PROTECTOR OF KINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 9

PROTECTOR OF KINGS.

Among the old-fnshioned traits of M. Paoli, tho "Protector of Kings,", one in particular may bo'noticed-in liis reminiscences—ho is inclined to bo superstitious. For instance, he gravely relates, in his chapter on the ill-fated Empress of Austria, how, on the eve of her departure for Geneva, where she was destined to bo'assassinated, she aßked her secretary to read to her the chapters in Marion Crawford's "Corlcone," which describe the detestable doings of the Sicilian Mafia. While the Empress was listening to this harrowing story a raven came and circled round her. She tried to drive it off, but it constantly returned, croaking. She was deeply impressed, for she knew, that ravens ttro harbingers of death. That night she was awakened from sleep by tho bright moonbeams which filled her room, and when she looked at the moon sho saw that it had the faco of a woman weeping. Just as gravely, M. Paoli tells us that King Edward VII made a rule that his mattress must never be turned on a Friday; it was his one superstition, and he made no secret of it. On the morning of his death, which occurred on a Friday, the doctors, forgetting his expressed wishes, ordered his mattress to be turned, hoping thereby to givo him a little rest after a night v>f pain. "A few minutes before midnight he drew his last breath." M. Paoli calls this a strange coincidence, but we strongly suspect him of seeing something more than coincidence in it. His portrait of King Edward VII is one of the pleasantest and one of the most convincing in the gallery. The public men of France, wo are told, whatever their shade of opinion, found the greatest pleasure in talking to this great lover of their country. "He was not of a communicative temperament, but he was fond of discussion, and ho argued ably and shrewdly, contributing to his judgment of men and things a soundness of appreciation, a perspicacity, and a certain attitude 'of philosophic doubt, which are characteristic of men who, like himself, have long had the habit of seeing, learning, and reasoning for themselves. Wherever he might be—in a political drawingroom, at the theatre, at the club, at the racws, at a restaurant —his curiosity was always on the alert; he was eager to gather men's views, to observe their attitudes;' he spoke little, but he was very clever at making others speak; his gracious simplicity put you at your ease; his loud, jovial laugh inspired you with confidence, even as his clear eves, when he fixed them on you with u cold stare, were enough to call you to order if you had ventured to divert the conversation to too slippery a ground." M. Paoli provides us with some further proofs of what is already -well known—King Edward's remarkable popularity with tho French people, and especially with the Parisians.