UNIQUE MEETING AT TORONTO

Southland Times, Issue 23825, 24 May 1939, Page 5

UNIQUE MEETING AT TORONTO

QUINTUPLETS DISCARD FORMALITY AFFECTIONATE KISSES FOR THE QUEEN (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) TORONTO, May 22. The King and Queen today spent 19 minutes vfith the Dionne quintuplets, says the special representative of the Australian Associated Press. The little girls were not content with a formal presentation and later spontaneously came up and put their arms around the Queen's neck, giving her a very affectionate kiss, which the Queen returned. Yvonne thought that the King should receive some attention and so approached him and took him by the hand. The quintuplets gave the Queen photographs of themselves which each autographed. The King and Queen gave them each a little blue coat.

The little girls were pictures in long white frilly frocks of white organdie, white mesh mittens tied with little ribbons and white poke bonnets slipped back over their shoulders, setting off their brown hair and wide brown eyes.

Each was allowed one spot of colour, expressed in her favourite flower. Marie had yellow rosebuds in her hair, Annette green blossoms, Cecile blue, Emilie rose rosebuds and Yvonne mauve heather. Each carried a little bouquet of matching blossoms in her hand.

The meeting took place in the music room of the Lieutenant-Governor’s suite in the Ontario legislative buildings, in the quiet, dignified atmosphere of a Mayfair drawing room. It was a wonderful birthday celebration for the quintuplets, who are wards of the King. They will be five years old on Sunday. The girls were as composed as young debutantes as they sat on the chesterfield awaiting the arrival of the King and Queen, and chatted quietly and happily with their parents, Dr A. R. Dafoe and the three nurses, who' had no difficulty with them whatever during their visit to Toronto, although this is the first time they have left the area of a few hundred square yards around their home at Callander. They are in wonderful health. Weighed this morning they showed an average of 511 b compared with l|lb at birth. The quintuplets’ eyes lighted up when the King, in the glory of his uniform as an Admiral of the Fleet, and the Queen, beautiful in blue, entered accompanied by,, the Premier of Ontario (Mr Mitchell Hepburn) and the Prime Minister of Canada (Mr W. L. Mackenzie King). POSY FOR THE KING Dr Dafoe and the nurses were the first to be presented, and then the children all rose one by one and curtseyed very sweetly. The King and Queen had turned to Dr Dafoe and were questioning him when the quintuplets noticed the superb bouquet presented to the Queen earlier in the Legislative Chamber. Spontaneously they approached and four of them gave her their posies, which she smilingly accepted. Marie, however, had been watching the King closely throughout and with a disarming smile, she gravely presented her posy to him and slipped her hand into his.

Cecile then put her arms round the Queen’s neck as the Queen leaned forward and embraced her warmly and the others followed suit, forming one of the loveliest pictures possible. Only a few, however, were privileged to see it, as photographers, were not present. The Queen talked in French for several minutes with Mrs Dionne and the King engaged Mr Dionne in conversation in the same tongue. The children meanwhile clustered around their Majesties’ knees, gazing up wide-eyed. Then, to attract attention, Yvonne cried out: “I’m Yvonne.” Eagerly the others took up the chorus, calling out their names.

The quintet was decorous but starryeyed as the King and Queen took their departure. Yvonne’s eyes were still glued to the King’s buttons, which fascinated her.

The naturalness of the King and Queen and their delight in the children at this unique meeting was to the handful of observers a precious memory, and a complete revelation of their rich qualities of humanity. Meanwhile, 1500 representatives of Church and State, jammed into ' the Legislative Chamber where the King and Queen had earlier received the province’s loyal address, were delighted when the Speaker of the Legislature announced that if they refrained from applause, Dr Dafoe would give them an opportunity of seeing “the five queens who hold sway in the hearts of people throughout the world.”

NO NERVOUSNESS

The little girls then filed in, holding the hands of their parents and Dr Dafoe. These three were completely free of the nervousness which earlier had led the two men into curtseying to the King and Queen when presented. The quintuplets gazed happily and waved up at the galleries. Yvonne and Marie blew kisses as they passed along the red carpet, but Marie was foiled in her attempt to climb up the dais where the King and Queen sat. The children were obviously feeling that the party was ending just as it was beginning. All five dragged upon their guiding adult hands as they approached the door, turned their heads and waved frantically. . Because of the strict nature of the police precautions, the Crowd of 3000 waiting at Callander station was disappointed. The quintuplets were put aboard the train at a siding 12 miles up the line. However, the girls all appeared at the windows and waved as they passed through the station. Their locomotive bore two great gold streamers emblazoned “Quintland.” It was the first time they had seen a train. They travelled in a private car belonging to the general manager of the line.

FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR RELAXATION ROYAL TRAIN BOUND FOR PRAIRIE LANDS SUDBURY (Ontario), May 22. After an exhausting programme in eastern Canada during which it is estimated at least 3,500,000 persons caught a glimpse of them, the King and Queen, for the first time in a week, are able to sit back and relax on the Royal train tonight, says the special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press. The train is speeding westwards, where lie the broad prairies and freedom from State banquets and legislative receptions. Since her arrival at Quebec the Queen has changed her gowns 18 times, duplicating them only twice. She has received 17 bouquets. Tomorrow the King and Queen will make brief stops at Port Arthur and Fort William.