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in another half…minute they would have been in the house； but
then a thing happened which delayed themthe only solitary thing
in this world which could be relied on with certainty to
accomplish it； I supposean imperial princess appeared in the
balcony above them。 They stopped dead in their tracks and began
to gaze in a stupor of gratitude and satisfaction。 The lady
presently saw that she must disappear or the doors would be
closed upon these worshipers； so she returned to her box。 This
daughter…in…law of an emperor was pretty； she had a kind face；
she was without airs； she is known to be full of common human
sympathies。 There are many kinds of princesses； but this kind is
the most harmful of all； for wherever they go they reconcile
people to monarchy and set back the clock of progress。 The
valuable princes； the desirable princes； are the czars and their
sort。 By their mere dumb presence in the world they cover with
derision every argument that can be invented in favor of royalty
by the most ingenious casuist。 In his time the husband of this
princess was valuable。 He led a degraded life； he ended it with
his own hand in circumstances and surroundings of a hideous sort；
and was buried like a god。
In the opera…house there is a long loft back of the
audience； a kind of open gallery； in which princes are displayed。
It is sacred to them； it is the holy of holies。 As soon as the
filling of the house is about complete the standing multitude
turn and fix their eyes upon the princely layout and gaze mutely
and longingly and adoringly and regretfully like sinners looking
into heaven。 They become rapt； unconscious； steeped in worship。
There is no spectacle anywhere that is more pathetic than this。
It is worth crossing many oceans to see。 It is somehow not the
same gaze that people rivet upon a Victor Hugo； or Niagara； or
the bones of the mastodon； or the guillotine of the Revolution；
or the great pyramid； or distant Vesuvius smoking in the sky； or
any man long celebrated to you by his genius and achievements； or
thing long celebrated to you by the praises of books and
picturesno； that gaze is only the gaze of intense curiosity；
interest； wonder； engaged in drinking delicious deep draughts
that taste good all the way down and appease and satisfy the
thirst of a lifetime。 Satisfy itthat is the word。 Hugo and
the mastodon will still have a degree of intense interest
thereafter when encountered； but never anything approaching the
ecstasy of that first view。 The interest of a prince is
different。 It may be envy； it may be worship； doubtless it is a
mixture of bothand it does not satisfy its thirst with one
view； or even noticeably diminish it。 Perhaps the essence of the
thing is the value which men attach to a valuable something which
has come by luck and not been earned。 A dollar picked up in the
road is more satisfaction to you than the ninety…and…nine which
you had to work for； and money won at faro or in stocks snuggles
into your heart in the same way。 A prince picks up grandeur；
power； and a permanent holiday and gratis support by a pure
accident； the accident of birth； and he stands always before the
grieved eye of poverty and obscurity a monumental representative
of luck。 And thensupremest value of all…his is the only high
fortune on the earth which is secure。 The commercial millionaire
may become a beggar； the illustrious statesman can make a vital
mistake and be dropped and forgotten； the illustrious general can
lose a decisive battle and with it the consideration of men； but
once a prince always a princethat is to say； an imitation god；
and neither hard fortune nor an infamous character nor an addled
brain nor the speech of an ass can undeify him。 By common
consent of all the nations and all the ages the most valuable
thing in this world is the homage of men； whether deserved or
undeserved。 It follows without doubt or question； then； that the
most desirable position possible is that of a prince。 And I
think it also follows that the so…called usurpations with which
history is littered are the most excusable misdemeanors which men
have committed。 To usurp a usurpationthat is all it amounts
to； isn't it？
A prince is not to us what he is to a European； of course。
We have not been taught to regard him as a god； and so one good
look at him is likely to so nearly appease our curiosity as to
make him an object of no greater interest the next time。 We want
a fresh one。 But it is not so with the European。 I am quite
sure of it。 The same old one will answer； he never stales。
Eighteen years ago I was in London and I called at an
Englishman's house on a bleak and foggy and dismal December
afternoon to visit his wife and married daughter by appointment。
I waited half an hour and then they arrived； frozen。 They
explained that they had been delayed by an unlooked…for
circumstance： while passing in the neighborhood of Marlborough
House they saw a crowd gathering and were told that the Prince of
Wales was about to drive out； so they stopped to get a sight of
him。 They had waited half an hour on the sidewalk； freezing with
the crowd； but were disappointed at lastthe Prince had changed
his mind。 I said； with a good deal of surprise； 〃Is it possible
that you two have lived in London all your lives and have never
seen the Prince of Wales？〃
Apparently it was their turn to be surprised； for they
exclaimed： 〃What an idea！ Why； we have seen him hundreds of
times。〃
They had seem him hundreds of times； yet they had waited
half an hour in the gloom and the bitter cold； in the midst of a
jam of patients from the same asylum； on the chance of seeing him
again。 It was a stupefying statement； but one is obliged to
believe the English； even when they say a thing like that。 I
fumbled around for a remark； and got out this one：
〃I can't understand it at all。 If I had never seen General
Grant I doubt if I would do that even to get a sight of him。〃
With a slight emphasis on the last word。
Their blank faces showed that they wondered where the
parallel came in。 Then they said； blankly： 〃Of course not。 He
is only a President。〃
It is doubtless a fact that a prince is a permanent
interest； an interest not subject to deterioration。 The general
who was never defeated； the general who never held a council of
war； the only general who ever commanded a connected battle…front
twelve hundred miles long； the smith who welded together the
broken parts of a great republic and re…established it where it
is quite likely to outlast all the monarchies present and to
come； was really a person of no serious consequence to these
people。 To them； with their training； my General was only a man；
after all； while their Prince was clearly much more than thata
being of a wholly unsimilar construction and constitution； and
being of no more blood and kinship with men than are the serene
eternal ligh