STAGE FRIGHT.

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1934, Page 4

STAGE FRIGHT.

_____ I ; How a little lady, almost bursting with eagerness to tell the King about her wonderful son, was tongue-tied when the great moment came, makes a delightful story in a book, “Number 13,” the autobiography of RearAdmiral Gordon Campbell. 'He, along with other V.C.’s, had been invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace, and each guest was allowed to bring two next-of-kin. The Rear-Admiral arranged with his wife that he should take his parents, but his mother, who was simply yearning to go, said, “No, your wife comes first; you must take her and your father.”

His Majesty, However, heard of this, and sent her a special command. The old lady was immensely pleased, and told all her friends she had got a special command, whereas her husband and her son’s wife were merely on tickets! The great day came at last, and when she was presented, she curtsied so low that her son thought she would fall. •Then the King said, “You must be very proud of your son, Mrs Campbell.” .She replied, “My sons are always ready to fight for their King and country,” “Ibis,” writes the admiral, “seemed to be. a- good beginning, but as the King- turned to talk to my father, I noticed mother, for the first time in her life, look a bit scared. Suddenly, to the astonishment of those around, she curtsied again, and said to the King, “Well, I won’t detain Your Majesty any longer!” One can imagine the King hiding a smile at being thus dismissed.