SCARED KINGS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 35, 6 March 1909, Page 4

SCARED KINGS.

SOME REMARKABLE INSTANCES OP KOYALTY SHOWING THIS .WHITE FEATHER. Ono of tho main rules in the life of a king is that his face must never betray his emotions; he 'must (never € sho\v surprise, or disappointment, or anger; above all, he must" never show tear. But somc'tinies it happens that the iron self-control of the Royal will breaks down.

One can readily understand the effect I that the terrible events of her weddingday must have had on the nerves of Die young Queen ol' Spain, and, though at the time her calm courage was the amazement, of all, it is <juite certain that the fright has had a lasting eii'cct. After a recent visit to England she was about, to embark on her journey back to Spain, and had taken leave of the friends and relatives who had come to see her oil'. Suddenly she turned back and hurried towards her mother, Ringing her anus roun'd her and embracing her passionately again and again. "I fear I shall never see you again," she said with tears in her eyes. The only time the German Emperor has been sera to look frightened was when he had just arrived in England 011 his Way to the death-bed oi Victoria.

O.NLY A CA.ULBA FIEXI). lie landed al Cowes. where he was received by the Prince of Wales (the present King), aud they had both taken their seats in a dosed carriage preparatory to driving to Osborne. As the carriage began to move oil" through the .respectful crowd something darkened the window, and there was a sharp click - ' like that of a heavy revolver. The Emperor turned deadly pale and shrank back into his corner.

Bui the click, was nothing more serious than the sound of a snapshot camera that an over-eager photographer had ! thrust almost into Lite oipen window if i the carriage. His imperial -Majesty dearly Joves to be photographed, but ou this occasion he was furious at having been betrayed into showing "funk." A curious episode showing the state of the present Tsar's nerves occurred when he and the Tsariua paid a visit to yueen Victoria at Balmoral in ISM. It had been arranged that when the Imperial train arrived at Ballater station some rockets would be sent up to announce to the Queen their safe ar- : rival, aud also as a sort of welcome to the Tsar himself. Unfortunately, no one had prepared the Tsar, and as he took his seat in the carriage he was startled by the sudden roar aud crash as the fireworks raced aloft and burst with a flash. The Tsar sank back in the carriage, , half-insensible with fear aud quivering like au aspen leaf, and it was some minutes before he recovered sufficiently I to bow to the crowds that lined the route through the village, j FIUGHTEXED BY PEASANTS. Soon alter his father's accession tu the Russian throne Nicholas, already 'half-crazed with' fear at his grandfather a assassination, received another : fright. A deputation of peasants from some .outlandish part of Russia had come to 1 ,do homage to the new sovereigu and the little Tsarevitch Nicholas. When they entered the presence chamber the I peasants Jluug up their arms in their barbarous way and shouted a wild greeting. 1 The unhappy little Prince shrieked aloud with tear, and had to be taken i out and pacilied by his parents, while the deputation was told to return on the. following VlUy. Whcu they came they were received by the Tsar alone, for the Tsarina was almost as frightened as the child.

FOUGHT i'Oll HIS JLII-'E. Those who have seen photographs of the late King Humbert of Italy cannot fail to have noticed the curiously startled expression of his eyes. People who knew the King say that this expression .never left his eyes from the Jay that Passauante attempted to assassinate him at Xaplcs in November, ,1878. Humbert, seated in a carriage, was receiving a deputation when one or them struck at him with what appeared to be a small banner, but it was one that had a dagger concealed in its folds. The 'King bravely hit back with the scabbai'd 1 of his sword, and escaped unhurt.

A dramatic little episode once occurred on 'the magnificent staircase of the Koyal Palace in Madrid. On the night of Tth October, 1841, a crowd of mutinous ollieers swarmed up with the intention of kidnapping tli-? child-Ouceit Isabella. Shots rang out, and -there was a .murderous hand-to-hand combat on the staimise. Poor little Isabella, all her regal dignity forgotten, wrung her hands in an agony of fear,, screaming: "Oh, don't let them kill me!" As da; - broke over the city the mutineers lied, and most of them were afterwards shot. —Pearsons Weekly.