CARRY ON, LONDON!

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1937, Page 6

CARRY ON, LONDON!

SETTLING BACK TO WORK, (By NELLE M. SCANLAX.) Every Saturday night we have an item on the wireless which is called "In Town To-nigbt." It always begins the same way, with a composite record of the sounds of London; the roar of traffic, the honking of cars, the cry of the old flower-sellers in Piccadilly, and the medley of voices that go to make up this old London of ours. Suddenly it stops, and the announcer brings to the microphone a number of interesting people who are "in town to-night." At the end of this varied and often amusing half-hour, we hear the cry: "Carry on, London." And once more the rush and roar, the honk of cars, and the babble of cries and voices is heard. London goes on its way. So it is this week For ten dreadful and anxious days, though the work of the city went on, the shops were open, the theatres crowded, there was a total disruption of life behind the scenes. No one could settle down. Xow it is all over, "Carry on. London." indeed, "Carry on, the Empire." might be a true summing up of events. The recent crisis, from which we feared to emerge as a shaken people, an Empire with lost prestige, has proved not only to the world, but to the people of this country and overseas, how amazing is our capacity for adjustment. It was a severe test, and we have come through, and no one is more surprised than the British people themselves. Quietly they admit these things; there is no boasting about it, but we face the turn into a new year and a new reign with enhanced confidence in our system of government. It has meant a reaffirmation of faith. Too often the world is deceived by tlie vocal minority who claim to speak for all. .But the silent millions, who go about tlieir daily task are the true barometer of public opinion and feelings. And now we know it. The Old Tradition. •The new King and Queen will pick up the threads where King George V. left off. They will >»rrv on many of the threatened institutions and ceremonies that have become dear to the people. They have no love of pomp, but there is a certain amount of pageantry associated with Monarchy which is symbolic, and this will be retained. The traditions of Balmoral and Sandringham will continue; the King will race under his own colours, the Royal train will once more take the rails. Two great friends of the King and Queen are Sir Philip Sassoon and his cousin, Mrs. Gubbay. Mrs. Gubbay is a close friend of the Queen and shares with her an interest in old furniture and old silver. In fact, it was Mrs. Gubbay who helped the Queen in her search for lovely, old things for her home at 145, Piccadilly. The restrictions imposed on Royalty extend even to these two small girls. At children's parties, in the thick of the fun, their little guests may forget about ceremony, but when the party goes in to tea, or moves from room to room, the order of precedence is strictly observed. Omens From the Past. Omens, good and ill, are still being trailed by people who love such research, and that distinguished woman, Helena Normanton, states that throughout English history a change in the surname of the reigning dynasty has almost invariably been followed by a break in the succession of. the new-named monarch's eldest son. This series of coincidences goes hack to the time when the House of Godwin was displaced by William the Conqueror. When the Conqueror died, his eldest son Robert obtained only Normandy, while his younger brother took the inheritance of England. Robert eventually died a poor, blind prisoner at Cardiff. Henry 11. adopted the surname of Plantagenet. He was so determined to be succeeded by his eldest *011 Henry that he had him crowned during his lifetime. But the eon diecj before his father. The first King of the House of York was Edward IV., and his eldest son, Edward V. succeeded him, but was deposed and murdered in the tower before his coronation. The next change was to the House of Tudor. Henry VII. had two sons. Arthur and Henry. Arthur died during big father's lifetime, and his second son became Henry VIII. The death of Queen Elizabeth, the "last of the Tudors, brought the House of Stuart to the throne with James I. of England and VI. of Scotland. He died and his younger brother, Charles 1., became King. The last Stuart reigned as Mary, wife of William of Orange. Her sister. Queen Aline, married Prince Georare of Denmark, and once again a change in the name was associated with the death of the son «nd heir. Anne's eldest surviving son. the Duke of Gloucester, died when still an infant, and the House of Hanover became the ruling dynasty and so we had the succession of (Jeorres. The name was again changed when Queen Victoria came to the throne, and she married Prince Albert of Sa.xe-Coburs-Gotha. King Edward \ 11. was the first to bear this name, and bis eldest son. the Duke of Clarence, died, and it was his second son, George V., who came to the throne. The last change was during the war, when Kins CJeorce dronned the German name and took Windsor. The abdication of his eldest son. Edward VIII., before his coronation, is .the latest instance of this unfortunate coincidence. In view of this, when Princess Elizabeth conies to the throne, and marries, people might deem it wise to retain the name of Windsor for the reigning House and not make another change.