THE DEAD KING.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13164, 24 January 1936, Page 7

THE DEAD KING.

SERENITY AND NOBILITY. United Press Assn.—-By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 22. The Daily Telegraph's Sandringham correspondent says: “Before King George’s body was borne to Sandringham Church forty royal servants were permitted to enter the bedroom separately for a last gaze on their dead master \vho lay in the open coffin in the middle of the room, the lid being placed across the lower portion of the coffin and on which lay bunches of carnations and heliotrope, the King's favourite flowers. Hie King lay with a half smile on his lips and an expression of complete serenity. He was clad in a silken shroud with a white ruffle at the throat and his arms at his sides. An eye-witness said: “He looked exactly as in life and 1 half expected him to open his eyes at any moment' and awake from his sleep. .Here obviously was a man who died a<t peace with the world. A slight colour in his cheeks enhanced the nobility of his calm features and he looked splendidly regal in death.’’ The chamber is exactly as in the King’s lifetime. The bed was made with the coverlet turned back. A silken lounge hung against one wall as though at any moment the customary wearer might need it. QU EEN L Y CO UR A GE. LONDON, January 2.1. A high authority at Sandringham stated that the Queen is bearing up with magnificent courage. She rested this morning, and is expected to attend to-morrow’s private service .n the village church. A simple*, homely act marks the beginning of the new reign. Since the days of Edward VII the staff at Sandringham has worked to a timetable half an hour ahead of Greenwich mean time, owing to the late King Edward's desire to get more daylight for shooting parties. King George continued this practice. The new King conferred with his mother and decided with the dawn to begin new time. All clocks, including those at Sandringham Parish Church, were therefore l put back half an hour. The Princess Royal and the Duchess ol Kent spent the morning with the Queen, who spoke by telephone to Queen Maud of Norway, who intends to crime ito London for her brother’s funeral. Tt was a sorrowful family party which sat clown to lunch. The news was broken to the little Princesses when tin* Duchess of York paid her usual morning visit to the nursery. The Royal f amilv is discussing plans for the future ol Sandringham and the other Royal residences. All ships fired a salute of 70 guns as a last message of the love of tho Navy, with which King George* was so closely identified. The Air Ministry flashed the news to all w stathroughout the world and will hob *nsigns at hall-mast daily until ..her orders. The large Sebasbrought to Windsor Castle from Moscow during tho Crimean War, and only rung for the death of a l ing, has begun to toll.

Stores throughout Britain are inundated with orders for mourning. .Many shops have pulled down their blinds and others have removed all displays excepting black-bordered cards of respectful sympathy. KING'S WILL A SECRET. Tho public will never know the terms of King George’s will. An official of Somerset House said: “The King’s will is a thing apart. We •have no jurisdiction over it. It is not subject to probate or death duties.” A court circular says: “During ithe last moments the Archbishop of Canterbury read special prayers and conducted a short service in King George’s room.” It is stated on the highest authority that the Queen will continue to be known as “The Queen’’ until after the funeral. Beautiful wreaths are arriving at Sandringham to-night by road and rail from all parts of the country.” THE WIDOWED QUEEN. The Times, in an editorial paying tribute to tne Queen, says • “Next to a sense* of personal loss the uppermost feeling in the minds of all the people of the Empire is sympathy with and admiration for her. For 42 years she enjoyed the happiness of an ideal union and set an example to her husband’s subjects which, particularly in the disordered years following the war, has been of incalculable value Jo our national life.”