HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’S PRACTICAL JOKE.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 10 May 1920, Page 4

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’S PRACTICAL JOKE.

With all his onerous formal duties, the Prince still preserves the gladsome heart of a boy (says the “New Zealand Herald”). One night at liotorua he had a little practical joke entirely on his own. Alter lie returned from a private dance he astonished a porter by creeping quietly downstairs. Looking around for a minute ho found in the office the slate on which instructions are written as,to (lie time guests are to lie called. He wrote for a minute and then dashed upstairs again. The plotter looked at the slate and found an instruction to cull Lord Mountbatteii at 5.30 it ml Lord Claude Hamilton at 5 o’clock. The porter duly eartied out the instructions. Lord Hamilton, it was stated, was inclined to be annoyed when he heard loud knocks on his door as the town clock was striking the hour of live, but lie decided to resume sleep) without more ado. At 5.30 Lord Mountbatteii recoiled an emphatic call from the porter. and the Prince’s cousin was also annoyed. He was more insistent than .Lord Hamilton, lie wanted to know why he had been called before cockcrow. The porter immediately brought the slate, and to his credit, be it said, he did not smile. Lord Mountbatteii read the instructions and then he re-

marked, somewhat crisply, that the porter need not wait. He had recognised the Prince’s handwriting, but what happened later is not known. It is hinted, however, that the Prince had his bath at an earlier hour than usual, and that much splashing was heard front a certain bathroom, from which the Prince and Lord Mountbatteii. looking very cold, later issued.