And the boys certainly did it.
Without Success
One evening Alfred Grünfeld, the piano virtuoso, was playing before the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. After the performance the Crown Prince patted Grünfeld’s shoulder saying, “Do you know, my friend, that we are, in a sense, colleagues?” Grünfeld bowed, but had to acknowledge that he really did not know how he came to the honor of being a colleague of his Royal Highness.
“Well, I will tell you,” said the Crown Prince. “I was, like yourself, a pupil of Kullak’s, but—now you must not give this away—the good Kullak wanted to make something of me, as he did of you, and he didn’t succeed.”
No Speeches, Please
While inspecting St. George’s Church, in Nördlingen, the Crown Prince praised the splendor and size of it. He was told that the Catholic Church in Dinkelsbühl was even larger and more beautiful, and he decided to visit that also. The burgomaster at Dinkelsbühl was notified by a telegram, so the city fathers awaited the Crown Prince. When he arrived, the burgomaster advanced to make a speech, but the Crown Prince declined to listen, saying: “Let me tell you something; we two will make a compact. You promise not to say anything, and I’ll do the same.”
Obedience to Rules
The Crown Prince, while in Dresden, visited the Johaneum, the famous collection of arms. Talking and smoking he walked about, when suddenly he noticed a sign: “Smoking strictly forbidden.” At once he took his costly Havana from his lips, put it into a boy’s mouth saying: “There, you finish it, I must obey the rules.”