THE PRECOCITY OF PRINCES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 50, 12 June 1862, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE PRECOCITY OF PRINCES.

The Prince Imperial was seven years old last Sunday. Underneath will bo found the last photograph that has been taken of him : “ It is universally admitted that he is exceedingly advanced for Ins age. He speaks four languages, excells in all bodily exercises, rides particularly well, is of gay, lively disposition, and remarkable for his general intelligence.” 1' or ourselves, we never knew a Prince yet who wasn’t “ remarkably advanced for his age.” They are geniuses and prodigies, long before the common babies all begin to speak. The wonder would be tofindaPrince who was not a genius. If such a curiosity could by any accident be found there might be some hope for him. He would be something nearer to the generality of human nature, and might probably turn out a respectable clever man. As a rule, wo do not believe in monstrously clever children. The interest taken in a monster is rarely one of long duration. In other respects, we arc inclined to give eve ry credit to what is said above of the young Prince. In tact, we are rather disappointed. We expected something a great deal more wonderful. Tho praise is tame —the adulation much too cold for a court like that of the Tuileries. The same things might be said of all the Princes who are alive now or have been alive for the last two hundred years. Did you ever know a Prince that was not of a “ lively disposition,” or who was not invariably “ remarkable for his general intelligence?” Why, better things would be said of an Epicier's son! With the precocity that is well-known to wait a very early period on all young gentlemen who have royal, or imperial blood, running in their veins, we had expected to hear the Prince Imperial long before this had learnt to smoke the strongest caporal, dance the cancan as well as Ivigolbocho, play at lansquenetwith the most-des-perate officers in the Guides, and had fought ever so many duels with boys twice his own age. Instead of being “ advanced for his age,” we call him, and especially for a Trench boy, extremely backward. In the same day’s paper, we read that “The young Hereditary Archduke had on the previous d a J (the 12th) appeared on parade for the first time in tho uniform of colonel of his regiment.” This is another instance of the precocity of Princes. He is a boy scarcely big enough to trundle a hoop, who is made the colonel of his regiment. We suppose he will be a field marshal at least before he is fifteen. Nevermind, theHouseof Hapsburgh will require shortly the aid of all its children to defend it, and moreover will need a very precocious Prince indeed to bo able to save it.