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ilareer or His Edt-eMajesty King
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Apprenticeship
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yGeorge V. Exemplified The ‘i7 Noblest Virtues Of Monarchy."
(Continued from page ll)
w- ,‘ the background momentarily.
‘ In the meantime, the king and queen had strengthened their hold km the loyalty o_f their subjects. If the-court was marked by less oi the grandiose pageantry" that King Edward had brought to it, never- theless by-siuipliclty and kindliness it created a Heat appeal among all classes. ' ' ' ', King George was a frequent attendant at the theater and 100t- ball cricket and polo matches; he swung a pick in a coal mine; and " there were visits to many parts of England and Smfland.
Visits Germany And Francs
In 1813 the king and queen went to Germany on the occasion of the marriage of Prince Ernest Augustus of Cumberland to the Kaiser's daughter-
Later there was the politically significant visit to London oi President Polncars of France as the king's guest and the return call h 1914 when King George and Queen Mary went to Paris.
The World War Years
In the fevered days that followed the assnssi " -u of the Aus- trian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his consort in Sarajevo, King George made every eflort to avert war.
0n August 1, 1914, he dispatched a letter to the president of France in which he said in part: “I am, personally, using my best endeavors with the emperors of Russia and of Germany towards iind- ing some solution."
\
Helps England’! Wlll To W111
Within three days the breach was beyond healing and the king immediately let it be known that no eiiort would be spared to carry England's cause to victory.
The king and queen led the royal family in patriotic work. There was a succession of messages initiating or supporting movement's at home; cheering words went to the front,
Meanwhile, the royal household set a pattern of risld 9001101111!- It was placed on "war rations" and tbs king announced in 1915 that he had suspended the use of alcoholic beverages for himself, his family and the household,
l-la ordered the names oi German and Austrian rulers stricken from the Order oi the Garter and two years later changed the name oi the British royal family from the house of Saxe-Ooburg-Goths to that of Windsor and relinquished all his German titles.
There were frequent inspectionir oi industrial works, repealed visits to his troops in Belgium and France, tours o1 "hospitals and institutions doing war work, and trips w the Grand Fleet. 1t was
timated that King George attended more than 1,500 Ceremonies during the conflict.
Hurt 0n Vhit To Front .
An accident occurred during a visit to the fmnt in 1915 when the horse he was riding became startled by tbs sudden cheering of col- dlers, reared, and iell back upon the king. His injuries were 110i serious, however, though ho returned to England under medical super- vision and was con-fined tn his bod for some time. [While still on a stretcher in France, he personally conferred vwo Victoria Crosses.
On April 20, 1911, he attended a cathedral ceremony in London celebrating the entrance of the United states into the war and a year later he became the first British sovereign to participate in the cele- bration of America's Independence Day.
When the ru istics was signed November ll, 1918, King George spoke to great crowds from the portico of Buckingham Palace and . lved great ovations than, on the who’ in I 59661111 mini-Bill“! serviceiho next day in 5t. Paul's, and on succeeding days’ drives thrown London.
Calls Americana ‘Brothers 1n Peace!
To President Woodrow Wilson he had sent a messes: which concluded: \
"Mr. President, it u on this any one of our happiest thoughts that the American and British people, brothers-in-arms, will continue forever brothers-in-peace. United before bydanguage, traditions, kinship, and ideals, there has been set upon our fellowship the sacred seal of co n sacrifice."
In the next month ms American president was the rum o! the king and queen on his way to the peace conference in Paris.
Troubles In Post - War Years
Th, pogt-WB: reign of George V was marked by a wsltcr or
troubles. 19d Immediately pressinl was the nun problem which Id m“ from crisis to crisis during the war, culminatini i“ l 116W 8011911111911?-
of Ireland bill in 1920. ,
r
Ireland And lndia Problem! Tm gin; dud queen journeyed to Belfast to open the new Ulster
parliament on June I2, 1921, an occasion on which the monarch sought
w apply the crowds influence in healini the w"! °i °°“"°"°"Y-
"r spam to m Irishman." he said m can. "w lew- "raleh "i the hand c: forbearance and conciliation. to foralve- and form. w: adjoin in mung for the land they lovo a new era oi Delfliilmlii" ' njiout, and good will."
. acclaim Ireland remained a wommbvwvwr. and Ii ‘with e hcatywasstgaadcrsatinatnslriqhjrosotata. '
India, too, same forth with demands for independence calm frea- Com and in December, 1010,8111: Owl-u MM a "I11 P" ‘mm? yum" m” m“; . my, musing which gavs it a larger share n self-govern t. ' ~
_ In lloilTflu-thar step was inaulurated 111W m” “annual °i the first India round tabla conference and the king, who opened it. gm yoios to remarkable charms min: vim Vim" h" "i"-
sus alumna Ml Mil"!
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n s“, s ma: apamin the ms cf any nation." no ms inaartwmmussaussuwialom not mum 111411 W‘ Wm”
and growth in ideals and aspirations of nationhood which defy customary measurement of time."
Two other conferences were to follow and in 1933 a bill giving
form to the intended reforms was being drafted,
Acme troubles culminated in 1926 in the general strike and when the difficulties were finally surmountcd, King George paid tribute in an appeal address “To My People" on May 12, 1926, saying:
“Let us forget whatever elements of bitterness the events of the past few days have created and. only remember how steady and orderly the country remained, though severely tested. Let us forth- with nddress ourselves to the task of bringing into being a peace which shall be lasting because, forgetting the past, it looks only to the future with the hopefulness oi an united people.”
World Watches His Sick Bed
Two undone-half years later the eyes of the world were turned to Buckingham Palace where King George lay seriously ill. 1n De- cember, 1928, counsellors of state were appointed; the Prince of Wales made a. record journey from Africa; and an operation was performed-
He recovered slowly but by_May, 1929, plans were wcil advanced for a thanksgiving service June 18 in Westminster Abbey. ‘Ihen, on May 30, he was confined to his bed again. An abscess lmd formed under the site of the old scar.
He progressed rapidly, however, and the pmtpoued thanksgiving was held July 'l. Simultaneously similar services were held through- out the country and the empire. i
His people saw him emaciated and with whitened hair, feeble in body, but with the simpfe cheer of his quiet smile still in evidence.
The next day came the sudden announcement that a. further X-‘ray examination 11nd been decided upon. A second operation foi- lowed and portions of two ribs were removed to drain the abscess.
It was not until January, 193D, that". he fulfilled his first public engagement and opened the London naval conference.
Crown Links Whole Empire
On December 11, 1931, the assent of the king was given io the statute of Westminster. This gave formal ratification to certain resolutions of the imperial conferences of l926.and i930 whereby the autonomous dominions shared with the moihor country invrespollfiibll- ity for changes in the law of succession to the throne.
It was the seal of a great development within the empire, one
into being under George V a commonwealth of nations with the crown as the symbol of the free association of the members.
i v -
TYHE CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN
which had been progressing for a. quarter of a century. It. brcufllli‘
Royal Sportsman 6:‘ Collector
1n King George V, the sporting world had one of its most en- thusiastic principals.
Not only was he an interested spectator of events ranging from American baseball to championship cricket but he took s. keen and whole-hearted part himself in many pastimes,
Two branches of sport drew his fullest satisfaction-yachting and
shooting, both heritages from his early life. He raced horses and was skilled as a. golfer. _
As a king who had been a sailor-prince, he had a definite taste ior the salt air and he invariably was aboard his yacht "Britannia" for racing until the later years of his reign,
Royal Yacht Disqualified
He neither expected nor received any advantage because of his royal position. Once, in the Bristol Channel Royal Regatta, the owner oi the yacht “Westward” protested again the “Britannia? claiming that the king's boat did not give the "Westward" a free course around one of the buoys. The committee disqualified the king's entry.
The yacht up until 1933 had taken part lnimore races and won more prlzes—aggregatlng 346—than any other craft. The king, when he was aboard, was not content with s. mere passive part. There were many instances where he pulled lustily on a. rope and he always was able to give a needed answer ii the captain was in a. tight spot.
As one of the best shots in the country as a youth, King George drew great enjoyment in after years from hunting expeditions and no trip was complete without a break in the official routine for this 5901‘!-
Merely Tolerant 0f Racing
As a duke on his colonial tour, duck-shooting in Manitoba was a high-light, while as king-emperor on his India trip he slipped away several times for hunting recreation. His all-wearher shoots at Sandringham became famous.
As a- shot he took his chances with the rest and nothing was calculated to draw the royal displeasure more than any suggestion or intimation that game be specially rounded up for him.
The king was a golfer of more than moderate ability and as s. follower oi horse racing he maintained a large stable and was a. regular spectator at the major track fixtures,
Compared with his father, however, King George had a tolerant rather than an all-consuming interest in horse racing,
PAGE‘ A
i Dedicated ifo Empire A Services‘
, When the hard times his country aaperiancodin thalatar daysol ‘his reign prompted him to give leadership 1n economy, his stable wal one of the firetfluxuries" to be marud by retrénchments.
3° W" I 890d horseman himself and he was frequently seen riding on Rotten Row in Hyde Park early of a morning when the court was at Buckingham Palace.
loads World Stamp Collectors
One as his rhisf indoor hobblea for which he booama noted war stamp collect-ins: mm his early Miler divs on the "Bucchante" no" was keenly interested in vhiletelr and, experts doomed his collection the finest in existence. He had a special time set aside each, was! in which to inspect it.
m um ms m; was a delighted spectator at a. baseball gm. between the New York Giants and the Chicago White Box who were travelling in Europe. A foul ball sped directly for the royal head in one instance and although King 6001501793 well protected by the wire screening behind the home plate, he dodged instinctively.
His Private Life d“ Quiet Humor
As an individual, King George V was ‘characterized by a quiet dignity which, in contrast to the 1101x1113 spur to popular imaglnfltlpn that ostentatious monarchs created, lodged him more firmly, i: morq slowly, in British hearts.
H? P11511611 F- WIWBTVBUW. Even tenor in his home and official m9 and m9 “$11118 which 111$ illbleol-s held forvhim became one of constantly growing depth.
Slmplicl ‘In Family Circle
Unlike his father, who had a flair for wide friendships, King George had a gift ior making friends slowly but for keeping them s, 10118 time. Nothing was more typical of this than theoeep friendships he Kent 0111011811 his reign with those very few real comrades he made in his naval career. ' ,
His own home life set an example of simplicity and moderation, that caught the hearts of his subjects. He was a family man and nothing was more characteristic than the cheerful fireside Christmassa at sandfl-illham and the modest family parties in celebration of birthdays and other anniversaries.
Many human little stories ‘sprang up about him- One ofdhe favorites has to do with his inspection of White City, a Ipndcn stadium, on a. wet day.
Kins George stepped into a Puddle ofwater and splashed his uniform.
"Damn!" he ejaculated.
"Hush, George." admonished Queen Mary. home."
"Wait until we get
It was traditional that circumspect though the king was he had learned as a sailor-prince a. few expressions not found in dictionaries.
Shoots Jlbe At Alicea‘
Once when a sculptor submitted designs for some is“. 60,5,‘ m} king said:
"Make a big V behind my name. I should hate to be taken for any of the other Georges.” . v
After he became king, a story was told that some one ventured to remonstratc with him because, as many thought, an undue proportion of invitations to royal functions went to the army and navy,
His significant reply, which ended further criticism, was:
“They are the supporters of my throne. I cannot recognize it too fully.”
Religion was marked by the same simplicity which he brought to other phases of his life. He read the Bible daily, keeping a promise that he made early in his youth to his mother, Queen Alexandra,
His preference for the conservative extended to art, literature, and entertainment. Once he poked good-humored fun at some futuristic paintings and another time, on visiting a picture gallery, he said; "j do not like jazz art."
Preferred Public Theatres
Where the reigns of Queen Victoria. and King Edward V11 were notable for the number of private command entertainments staged for their amusement in various castles and palaces, King George had ‘a different feeling. -
He showed his favor, instead, by attending "gala" performances Open to the public and from which proceeds went for a. pension fund in his name for actors and actresses, The royal favor was also ex- tended to the variety stage, the proceeds from these special perform- ances again going to the aid of the stage needy.
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f.“ ma‘. ma," ".01" m. wmmonwealth containing . , , - ,
and Princess Elisabeth
His late Majesty King George V., with Queen Mary, and bride, the Princess Marina of Greece, after the. Royal marriage ceremony o
A’ ROYAL WEDDING PARTY
~
the King and Queen of Norway, the Prince and PrlncesaiNicholaa of Grace and 11.12.11. Prince George f the latter couple at Westminster Abbey,
Seated in front are ady Mary Cambridge (left)