Late King George

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 183, 5 August 1938, Page 2

Late King George

j OLD ITUEND’S TRIBUTE LONDON, July 16. I The Dean of Windsor, Dr. Albert Br.illie, paid a tribute to -King Georgo V., whoso close friend he had been for many years, when the spoke this week at the unveiling by the American Ami bassador, Mr. J. P. Kennedy, of a win!dow at Winchester Cathedral, in memory of the late monarch. The window jwas the gift of five anonymous AmeriI cans. I “Kang George V. disliked memorials and commemoratioins,” said the dean. “He would certainly have forbidden | them in his own case if it had been possible. They irritated him, because he ■hated humbug intensely, and thought that in them people alway s expressed J conventional exaggerations and unrealities. It was part of the straight-for-I ward honesty of his mind. I “Other Kings and great men have ' dazzled the world by their great powers, but George V. won a personal affection and respect uniquo in their quality. Men all over the world felt that he belonged to them. Hia death seemed like a family bereavement to men who had not even the ties of nationality to bind them to him. Following the Path of Duty. * ‘That affection was a sincere and personal thing. It was not like the awed admiration with which men had j recognised the greatness of transcendent 'genius or of dominating personality; nor .was it the popularity won by dazzling charm or the triumphant glory of success. It was something deeper. Men ! felt that he was great, but not with the exceptional greatness of remarkable talents or outstanding abilities, j “The greatness of King George V. was not in what he did, but in what .he was. It was the greatness won by I following the path of duty firmly, brave- ; ly, consistently, consecrating every .power to it without any thought of self, jTo do this as perfectly as he dia amounted to genius, and was recognised as greatness, and yet to that all men could aspire. j “The recognition of his greatness 'came gradually. Ho began to reign with no popularity or prestige. He was little known; he had no popular arts; ho did not enjoy the pomp and circumstance of kingship. He nated publicity, and very reluctantly consented to such a measure of publicity as his advisers .hought indispensable. Never a Complete Day’s Holiday. “Tho late King never considered the I popularity of his acts. Quietly and 1 patiently, with infinite concentration (and moral courage, he fulfilled the laborious duties of his office, in one of the most difficuit reigns a King was ever called upon to face, without a thought of wiiat men would think of him. How laborious those duties were, few people understand. * ‘One evening, when he was obviously very tired, ho said to mo wearily, ‘ People don’t realise that lam the only ’man in England who never has a complete day’s holiday. No one else can do my job.’ That was the simple truth. I“No one who knew him could doubt that he would have been ready to die for his country. As it was, he showed ’equal unselfishness in living for it. No doubt he had faults and limitations—every man has—but he was good through and through.*’