THE KING AND THE COLLIERS.

Evening Star, Issue 14963, 24 August 1912, Page 8

THE KING AND THE COLLIERS.

QUEEN'S VISIT TO A COTTAGE. When in Yorkshire recently, on leaving the Dalton Colliery their Majesties travelled through the little towns of Uawmarsh, Swiuton, ami Mexborough to Woodland, about four miles from Doncastor, where the lirodsworth Colliery Company have established for the benefit of their workpeople a pretty model village. Here tho royal motor stopped at the door of a collier's cottage. The King; and Queen alighted, and, opening the gate of a garden filled with roses, walked tip to the cottage. At the floor stood Mrs Rrtnvn, the wife of William Hrown. She had in her arms her only child, a baby two years old, and besitlo her was a neighbor, Airs Aston, carrying her child of about the same age. Tim King walked in advance of the Queen, and approaching Mrs Brown, saiti: "May I come in!'" '' Certainly, with pleasure," replied the woman, somewhat shyly. 'The Queen followed and shook hands with Mrs Hrown, inquired about the baby, touching the infant kindly on the shoulder, and asked if she might bo permitted to go over tho house. The request was readily complied with, and with Airs As ton the Queen made a complete survey of the cottage. Her Aiajesty said the rooms were airy and comfortable, and testified her appreciation of their tidiness and cleanliness. In the meantime the King chatted with Mrs Hrown, asking a number of questions. —The King Goes Down the Pit.— Too party then went to Hickleton Hail. Then came the chief event of the day—the King's descent at Lord Fitzwilliam's Klseear Alain Colliery. King George went down with Lord Stamfordham and Earl Fitzwilliam in the first cage ; in tho second were the Archbishop of York, Alajor Clive Wigram, and Lord Charles Herosford. Quite usual formalities and regulations were observed. The rule that neither matches nor pipes nor tobacco should be carried was strictly adhered to. " Have you got any matches or smoking material?" said the cage man to the King as he was about to step upon the cage. " 1 have no matches," answered His Aiajesty, " but I have a few cigars; may I take those?" " Yes," replied the cage man ; "I think you may." The Archbishop of York was made to deliver up his smoking material, and the same applied to other members of the party. The King's cage descended to a depth of 300 yards in o"> seconds. His Aiajesty examined the open way, then proceeded to the stables, where he saw a score of pit ponies. Carrying a silver electric safety lamp, the King went through tho workings for about half a mile, frequently having to stoop because of the lowness of the roof. Diverging from the main path he was shown an " abnormal place" working. Close by were a couple of men on the face, vigorously hewing coal in a very small and hot place. "Let me have one of your picks," said His Majesty. The instrument was at once, handed to him, and the King applied himself to hewing several pieces of eon I. He succeeded in getting a quantity of the softer coal, but a harder seam would not yield to his endeavor. Some of the product of his own handiwork the King kept as a memento of the v'sit. "He know where to find the soft—not hard," r». marked a collier when His Aiajesty had departed. After watching some waggons being loaded and despatched, His Aiajesty returned to the cage and ascended, having been helow 39 minutes.