SCENE BY NIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 25 January 1936, Page 15

SCENE BY NIGHT

LYING IN STATE KING'S GUARDS CHANGED VISIT BY ROYALTIES AN APOLOGY FOR DELAY

SIR JOHN SIMON'S STORY

(Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. dan. 85, 3 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 24.

With the permission of King Edward, Sir .John Simon has disclosed another poignant incident concerning King George's last Privy Council. He said that the description of the scene given by the Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday showed that His Majesty's sense of duty controlled all his actions to the end.

"This incident illustrates another of the King's lifelong characteristics, namely, his invariable consideration for others, even in the smallest things," says "Sir John, Simon. "After a pause when the King was making those gallant, pathetic efforts to sign his name, lie turned to the councillors and said very quietly and simply, 'I am so sorry to keep you waiting like this.' "Those were the last words I beard him utter, though, as we withdrew, he turned and gave each a kindly little smile and nod with which he was accustomed to end an audience."

King George's crimson robe, trimmed with ermine, worn at the opening of Parliament, has now been draped over the foot, of the coffin in Westminster Hall below the orb and sceptre, the color blending with the purple pall which was first, seen at the burial of the- Unknown Warrior in 1920 and since used for the funerals of many famous people, including Queen Alexandra. ll was presented to Westminster Abbey in memory of 300 actors who were killed in the Great. War.

Haiii continued Ihroughont I lie night, and many in the queue had umbellas and also covered their beads with newspapers. As l 10 p.m. approached, it was obvious that the mile-long procession would never pass the coffin before the tinie. fixed for closing and the authorities accordingly ordered the police to prevent further queuing up, but to keep the hall open until all then assembled had entered.

The relief of Arms and Yoenien of the Guard was carried out with similar military dignity* although when Sir Ernest* Towse, the blind holder of the Victoria. Cross, relieved a Gentleman at Arms, he had to be guided to the post.

The Royalties remained for 15 minutes. Queen Maud stood beside Queen Mary. Both were sad and pale-faced. The great crowd gathered silently and sympathetically saluted the Royalties when they departed. When the ball was cleared Royalties entered. They stood in silence unbroken now even by the murmer of the thousands of footsteps, and watched the changing of the guard reliefs. Uflieers of the Footguards, tall and scai'letlunieed, with their height increased by bearskins and with swords at the carry, entered as ghosts on the carpeted floor, slow marching with the precision which is the pride of the King's Household Troops to the catafalque, where they took up their stand beside the existing guards who, as one man, came, to life and marched off slowly. The new guards took a pace to the left with lowered .-word points to the ground and clasped hands on the hilts'. The. four bearskins drooped forward, all freezing simultaneously into immobility.

An Ottawa message says the Canadian Government announces that the national holiday proclaimed for Tuesday has been cancelled in deference to the wishes of King Kdward. Two minutes of silence will lie observed instead.