THE KING’S FUNERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3750, 1 May 1936, Page 7

THE KING’S FUNERAL

■I ’ii vr.?. .1 AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE. TE AW|AMUTU LADY’S IM.' £ PRESSIONS. ‘ ' i Writing to a friend here, a former resident who now makes ’her home in London, gives a most moving account of :her impressions of the funeral ceremonies of the late King George V. We quote it, for it ’ indicates loyalty to King and omintryAin splendid contrast to some comments of people in more prominence than; the writer. • - ‘A “Yes,” she write,. “it was awfully sad about our beloved King, for-never had a monarch endeared himself more in the hearts of the pecpli 0/ his kingdom; in fact, the whoje woridj seemed to mourn. I sacrified two days sleep (you know I am on night duty)’— one to see him come home from Sandringham, and one for the funeral. The former was such a. simple ceremony—<no pomp or show; just an escort of mounted police, the gun carriage drawn by bay horses, flanked by Guardsmen, then the four sons and Viscount Lascelles, and finally members of the King’s household. They had walked from King’s Cross station bare headed, ia distance of five mjles, and they looked the most heart-broken tired boys you could ever see, especially our precious ‘Teddy.’ He looked positively ill, and jihe crowds seemed to mourn aloud as' Ke passed; He was so splendid right throughout the whole infinitely sad and toying ordeal, for het loved his father dearly, and will, I kfiow, emultrtdhifiii in his kingship. God keep him and bless him always!”’ “The funeral itself was most ispectaculal, yet solemn. ’•-The pageantry was wonderful. I had a, toil nark able view in lit. James’ Street, having fought my way through the' crowd like a Rugby half-back! The musje wrung riy heart, especially the Lament played by the pipers of the Cameron Regiment. I had a good view of the gun carriage bearing the , caskei;, —and how’ infinitely sad it looked, covered as it was with the Royal Standard, and surmounted with his crown—that most sacred emblem of Umpire unity; his sworit.'ete./aritl one wreath of carnations and orchids from the Queen. Sc impressive, too, was the slow rhythmic movement of those hundred naval men who drew the carriage from Westminster Hall to Paddington Station. “I had a perfect view of the famous glass coach, in which rode the Queen heavily veiled, with Queen Maud of Norwlay, Princess Mary, ‘and the Duchess of York. It was all unflstil

gettable sight, but I shall die regretting that I did not file, past the cata-i falque. That, to me, must have been the very embodiment of dignity anil reverence. Wasn’t it . splendid. ■to think that those fourt dear sons mounted guard for half an. hourj Never has any country known such * Royal Family! And Queen Mary has-: been perfectly marvellous. Was not her message to the people beautifulin its simplicity? I certainly' shall stay in London, or near by, until the Coronation, for it would be so disappointing to go back to New Zealand when everyone will . strive to be here for the great occasion.” Tlhe writer also makes interesting reference to the seasons. “Welk Spring is here at last—after a p<»rjj, fectly terrible winter, ■ .The crocuMg are out in profusion; and the daft--odils are beginning to burst . T3ei' almond trees, too, are in'full bloom, and soon the chestnut trees will be.'tfc' leaf, for the past few days have Jfeeif mjpislt and warm. Really, no. one. inNew Zealand knows what it meads' to see the sun, and feel its increasing warmth, after six long drelary months of fog and nain. Our winter just past was a long one; and we New Zealanders are not used to that, are we?” ’ ■■ -;r-. cut's