JOHN BURNS AS THE KING'S GUEST

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6704, 30 December 1908, Page 2

JOHN BURNS AS THE KING'S GUEST

(By Norman Howard.) Tho ease with which John Hums seems to have been able to adapt himself to Uio exacting etiquette prevailing in ans- | tc-cralic circles is a remarkable ind/cui--1 ion of lus extreme versatility. 1 doubt ♦ whether it is generally rcalu-cd what a I nervous ordeal a first invitation to spend Idie week-end at Sandringham with the Koval Family proves to even tho most blue-blooded individual who has been accustomed all Ms existence to the conventional life led by Society ns spelled a very largo “S.” Imagine what a is< range experience itj.s to a man of John Burns's temperament and habits to have lu ,-pond twenty-four hours iu travelling. eating, sleeping, dressing, under conditions as different to his ordinary home life as flopping at tho Kit/, would bo to the man who had never previously experienced any tiling more luxurious than a, casual ward. For King Fdward, though an ideal host in that 1)0 is invariably at pains to make his guests feel perfeeliV at ease, is a great stickler for the strict observance of etiquette. _ A <a the invited guest of the King a special saloon was available at St. Paneras for the President of the Local Government ltoa.nl to traved down to Sandringham. but, as a matter of fact, Mr burns did not require it, for the Prince and Princess of Wales were leaving town by tho same train, and invited him to accompany them. It wa.« an interesting indication of the popularity of “Honest John” with members of the Boynl Family. Arrived a,t their destination, Air Purus at once found that a royal footman had been specially instructed to look after him and attend to all his wants. The King's guests arc not allowed to expencuee inconvenience of any sort if it can pos-ibly be avoided. So when it was discovered that John burns had lost his luggage—it happened through his ■changing into the royal saloon at St. Pancras—tho Sandringham servants flew back fa tho station and sent urgent telegram.?, and in plenty of time for Air Burnfs to change for dinner, they had succeeded jn securing the missing'baggnge. In the interval tho distinguished guest had been given 1 oji. immediately he arrived, and then shown to his room. His special attendant having seen that everything burns might require was at hand, retired after announcing that it was only necessary to touch the bell if his presence was needed. Immediately the missing luggage was brought to Sandringham it was unpacked by a footman, and the clothes Air burns would require for dinner were placed out,in readiness. About a quarter of an hour before the evening meal was served the President of tho bocal Government Board was conducted to the drawing-room, where lie joined the other guests and awaited the coming of their Alnjestios. He was warmly greeted by both the King and Queen, who spoke to each of these present individually, and then formed a procession to the dining-room. To a man who has been accustomed to rough it for the best part of his life a Sandringham dinner must seem unnecessarily luxurious’, though the King discourages elaborate meals. Conversation at table is restricted until after the Queen and tho other Indies of the party have withdrawn. The King then finds an opportunity for having more intimate conversation with on© or more of his: guests while ho enjoys his nft«=>r-d inner iunoko. On this occasion John 'Burns was singled out for tho distinction, and it is not giving away a secret to state that the unemployed problem was the topic which His Majesty touched upon almost at once. Tho King makes a point of not keeping his guests up lato at Sandringham, and in the case of a visitor like Air Burns, whom he knows to be an extremely busy man, he is especially considerate. Consequently Air burns was able to retire before eleven o'clock, and having given instructions to assiduous footman in attendance upon him as to the hour at which, lie would like to lie called, he was able to seek repose in tho huge bed which occupied about three time® the space taken up by any of those to be found in Air Burns’s 'own establishment at Clanham. Thirty rising is not a feature of life at Sandringham. ■ but Air burns cannot tolerate lying in bed after seven o’clock, and. consequently, he was out and about before the of the household. His faithful attendant, however. had brought Kim tea before he had left his room, and later ho breakfasted iu tho morning-room with other guests. The members of the Boyal Family almost invariably take breakfast in their own apartments. Air Bums was asked by tho King to accompany him to church, and they also returned together after service. His Alnjostv showing keen pleasure in pointing out to the President of the Local Government Board the chief attractions of the grounds. Mr Burns was still further honoured by being asked to join the royal pnrtv nt luncheon, and return to town with the King. One incident of his visit must have bcr'n rather'disconcerting to Air Burns. This was the necessity for distributing tins to tho roval servants before he left. Though tho King himself disapproves of the practice, it is well-known that visitors to Sandringham think in incumbent on them to show in <ome tangible form their appreciation of the snrvices rendered by the household staff. Usually, also, their means are such as to allow them to give more liberally than is possible for a man in Air John Burns’s circumstances. However, whatever Air Burns thought fit to do in this direction, the royal servants were jn no way dissatisfied, and they have since been heard to express themselves as much impressed with the personal charm of the work-ing-man Cabinet Alinister.