REPLY FROM KING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 7

REPLY FROM KING

N.S.W. BOY'S LETTER SYDNEY, April 9. The most prevalent item of gossip among Drummoyne schoolboys at the moment is : "Did you hear about Johnny Selberg's letter from Buckingham Palace.':' Johnnv, who lives at Edwin street, nominates himself as the proudest boy in the country, because- he has received from the palace thanks for his message of sympathy on the death of King George Johnnv is only 11, but he was old enough to regret' the passing of a great man. Without consulting his family, Johnnv wrote lo King Edward, conveying, as an Australian boy, his condolence to the new King on the loss of his father. He also asked that his sympathy be conveyed to Queen Mary. When johnnv told his family about it. they thought it was a nice action ; but as the new King was receiving thousands r>f messages of Condolence they thought it, was hardly likely that all could be answered. Johnny thought so, too, and, what was more, he was not looking for a reply. Yesterday, however, a black-edged envelope arrived bearing the'Royal seal and crest, and, although Johnny is an unemotional lad, he was "pretty excited" when he opened it, he admitted. "The Private Secretary to the King is commanded to thank Master John Selberg for his kind messages of sympathy in his great sorrow," the letter stated. It. was a simple but dignified sheet, also black-bordered, with the Buckingham Palace address at the top and a small black crown in ono corner.