VULGARITY OF KINGS. Instances Which Prove That So-Called Nobles ark Often Ignoble.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 400, 7 September 1889, Page 6

VULGARITY OF KINGS. Instances Which Prov e That SoCalled Nobles ark Often Ignoble.

'Youth's Companion' alleges that people of rank can be frightfully vulgar, and nobody, after reading the instances cited, will deny the allegation. The Duke of Wellington used to tell a story of Louis XVIII., King of France, which may serve to illustrate this point. The Duke was taking a family dinner with the old King andihe princesses of his court, the Duchess of Angouleme and the Duchess of Berri. Upon the table at dessorb was placed a dish of very early strawberries. The King deliberately poured them all out into his own plote, covered them nith cream and sugar, and ate them, without ottering any to the ladies or apologising for nob doing so. Lord Mahon, the historian, on hearing the Duke relate this anecdote, capped ib with another. William 111., King ot England, dining one day with his wife, Queen Mary, and Princess Anne, afterward Queen Anne, ate the contents of a dish of early peas without a word of apology to the two ladies. The Duke ot laughed and said, ♦ Aye, I hope it is nob a royal custom.' His guests must have known whab he meant by this remaik. He had recently gone through many brouble&ome, and some disgusting experiences wibh that very vulgar and disreputable King, George IV., of whom the Duke afterward said that * he really could nob acb like a gentleman— for fifteen minutes !* There are no v nobles ' more proud of their ancienb lineage and fine breeding than those of Spain. Wellington, who lived among them for several year?, said that they formed a little coterie about the couit at Madiid, never lived upon their estates, had no public life ; and valued nothing bub the pietby distinctions of the court circle. He described them as very good-natured people, of crude and primitive manners, but ' complete liars and destitute of principle dr high feeling.' The real aiistocracy of the country consists of those who take the lead in thening, teaching, and improving it. Ancienb birth has nothing to do with the true aristocracy, not even in the comparatively unimportant matter of polite demeanour. Some of bhe greatest blackgua; ds now living on the earth had unexceptional greatgrandfathers, apd some of the most consummate gentlemen have made their way, unaided, from the lowliest homes, or still inhabit them.