Lancings FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1915. GOD SAVE THE KING.

Free Lance, Volume XV, Issue 801, 5 November 1915, Page 8

Lancings

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1915. GOD SAVE THE KING.

Here shall 'the Press the People's right .maintain Unawed by principle ar_d unbribed by gain Here patriot Truth her glorious precepts draw Pledged to Religion, Liberty, and Law

May He Soon Be About Again ! TIME was when an accident to a British monarch would have provoked more sneers than sympathy. With-the majority of his subjects even "Farmer George," although a decently living man, and one in whom two generations of British environment had killed the original German strain •of piggish stupidity, was never real I v popular. As for the "First Gentleman in Europe' 5 (George IV.), despite his handsome figure—before he spoilt it with over-eating and abuse of maraschino and other oily liqueurs so dear to his royal palate—he may have enjoyed a certain popularity., with a small circle of "bucks" and roues, but, as to the estimation in which he was held by his people at large, you have only to turn to the pages of Thackeray's lectures on "The Four Georges" to learn the truth. Did not Charles Greville, his Clerk of Council, express the opinion that " "a more contemptible, cowardly, selfish, unfeeling dog does not exist than this. King." William the Fourth—the Sailor King—was a more or less amiable nonentity, and it was not until she had reigned many years that even "Good Queen Victoria" was very popular.

In the later years of her reign Queen Victoria became as much actually beloved as she had always been respected, but it was not until King Edward came to his own that the sovereign got closely into touch with the great mass of the people. King Edward had, as Prince of Wales, sown his wild oats, "lived down" more than one rather nasty scan-, dal,- had mellowed with age into a real good fellow, a true sport, a king whj> recognised the growing force of democracy, and honestly did his best to smooth over differences, between the classes and the masses. "Ce bon Edouard" —"the good Edward" —or "Uncle Edward," the Parisians called him, and as the real "author of the now famous Entente Cordiale, he was as popular in Paris -as in London. And then King Edward; -passed away into the common lot of all mankind, ' whether prince or peasant, and his second son reigns in his stead.

George V. is popular, deservedly popular, with, his people. His bonhomie may not be so pronounced as that of his father, but Englishmen one and all have come to recognise in him the fine old English virtues of frankness, sincerity and sound common-sense. He is no "show King," waving a sword about his head, talking grandiose rubbish about the warlike deeds of his ancestors, and. patronising even the Almighty, as does his Imperial cousin at Potsdam. He is just an honest, manly English gentleman, called uponby heredity and the British Constitution to do his duty in the highest post of the realm, and doing that duty modestly but well. Wherefor, when the news came through that King George—so different from the other Georges^—;had had a serious accident, all good citizens and loyal New Zealanders were honestly,unfeignedly sorry and. more.than a little anxious. His Majesty appears to have got over the worst effects of his mishap, and should soon be abo rt again. Meanwhile, the very genuine regret which is being so widely expressed is the best possible testimony to the monarch's popularity. God save the King I