The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated "THE EGMONT SETTLER” (Established 1890) SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1936. A PRINCE AND THE PEOPLE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 39, 25 January 1936, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post With which is Incorporated "THE EGMONT SETTLER” (Established 1890) SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1936. A PRINCE AND THE PEOPLE.

WHEN King Edward VIII was Prince of Wales he gave up many of his sporting activities to cope with the increasing duties of his high position. He spent a great deal of time in travelling, but he proved that while he had been travelling and meeting all classes he had been steadily and studiously accumulating a vast fund of knowledge and experience which he had the capacity to use for the benefit of his fellow-men and the welfare of the Empire. Most of all, perhaps, he proved that he had learnt what he represented to the Empire, and he accepted the publicity of his high office, which in his youth had been a trial to him, as the tribute of an affectionate people deserving the warmest response. The strength of his character cannot be better illustrated than with one story showing how he substituted for his natural inclination for privacy an attitude of mind which accepted and responded spontaneously to the people’s welcome. In the course of a very busy day at Bloemfontein during his South African tour he attended a municipal party at the Park, and after the speeches of ..welcome and thanks he turned to the Mayor and said: “Now lam going to shake hands with everybody.” He did. There were about five thousand people present. Major Ferney, who tells the story, adds: “There was no particular reason why he should, have taken on that' hefty crowd at modified ju-jitsu. It was quite spontaneous on his part. He remarked later that he did it without thinking: ‘lt was jolly decent of them to be so pleased to see me, and they’d come from all over the map.’ ” The response that can find such spontaneous expression, at such expense in handshaking, wins and deserves the full reward of sincerity.

Two Minutes’ Silence

THE simplicity and good taste which characterised the life of the late King George V are. at the express wish of his son, the new King, Edward VUI, to be the keynote of his obsequies. There will be no daY of mourning as was originally intended, but his funeral will be celebrated by the observance of two minutes’ silence. His late Majesty, the most democratic of rulers, would wish no more tribute than this —to be honoured in the simple way in which the dead of the Great War are honoured. The wishes of the Mayor for the way in which the two minutes are to be observed at Stratford will meet King Edward’s request suitably.