ROYAL HEIRS. And Congratulations to Kings.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1904, Page 6

ROYAL HEIRS. And Congratulations to Kings.

THE joy-bells rang m St. Peters^ burg not long ago because an hear was born to the Czar. Everyone was so delighted that the royal line that has been such a failure m the past would still be carried on. Now we hear the King of Italy has an heir, and that the joy spread at such a rate that they got it m Sydney. Because a poor, unfortunate little kiddy in Naples or S+ Petersburg gets born to certain misery, there are joy-bells and illuminated ships and a great deal of ceremonial flummery without heart m it. * •+ # Royal girl babies don't have joybells rung for them, or incandescent lamps lit m their honour. They are not going to be kings, anyway. Isn't it a matter for congratulation ? The Russian heir, when he gets old enough to know, will understand why his royal pa congratulated him, and why the camp resounded with huzzas. He will know that the people were so> pleased with several other previous heirs that when they grew up they were assassinated. * * * The Italian Crown Prince will be told about his grandfather, beloved by all his people and respected by the world, and who was killed. In place of the congratulations, condolences would be more in keeping. The hardest luck that could happen te one couldn't be harder than being saddled with a prmce-ship. The little Russian, when he grows up, will be married to whomsoever it is polit.c to unite him with. The little Italian's wishes will be similarly consulted. It is grand to be a prince. One has so much power. Grand time the Crown Prince of Germany has, hasn't he. Had the exceeding bad taste to fall in love with an ordinary woman. Pa sent him to gaol to cure him. Now he is gcing to marry a princess—for love? ■* * * If we hated a person very much, and wished to play him the shabbiest trick thinkable, we should make him a crown prince. It would wilt the very soul out of him. And if there are two babies in the world whose future lot is to be sincerely pitied, they are the two royal infants who happily don't know yet that people are expected to cheer and wave flags at the prospect opening out for princes of a life of wretchedness.

That neat corps the Petone Naval Artillery are beginning their annual training on the 28th October, and as usual are extremely enthusiastic about •\u \ e- ! Spnt de corps of the Narals is the chief reason for their success On two occasions the corps has won the competition op©n to similar cores throughout the colony m which thirtysix rounds aie fiied from a' 6in. breeohloadmg gun at a target towed astern of a steamer. This year tre Janie Seddon will tow the target. The corps is short of its strength by eleven. Buglers are wanted, and, if the sound of that instrument is any criterion, there is » nest of instruments about. The corps will hold a competition' among boy applicants, and select the best. The corps' cutters will take part in the opening of tho Wellington and 1 Petone boating season. * * # Mr. Lemmom, the Australian fluatist, who is accompanying Paderewski on his New Zealand tour, has deeidied to go half round the world with him. From Australia they will go through India and then to Greece, and' the Avsrtrahan will not strike his native soil again until April next.