AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21376, 19 January 1935, Page 18

AN ENGLISH GENTLEMAN

" 'When the Duke of Gloucester is in London he lives at Buckingham Palace, having his own quarters there. They are furnished comfortably, but without frills, deep armchairs and oak bookcases predominating. The walls are painted cream; the curtains are of dark red brocade. The establishment is simple, the Duke having a Comptroller, Major R: T. Stanyforth, M.V.0., M.C., and two Equerries, Captain Howard Kerr, M.V.0., 0.8. E., and Captain E. W. Brook. When alone the Duke amuses himself with his wireless set, or reading and smoking, settling down comfortably in an old jacket, with his Scotch terriers, Jock and DougaL at his side.. Though the Duke's library is largely composed o£ works on military matters, he frequently reads much lighter books, and lie is fond of a good detective story and of humour. P. G. Wodehouse is one of his favourites, and he never tires of the adventures of the inimitable "Jeeves." He is a regular church-goer, the King and Queen having brought up their children in a sincere and quiet piety. When presiding at an annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Duke said: "It would be a happier and a more peaceful world if in our personal and public affairs we all made the Bible our final court of appeal and accepted its ruling as the law of life." Though never shirking public duties, the Duke of Gloucester is fond of privacy, and in his private capacity often travels alone, without even the single equerry usually considered indispensable. If he can do so unrecognised, he is well content, though sometimes his moustache betrays him. The moustache and his slightly serious expression make him look somewhat older than his years. His personal requirements are modest; no one could be less extravagantly inclined. On an occasion when he wanted to put up some additional stabling at his place in the Shires he sold part of his library to pay for the work, and it is said that one or two collectors of first editions secured long-desired volumes as a result. He preserves his incognito whenever possible. Once when he was leaving the racecourse he saw a lad knocked down and injured. The Duke enquired what hospital the boy was being taken to, and the next morning rang up and enquired after the boy. "He is much better," came the answer. "Who is speaking?" "Oh, he doesn't know me," said the Duke. "I only wanted to make sure he wasn't seriously injured." The Duke dislikes being photographed, and shuns the camera on all but public occasions, when he cheerfully submits. He is an excellent "sitter," provided he is not snapped unawares, an event which annoys him very much, as it used to annoy the Prince of Wales until he grew hardened. He has a confirmed dislike of autographhunters. With that quiet determination which

Duke's Tastes and Dislikes SIMPLICITY IN PRIVATE LIFE Many of the traditional qualities of the English gentleman are to be found in the nature and character of the Duke of Gloucester. His tastes are simple, and he jealously guards such privacy as he can snatch from his public duties. He dislikes being photographed except on public occasions, and he seldom yields to autographhunters. He has a deep understanding of children and dogs. He enjoys the cinema End good musical comedy, but he is indifferent to cards. He is a good dancer, likes a detective story, and has a taste for antiques. If he has a personal foible, it is for carrying an umbrella. He is distinguished for strength of character, determination, and a certain reserve lightened by a dry sense of humour.

characterises him, he has made it a rule never to accede to such requests. The Duke is inclined to share the Prince of Wales's preference for plays of a lighter kind. He enjoys a good musical comedy, and when he accompanied their Majesties to a command variety performance, no member df the audience showed more enthusiastic appreciation of the humorous turns than did his Royal Highness. He is something of a film "fan," and occasionally drops into a cinema where a good picture is being shown. He enjoys the athletic exhibitions of Douglas Fairbanks, and the riding in some of the Wild West pictures, but takes little interest in sophisticated films, or in ultra-sensational pictures. The Duke has a pleasant singing voice which he rarely uses. He shares his brothers' indifference to most card games. He says he is keeping them for his old age. Since his return from Japan his Royal Highness has developed a taste for antiques, and this has greatly pleased Queen Mary, who is an enthusiastic collector. He acquired some very fine specimens of pottery in Japan, and has added to his collection by judicious purchases. He is an excellent judge, and it is not easy to deceive him with imitations. There is a story that on one occasion he was badly deceived, and a piece for which he had paid a good price was proved to be imitation. "Did you tell the dealer who you were?" asked a friend. "No," replied the Duke. "He wouldn't have given you a fake if you had," said the friend. "More probably I should have had to pay twice as much for it," responded the Duke. He entertains regularly. His friends arc drawn from his brother-officers and "out-of-door" men, Lord Burghley, the athlete, being one of his intimates. While perhaps not so fond of society as his brothers, the Duke is an excellent dancer, and when he attends hunt balls, one of his favourite forms of entertainment, he rarely misses a dance. He has an innate courtesy. It is related that when he was descending the gangway of a steamer on his return from his African tour he saw an elderly woman struggling with a suit-case. He asked whether he might carry it for her to the Customs House. He did not disclose his identity. While his Royal Highness has a full sense of the responsibilities of his position, and possesses the natural dignity with which to support them, it is certain that he would have beeti happy as a country gentleman, looking after the welfare of his tenants, farming his acres, shooting his coverts, and developing his estates. He has the selfreliance, strength of character, determination, and reserve of his mother. It is a reserve, however, which, like that of the Queen, is closely coupled with a sense of humour which enables him to meet difficult situations with an unruffled calm, and to deal with all sorts and conditions of people on the best of terms.