THE ROYAL MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 263, 29 March 1913, Page 10

THE ROYAL MURDER

nMflffflfiiHinii n , SKETCH OF A DEAD .UOXAKCH. One of the brigthcsl and must interesting sketches of the dead King of Greece was written a few years ago uy a .French journalist, who spent a happy holiday in Athens. The sketch was written, of course, in time of peace, and it represented the King as amiable, energetic and intensely industrious. The statistics about him are, briefly: Horn December 24, 1845; offered the Crown of Greece June 27, 18(13, in virtue of a protocol signed in London on behalf of Britain, France and Russia. On October 27, 1807, he married Olga Constantinowna, the Grand Duchess of Russia, and niece of Alexander 11. So much for history; the gossip will be found more interesting. The King is a hard worker, wrote the journalist. Even in winter he is early in his Cabinet. In summer he receives, independently of his Ministers, visitors to Athens who have asked audience with him. His, usual posture on these occasions is an upright one, and he leans against a small table covered with papers and documents, which stands in the last of the three apartments on the ground floor into which his study is divided. These rooms are ornamented with pictures, bronzes and marbles, among which are prominently placed on the walls the images of those who have done well for Greece, so that when a patriotic Hellene has an audience of the King he suddenly finds himself among his family portraits. Affable and very courteous, the King meets his guests with great frankness of bearing, the hand held out to them. His slightly guttural voice is well-toned, flexible and engaging. Once the ice is broken, he encourages his guest to be frank, and rather enjoys than resents a difference of opinion. After his receptions are over, the King, on foot and in company with an. aide-de-camp, Colonel Hadjipetros, visits the various points where he exercises control, public works, fortresses, ports, roads in construction, prisons, hospitals (these with the Queen, who is charity itself), then the schools, public and private, particularly those where the poorest scholars are taught, in whom his interest is very great. Queen Olga is as much loved as she is admired, and is a most worthy and intelligent Princess, of strong character, and a cultured and generous mind. Physically she is of fine figure and proportions, with a complexion surpassing that of the most beautiful Russians. She wears her dress, in which she takes much delight, with an air of distinction; and at a ball or reception looks a Queen twice. over. She has been at the head of many good undertakings. Many charitable owe their existence to her initiation, notably the model hospital at Athens. During the RussoTurkish War she established a surgical school, where women were taught how effectually to care for the wounded. In a true sense she is the idol of her people, and it is a standing wonder how she and her husband, out of the comparatively small civil list, manage to be able to give so much away in charity. The civil list of George I. amounts to little more than £60,000, but, in spite of that, he keeps up a good style. His house is beautifully furnished, he has many fine equipages-*-which he buys in p. ir j' s _l, 0 ] las two hundred horses in his stables, Arab and Hungarian, his table is sumptuous, his butler and cooks being French; his dress is bought in London, that of the Queen in Paris. At official receptions he wears the uniform of an infantry general; travelling he dons the dress of an admiral—a rank which he greatly esteems, as he went through all the grades of the naval profession at Athens.

The King is a great sportsman, strongly made, and a capital shot, an excellent liorseman, a splendid swimmer, an enthusiastic angler and fond of coursing. He has in the Gulf of Chalis a property called the Petalous—a small archipelago which he visits for the fishing. Another property, Tatoi, about an hour from Athens, well-placed, wooded and stocked with game, affords him convenient sport, then his domain at Corfu—lovely sky, a charming site, and a delightful temperature is his summer residence. Thither he transports his baggage and his documents. TJere the King and Queen affect the life of country gentry, living an easy life, without ceremony. The King concerns himself with agriculture; the. Queen, wlio is very artistic—in music and painting—gives herself up to painting, in which she excels. She reproduces (lower.?, which she copies in the open seated on si camp stool, a large hat on her head and palette in hand. She thus composes delightful bouquets, which she gives away to her friends, who are highly proud of them, for the little pictures, signed "Olga," in a fine running hand, would make a true success for the author if she had only her talent to live on. Tn their walks the Royal couple are very fond of making acquaintance with the working folk. " As both are very liberal, the fortunate peasant who is enticed _to speak to them seldom goes away without a remembrance of the interview. Official life at Athens is very busy and fashionable. During winter the palace is open periodically for receptions, dinners, balls—there are no theatrical re-, presentations for want of actors—and skating. For, since snow and ice never fall on the Grecian bills, except in the imagination of poets and in mythology, the King lias bad constructed in bis palace mi immense gallery with a waxed lloor, which, glittering and slippery, affords his guests the joyous delights of skating. On New Year's Day there is a great dinner, reception and ball, to wh?ch are invited the. Army, the Court and distinguished tourists. At Athens the custom is for the last-mentioned to leave their names at the Palace on arrival. Two days after they get an audience and perhaps an invitation. "March 25 is the occasion of a great ceremonial—being the date of the Proclamation of Independence. At Christmas the King, who is a Lutheran, and the Queen, an Orthodox Greek, each having a separate chapel in the palace for the other part of the vear. make an exception, and <*o to service in the metropolis with their children. During Holy Week the King hears, surrounded by bis Court and with oreab' pomp, a sermon on the Passion, and on the night of Holy Saturday the Sovereigns pass the greatest time in the cathedral. At break of day the cannon thunders, celebrating the resurrection, and the archbishop presents the symbolic red egg to the King, who kisses the band of the prelate and signs himself religionslv. The Queen, who is very fervent, fasts during all the week, and inculcates her rigorous sentiments in her children, who are brought up in the Creek religion and taught to speak the Creek tongue.