It was something of a disappointment to the Academicians that the King did not see his way to accept the invitation to their first banquet since his accession; but it is understood that he was desirous of giving at this pet banquet.
son an opportunity of speaking on art And the Prince the of Wales rose to the occasion. It is no loyal flattery to say that his was distinctly the most interesting speech of the gathering. He had something to tell his hosts of the growth of art in our colonies, which he had observed during his tour of last year, and he told it well. Unfortunately Lord Salisbury, who usually makes avery interesting speech on these occasions, was not present. There is no doubt that age is telling on the clining power in the speech which he de-Premier, though there was no sign of delivered to the Primrose Teague the other day. That the King has not lost his interest inthe Royal Academy, was shown by his travelling all the way from Newmarket and back again last Thursday to see their exhibition. That was practically the only day he could see the pictures in comfort. All day Wednesday and Thursday morning were a3 usual devoted to the critics; Friday was Private View day, when the rooms are usually packed, so that only glimpses can be obtained of the pictures, Saturday was devoted to preparations for the Ban-public, who will crowd it for weeks to and on Monday the show opened to come.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.