KING AND SQUIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 9

KING AND SQUIRE.

LIFE OF LATE KING. Country Gentleman and Ruler Of His People. STRIKING PRESS TRIBUTE. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, January 24. "King George left his home for the last time in the character in which he lived there, as the squire of Saiulringham," says "The Times" in an editorial. "His life there was the life of a country gentleman among his own people, who saw in him the squire first and the King second. "So it was at Balmoral, where he was laird, and his residence so much the natural thing that strangers were surprised at the apparent' indifference with which the people on the estate treated his presence among them. King George was happiest in the country, living with his family in his own place among his own people.

"When the train arrived in London those assembled were awaiting, not the squire of Sandringham, but King George of England. Not yet had the full pomp of the Empire claimed him.' It was the King of England, passing through the capital of England. There were Kings of England long before there was a British Empire, and King George was proud of his kingly oifice and his birthright as an Englishman."

In an editorial tribute to the late King's religion, "The Times" comments on Parliament's prayer, written in 1602, containing the phrase,' "our most religious gracious King."

"If loyalty rather than veracity applied the first "adjective to the King then reigning," it says, "veracity no less than loyalty finds in it a true description of the monarch we mourn to-day. "Tributes would draw a false portrait if they ascribed his characteristics chiefly to inherited tradition, or indeed any other source than firmly held religious faith. The utter self-forgetfulncss with which he set himself to his daily task, the unwearied search for opportunities of showing kindness were direct consequence of his religion. "All who less than a month" ago heard the King's Christmas message will recall that 'God help him' as he spoke of himself in impressive sincerity. Who can but feel to-day that the prayer has been answered. The help which strengthened fcim throughout his reign did not fail him at the end. It spared him what he alone dreaded, another long illness or the disabilities of old age. A happy Christmas with his family in the setting he loved best, a swift passage through the shadow and so home. God helped him and that right early." Privy Council Incident. With King Edward's permission, Sir John Simon disclosed another poignant incident of King George's last Privy Council meeting. This incident illustrates another of the late King's lifelong characteristics, namely, his invariable consideration for others in even the smallest things. After a pause when the King was making those gallant and pathetic efforts to sign his name, he turned to his councillors and said very quietly and simply,' "I am so sorry to keep you waiting like this." "Those were the last words I heard him utter," said Sir John, "though, as we withdrew, he turned and gave each of us the kindly little smile and nod with which he was accustomed to end an audience."

FOREIGN DIGNITARIES. EMISSARIES FOR FUNERAL. (Recoived 9.30 a.m.) LONDON", January 24. Additional foreign representatives to attend King George's funeral on Tuesday will be as follows: —Bulgaria: King ■ Boris. Italy: Tlie Crown Prince Humbert. Rumania: King Carol and the Princes Michael and Nicholas, accompanied by detachments of two cavalry regiments. United States: Mr_jN T orman Davis. Austria: Prince Stamemberg. Siam: Prince Cliulachakra Pongsi. Egypt: The Crown Prince Parouk. Turkey: The Foreign Minister, Dr. Tewfik Risdiaras. Poland: The Commander-in-Chief, General Sosnkowski, Rear-Admiral Unrug and other dignitaries. Russia: M. Litvinoff. Spain: The Foreign Minister, Senor Urzaiz. Holland: Vice-Admiral Seliorer. Hungary: The Foreign Minister, M. de Kanya. Lithuania: General Tallatkelpsa, representing /the Army, and M. Lozoraitis, Foreign Minister. China, Iraq and Switzerland have specially appointed Ministers to attend. The King and Queen of Norway have arrived in the Tvne. A Berlin message says that the exKaiser has appointed Prince Friedrich, a god-child of King George, and the youngest son of the ex-Crown Prince, to represent the Hohenzollerns. He will arrive in London on Monday, the exKaiser's birthday.