KING EDWARD AS A MOTORIST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1784, 24 June 1913, Page 6

KING EDWARD AS A MOTORIST.

FOND OF SPEED. Reminiscences of King Edward are given in a book published last month, "What I Know," by Mr. C. W. Stamper, who was for five years private motor expert and engineer to the late King. >. Mr. Stamper, though ho never once drove the King, accompanied him on overy journey his Majesty madt) by motorcar.' The King used to go out in one or other of liis cars every day, and Mr. Stamper, who sat always by the side of the chauffeur, was present at many little incidents that occurred on tho journeys and saw tho very human side of his Majesty. He recalls the King's habit of saying. 'Tes, yes, yes." "Constantly on (his lips," Mr. Stamper writes, "tho words were quite indescribably eloquent, and they expressed mucli moro than'his mere assent." His Majesty, Mr. Stamper tells us. liked to be driven at a good pace and was always very strict on time. Caesar, tho King's dog, always went in tho motor-car except when his Majesty drove to a racecourse. "Sometimes," says Mr. Stamper, "the dog sat in front with me, but as a rule he rode on-the seat inside with liis Majesty." On a drive from Rufford Abbey to Newark the motor-car, coing at a good pace, went over a culvert. The car jumped off the ground and "kicked" badly. "Stop, ston!" cried the King. "Do you want to kill me? Just look at my hat." Tho King leaned forward and held out his brown felt hat. badly knocked in. "I have been tlirown.tip against the roof of the car," tho King said, "but it wasn't your fault, Stamper." Several of the leading papers,Mr. Stamper records, were put into tho ear. "I have .seen the King reading them many a time, and the 'Daily Mail' was the one which, as far as I saw. he always read first." "Once when motoring outside Marienbad the King felt sure that the car was being driven in the wrong direction. 'You're wrong. Stamper; I'm sure you're wrong. You'll land mo in a farmyard,' said the King. 'I don't think so, your Majesty,' I replied "On went the car up the hill, and the King was getting very angry. The next moment the car turned a bend in tho road and thore right in front lay a tiny Austrian .village—littlo better than a farmyard. "'i said you'd land me in a farmyard,' said tho King. His Majesty was very angry that day. 'He was often quick to show his displeasure, but it was wonderful :how soon and suddenly his anger would pass." Mr. Stamper disagrees with Sir Sidney Leo that the Kin* was slow in his movements. "His walk was never leisurely, and lie was in and out of a motor-car or train in' a moment. He spoke rapidly, ate very fast, smoked hard, and speed was of tlio essence of his nature."