The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1936 "IHE KING IS DEAD.”

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13163, 23 January 1936, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 1936 "IHE KING IS DEAD.”

Gael made our bodies of all the dusttli at. is scattered about the World ; But our hearts he has made ol English Dust. And mixed with it none beside. That we might love with an endless love, , . ~ Tlie land whore our King s a bade. —Harold Begbie.

In his beautiful poem “England,’ Begbie epitomizes the absorbing, spirit that for so many generations has cemented the constitution of our great and glorious Empire, and today we mourn the death of his late Majesty, George V., whose body is shortly to be laid to rest along with his royal predecessors, thus ending a notable chapter in the traditional history of the British race. The Englishman has often been described as a. conservative fellow, but this term does him less than justice. For centuries he has been ruled by sovereigns. who have oniboduxl the principles of dignity, uprightness and fair play and tins long succession of monarchs has seen the birth and growth of tradition, which is the secret of the impregnability of the British constitution and all it stand* for. The late King George occupied the throne of England for 25 of the most momentous years in the nation’s history. Hi s immediate predecessors, King Edward VII., “the Peacemaker, ” and Queen Victoria, ‘The Good,” had won the hearts of ineir subjects to a marked degree, and their influence had proved a powerful bulwark to the Empire in times of need. Not only did our late King prove to be a worthy successor of his illustrious forebears, hut he displayed such qualities of tact, Humanity, diplomacy and judgment that he was soon taken to the hearts of liis people in the self same way. Where other dynasties, thrones and Kings had been cast aside in Europe. King George h;id become more and more a part til his people, and it is* oil record that when the mighty crowd paraded the streets of London for the jubilee celebrations, our late King was overcome by the tumultuous welcome and manifestations of love and affection from the people, that he said, amid tears, “ I never knew that they cared so much for us.” Such was the degree of modesty of our dead King. With him his duty to the State and the people was the first consideration, and there is no greater evidence of the truth of this than his last official action, when, prop lied up by pillows on his deathbed, with the doors of his bedchamber thrown wide open to enable him to see the six councillors arrayed snd and serious around the privy table, he signed “George R” to the document giving assent to the formation of the Council of State, which functioned for a bare twelve hours after it was constituted. King Edward, who died on May G. 1910, showed the same fib ting spirit to the end. His illness was almost identical with that of the late King, and despite the exert at ions of the doctors he stead lastly refused to go to bed, “remaining in harness.’’ as the London Times put it, until the very lust, when his condition became comatose. We nv*told that his late Majesty, King George, had been repeatedly advised to avoid the rigours of the English winter by sojourning abroad until the return of warmer weather, but ho over-rode the suggestions of his medicos, despite the fact that he knew how dangerous it might prove to his already weakened lungs and his concern for the stability of the Empire at a time of world-wide unrest led him to stay at Home in order that lie might keep in constant touch with his Ministers of State. When tlie Great War broke out ancf threw tho whole of Europe into a maelstrom of carnage, the late King showed qualities of courage, firmness and intense sympathy, and by his example heartened the efforts of millions, and helped to soften the blows dealt to the countless bereaved ones who had lost their nearest and dearest in the cause for freedom. During his reign the World went through two difficult financial depressions, and King George showed an appreciation of tlie natTon's troubles m

this respect by making a voluntary reduction of £*50,000 from his State? allowance. He was intensely troubled by tho unemployment problem in the Empire, and who can forget h.s broadcast messages of hope* and goodwill conveyed to the entire World on the occasion of his Jubilee and at Christmas time, when he

spoke to unseen millions as would a generous, kind-hearted and peaceloving father? George Rex. Imp. has passed on to the Greater Kingdom; wo record the death, or a noble King, we mourn the loss or an understanding father, anu* we treasure for all lame the memory ol an upright, patriotic gentleman.

• LONG LIVE THE KING.” “As the King died the Prince of Wales, his son and heir to the greatest throne and greatest empire in the World, assumed his dignity, heightened by the bitter blow of his and his family’s loss.” Edward P. has now become King Edward VIII.find very aptly does the Daily Mail sum up the position ii*. the foregoing sentence. The whole nation is griefstricken too, but our new King is called to shoulder the high responsibilities- of his off ice and attend to affairs of state at once*. The ascension or Edward Vlll. sees a Bachelor King on the British throne, which experience has not been the lot of the nation since the days of William Jl. (Rufus), while there* was also the Virgin Queen (Good Queen Bess) of the 16th century. King Edward may be rightly called the Empire’s Finest Ambassador, for no royal prince ever travelled a§ extensively nor has any otiier prince of the blood been acclaimed with such remarkable enthusiasm and affection. His cheery manner, likeable disposition, generous nature and outstanding sportsmanship have endeared him to the World. His scrupulous attention to the dozens of public calls made on him denoted an appreciation of liis responsibilities as heir to the British throne, and now that he has suceoetved his late father we feel certain that tlie promise he showed in his apprenticeship will be amply fulfilled. He takes office at a singularly difficult time and there is not the slightest doubt but what his remarkable personality will temper the troubles that are likely to beset the nation. May his reign be long and happy, and may his Kingdom continue to prosper.