CHILDREN'S DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18923, 27 January 1936, Page 7

CHILDREN'S DAY

ASSEMBLY IN RAIN ARCADE OF UMBRELLAS QUEUE TWO MILES LONG LAST FILES. AT MIDNIGHT LONDON, Jan. 25. As on the occasion of King! Edward Vll's death, to-day was Children's Day. Thousands accompanied by teachers, many being from convent schools and escorted by nuns, formed a queue. The children mustered as early as 8 a.m. in the drizzling rain. By 8.30 the waiting line again extended almost to Lambeth Bridge. Officials say that the crowd far exceeds that of yesterday, and estimate that 35,000 had passed the catafalque by 11 a.m.. As soon as the oflices closed at noon, there was an appreciable increase in the queue. The crowd numbered many music hall artists, including a man Bft. in height and a woman 3ft. high, dressed in complete mourning. The football tie visitors removed their gaudy football favours before entering the hall.

Steady rain transformed the queue, now two miles long and ten abreast, into a vast arcade of umbrellas. Still- the dead march of London's citizens continued at the rate of 8000 hourly. People fainted, but resumed their positions on recovering.

The procession after nightfall was allowed to enter the hall only four, instead of eight, abreast. The Duke and Duchess of Kent arrived at 5.30 p.m., walked round the catafalque and stood with heads bowed for a few minutes. They departed in a motor car.

Between 400 and 500 diplomats, defying the dismal drizzle, arrived at 10 p.m., and stood in groups before joining the. concourse.

The police at 9.30 p.m. prevented further additions to the queue, which swelled by charabanc passengers and vast numbers arriving! on foot, was over a mile long. Many advanced as in a, dream. The last files did not reach the hall before midnight. In view of this, to-morrow's queue will be permitted to remain open until 1 a'.m. on Monday.

The King went to his private, residence at Fort Belvedere, Sunningdale, to rest quietly during the week-end.

GRIEF OF KREISLER CONCERT CANCELLED LONDON, Jan. 25. The Sun-Herald Service says that Kreisler, tlio world-famous violinist, cancelled, because of (he King's death, his Albert Hall concert, to have been given to-morrow. "My heart is. sad," he said. "I cannot p'lay my fiddle. What a man he was, so quiet, calm and dignified. He never interfered and never made a fuss. I shall never forget his kindly smile and his lovable dignified manner."