Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1886 — The Troublesome Duke. [ARTICLE]

The Troublesome Duke.

There afe several stories related by the court chaplain respecting the eccentricities of the King’s bi other, the Duke of Cambridge, who would give veut quite loudly to the thoughts current in his mind during divine service. When the clergyman said “Let us pray,” the Duke added audibly, “With all my heart.” On another occasion, as we have heard, he said, “Why the devil shouldn’t we ?” Once, as the unfortunate curate was reading the story of Zaccheus, “Behold, the half of thy goods I give to the poor,” the Duke astonished the congregation by saying aloud, “No, no; I can’t do that; that’s too much for any man—no objection to a tenth.” In answer to “Thou shalt not steal,” the Duke remarked, “No, I never did steal anything except some, apples when I was quite a little boy.” Once the Duke objected to the prayer for rain on account of the wind. “No use praying for rain in a northeast wind.” The prayer for rain sometimes causes quarrels in country parishes. We know a case of a farmer rushing to the Squire to complain of his parson’s selfishness. “Directly he gets up his own rubbishing piece of hay," said the irritated agriculturist, “he begins to pray for rain!” The court chaplain informs us that the curate of Kew got so nervous at the continual interruptions of his Royal Highness that he resigned his appointment.— Temple Bar.