of more than twice around the world. He left the country on his long tour as the Duke of Cornwall and York. A few days after his return on Nov. 8, 1901, he was given the title of Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. In 1905 he paid a brief visit to India. The king is devoted to outdoor sports and is regarded as one of the best ten- nis players in England. He also likes to play whist with members of his family and intimate friends. During the last ten or fifteen years he has spent most of his time at home, visiting his estates and superintending the education of his children. A Sedentary Life. For that time his life has been call- ed most unexciting, in marked con- trast to that of his father. The old king, said a recent correspondent, “weighted with the crown, rushes up and down the land in motorcars and special trains, attending christenings, race meetings, receptions, garden par- ties, semistate and state functions morning, noon and night. “The son, whose only trouble seems to be the riddle of killing time, sits in his room at Marlborough House past- ing stamps into an album or reading a book. He does absolutely nothing and does it with such a masterly inactiv- ity as to rouse one almost to enthusi- asm at the idea of how successfully this proud prince manages to while away his golden days. ‘ “The prince, the princess and the rest of the family are up betimes, which means about 8 o’clock in the morning. There is the ordinary break- fast of a well to do English family, and the head of it beguiles the inter- vals between bacon and eggs with the morning papers. After breakfast there are charity letters to dictate to a sec- retary, for even the Prince of Wales igs not exempt from the incessant stream of begging letters and appeals from charitable institutions which weight down the postman’s bag at every delivery. 3 “Having completed this, the heaviest task of the day, the prince goes for a walk in St. James’ park or Hyde park, | risen to the post of admiral. accompanied by one of his equerries who live in Marlborough House, and when this constitutional is over it is time to go back and prepare for lunch. eon. Sometinfes there is a guest, but more often the meal is taken only in the company of one of the equerries and a lady of the princess’ household. Luncheon over, there must be some stamps to sort. The prince’s stamp collection is the finest in the world and §s said to be worth more than $500,000. “Then comes another walk in the park and then a book to read until tea time, when there are generally one or two visitors. Dinner, at half past 8 o’clock p. m., is quite informal, with a guest or two only here and there. If the royal couple go to the theater, din- ner is set for 7, but as they do not of- ten go to the theater the evening is spent quietly at home, the prince read- ing a book and, the princess doing some useful fancy work with the nee- dle. “Bed at half past 10 o’clock p. m. Is this not truly a picture of beautiful domestic bliss? Nevertheless I am quite certain that when the Prince of Wales comes into his own he will sur- prise the British people by his mental grasp of affairs, his wide sympathy with all classes of the people and his inherited capacity for governing.” Growth of Popularity. Lately, however, the prince, at the express command of his father, had taken a more active part in public af- fairs. With this increased activity there came an increase—or perhaps a more correct word would be a growth— of popularity, which probably pleased no one more than King Edward. Like his father, the new king is not @ good speaker. But he can say what he wishes to say, and, if he speaks tersely, it is always to the point, while he is an exceptionally able man of business. So far as can be judged, the new king’s sympathies are not so wide as those of his father, but his in- terests are multifarious. He is a practical expert on airships, and, of course, his naval knowledge is profound. Probably no one knows as much about hospital management as he does, and his speech some years ago about the Brussels exhibition won marked notice not only in England, but on the continent. By inclination King George’s tastes are sedentary, except that he is fond of shooting, but almost daily he rides for an hour. The Sailor King. Since he was called “the sailor prince,” George V. will doubtless be- come known as “the sailor king.” He is a great lover of the sea, and he has often said that had he not been of royal blood he would have entered the navy and by hook or by crook have When as @ youngster in 1877, a few days short of twelve years of age, he stepped aboard the Britannia at Dartmouth for a@ naval training he undertook exactly the same work as his fellow cadets. And later, when he passed into the navy and served with various war- ships in the seven seas, he spared him- self no task that fell to the lot of others. Indeed, he frequently under- took duties which did not come within his sphere. “I wanted to learn my profession,” he said, “and one doesn’t become a sailor by walking up and down deck.” An English critic writing for an American paper once penned a sketch of the new king. “Intellectually,” the critic said, “he is a typical Guelph. He has not inher- ited his father’s quick moving mind. His speeches are rather terrible per- formances to read or listen to. He has never quite found his platform legs. To do him justice, he had no desire to find them; he would far rather be on VICTORIA MARY, THE NEW QUEEN. a@ quarterdeck. But he cannot escape the penalties of his position. Hardly a week goes by without his being, obliged to deliver a public speech on some subject of which he probably. knows nothing—of which, at any rate, he cannot possibly know more than the alphabet. A clever man would get | used to such ordeals, would even learn j how to emerge from them triumphant- ly. But fifteen years at sea is not a good preparation for this kind of work, and the prince gets no further than a few amiable commonplaces, awkward-, ly expressed. Very possibly the Eng- lish public would prefer not to have it otherwise. A brilliant prince would: strike a great many Englishmen as im- proper.” 4 } | |