Prince Vance: The Story of a Prince with a Court in his Box (1888)

Popular children's novel, first published in 1888. The story begins: "It was certainly not strange that Prince Vance was so stupefied with astonishment that he sat for a full half-hour foolishly staring before him, without an effort to move a muscle or to stir from his seat. Indeed, it is probable that any other prince in the same circumstances would have been equally struck dumb with amazement,--as any one may see who will attend while I go back to the beginning, and relate what had happened." According to Wikipedia: "Arlo Bates (December 16, 1850 – August 25, 1918) was an American author, educator and newspaperman."