KING GEORGE AS LANDLORD.

Evening Star, Issue 15373, 23 December 1913, Page 9

KING GEORGE AS LANDLORD.

Once more King George showed his consideration for the workers during a happy ceremony at Babingly, a.tiny village on the Royal Estate at ' Sandringhara, where he opened a picturesque club. The ceremony was of a. most informal character, tne King appearing as a country gentleman amongst, his tenantry, accompanied by the Queen and Princess Mary. The attitude of the villagers plainly showed that they regarded him as a landlord rather than King. His Majesty was received by Mr W. Bctts, his .oldest tenant; the rector of Sandringham, the Rev. A. R. Grant: his curate, the Rev. W.H.Gallagher;-and Mr Reck, the Kings agent, the last three gentlemen being the only people present who arc not actually inhabitants of Babingly. From the verandah of the quaint building the King informed the cheering rustics that the club was theirs. The villagers who gathered upon what will eventually be a splendid bowling green were then'admitted to trie spacious room, with its blazing open i're, its dark-colored rafters, and its chiHi'nl mural paintings. Queen Alexandra, RnnVictoria, and the King and Qucn of Norway mixed with the simple <\.u:itry folks in the single room quite as though such proceedings were an everyday jccu.ience. Covering every inch of the walls benvup the black beading and the ceiling were pjctures painted by Mr Kingston Rudd, the King's agent's clever assistant, and in his many local scenes he will remind the club habitues that England is a great seafaring nation, and that Babingly" was once.on the sea. Over the red brick fireplace is a picture of a three-masted schooner gay with signal flags, which read "Babingly Club, 1913," ami "God Bless the King. ' The massive fire-screen, which orignally it had been intended to hangoutside the, building is a. sign representing two pictures of St. Felix,"who is said to be the first Christian to land in Babingly. In one, with a quite Turneresque sky, lie is being dragged ashore by a shoal of seals, and in the other he has landed, and appears to be holding a prayor meeting amongst the amiable-looking seals.