QUEEN ALEXANDRA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1924, Page 3

QUEEN ALEXANDRA

A LETTER TO THE PEOPLE

■COMMEMORATION OF EOSE DAT.

(FRO3T OUR O}VN CORRESPOXDENI.)

. ■' LONDON. 3rd June. , For the, first' time in the history of Alexandra Day the people of ,Londoa will not have the privilege of.seeino- tho Queen 'Mother drive through the streets; At' a meeting of the Alexandra Day supporters a touching letter-was read from Her Majesty. .'. ■-■•'•-, „-.>'.'."■ ■.„,

i "I look back," -wrote Queen' Alexan* draj "to the wonderful success /lyhichhasr, " attended .'Alexandra Day'— not only in-tile-United Kingdom, but throughout".: the British- Empire—with feelings of pride and gratitude, and I, rejoice that* the splendid response to"our appeal has." achieved such .great results, and been,, the means of benefiting bur hospitals, institutions, and•'charities so largely.' It ■- .'. is'a .'great disappointment to me that I shall, be unable this" year to take my customary drive through the streets liporr''Alexandra Day,", as I- am advised nofc to risk the fatigue and strain which the ■:■ performance, of any \ public function -o£ ' this nature must necessarily entail.. . .•"." "The affectionate regard "which. tha - British' people.have always shown me since my arrival on these shores nearly 62 years ago, is one1 of my most -trea-' sured recollectipns.vand I shall miss more than I can' say. their !loyal, and; friendly greetings ujiori 'Alexandra Day' . this • year. But my thoughts will "be with ' tliera, and I know they '-will understand. . the reasons for my absence.*' ■ :'■■'■■' " The Lord. Mayor"said.that ."Alexandra'.!■'•■' Day" was spreading, throughout the , world,,,as not only had the'roses beendespatched to Canada,-' New Zealand ;■ •V> arid the West Indies, •but: also to Malts V:l and to Cairo. Many, ships on the high '.' seas would' also He. celebrating the'day'''■ .during the month of June. ; ; ''■..-'." .'. ''. >; . -:- -A NEW NATKINAL1 BAY.':'; S-'-. Colonel' and. Alderman; Sir-C. WaWl v field/ a' member of the executive com-; .'•■ mittee; for ' Alexandra ' Day, said : tha ■'■'■■■ .touching letter they had lust-heard had ■ gripped their hearts aud imagination ' Ttf was. a grief to them all that■ the gra-. - cious lady .who' had given her name to: Alexandra Day-r-and not only her name, ' but the sweetness fragrance of her; ' charming and charitable personality—could not be with them in person, tins "■"■'■ year. More than ever this year' her"^ name would h 0 on their lips1 and in their ' hearts, and not theirs alone; the whole.-/ nation would unite as ; never before' ia. support of ■ the hospitals in her honour -: on her/day. Sir Ciharles said he shouldlike to see the institution of a-new ria-~"" ■ tional day ;of .holiday, to be devoted primai-ily to the raising of money for" '■'-■■ thG_ hospitals, which, after all, 'we're a' .national .necessity and a- boon. He wa3- ; suro.it would- be enthusiastically endora-'----ed by everybody: All theatres, and -„.s anmsements could devote, a- portidn oE"~ theiyVprofits for the day to the hospitals. " If' this suggestion- should ever be 'adopt- .- ed, what n|ore appropriate 'day,!could ]je'-'' fixed than Alexandra, Day, .for.perpetua- .-,- tion-as a national day of rejoicing and -^ service? : ..-■'.■ •■ _ ;-.-""'-

The Hon. Sir Arthur Stanley.said that Alexandra ' Day was a public recoguii tion of the. fact Hint,-from-the-first day on which she landed' on• our shores Queen AleSandra "was known as the fore- - .most champion and supporter -'of'- every - good work, and everything which could : ' help humanity, especially the . Britjsli/~ people. As Hei- Majesty could -not- ha - present with them on the day of the • collection, surely it was; incumbent oil them lo send her a message to say that aUliou[;]i they, regretted, they .-would not be able to sco her in person-, she lived in then- hearts, and'they, rememberedher with eternal honour au'd gratitude, j