The King in London.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 12, 21 September 1910, Page 62

The King in London.

DRIVE TO THE EAST END. HIS MAJESTY AS A STUDENT. SECRET VISIT OF INQUIRY. The King and Queen, accompanied by Princess Alary, made a triumphal progress in beautiful weather through London on the afternoon of July 30 on the occasion of their visit to the London Hospital The King and the Deper. Below the Quern mot Inn’s statue, in the Hospital courtyard, were grouped a number of the hosjut.il patients, many of them in cots. Iwo oi the cases proved of especial int‘rest to Their Majesties, <111(1 for several moments they conversed with both the sufferers. The first was Benjamin Turoek, a leper, who two months ago came from Capetown to seek a rure at the London Hospital. The King expressed a wish that he would make a speedy recovery, and afterwards infoimed Air. Holland that ever csince his visit to the leper settlement, near tSimon s Bay, he had taken the greatest interest in tin; attempts of scientists to find a cure for the disease. I he second man, whose name is Thurston. gave a military salute when the King addressed him. Thurston suffers from a curious complaint known as myasthenia gravis. Al) his muscles have a strange knack of getting very tired aftei the »Jightc.->t efiort. Tile King was told that even the mere act of eating prows too much for Thurston. After tv o or three movements his jaw drops. two boys, I'iiomas Higginson and James Aloore, were also presented. The ca>e of the former,’ who is fifteen years of age and suflering from hip disease, e.\( ited the Queen’s most kindly interest. “Are you getting better?” asked Her Ala jesty. ’Acs, Queen,” replied the (confused boy. “It is very nice lying here, isn’t it?” “Yes, Queen!” A Child's Joy. \\ hen iic was told that James Moore, who is only seven years of age, had Btienuoudy refused to leave the hospital on I uesday in order to go to a convalescent home at Gloucester, preferring to fitay and see his Sovereign, the King was greatiy pleased, and, shaking the b<»y s hand, expressed the hope that he would soon be quite well again. A little later occurred the most touching incident of an afternoon crowded with moments of deep pathos. As the Queen pa<ad by the female ophthalmic ward she noth ed a nurse holding a little girl to the window. The nurse’s fingers rested on Cue girl’s eyelids as though she ‘■trove to help the little one to see. ll< r motherly instinct deeply stirred, the Queen walked across to the window, and. leaning forward, took tin l little one’s hand lovingly. ‘‘There now,” said Air Holland to the child, “you have shaken hands with the Queen of England.” Long after, when the royal visitors had gone, little Doris Rowell was still thinking of that one moment. Upon her cot lay a red rose. About its petals her lingers played as she said, “Yes, yes. it was the Queen. I. didn’t see h« r properly ibis time, but; she JuH<k my hand —the Queen of all England. Sifter says that some dav I sLafl be able to see again quite properly, i hen I >hall go and see the Queen who shook my hand.” In the mam hall wore grouped a numof proba ti. »ners who had recently ■pas.-od examinations f«*r the profession of hospital r . and to three of these the Quern b.imb d the prizes gained, tho fii-I going to Miss McNao, the second to Miss Reid, ami the third to Miss 1 )e rriek. Air Holland informed Their Majesties that not onlv 'lid the probationers do w<!l in examinations, hul they were dis-tinoii-hed in the wav they dealt with U e patient to which the King replied: “That, in my opinion. .is mm h more important than pa-sing the examination we l !.” Cle.e quoler of the hour’s visit was spent U Their M >ie-tips in the X ravs de. pa'tmcnl wT h lontalns a now invention <T Dr SUqiieira for Hie protection of njH rat‘on«. Tn <lii • the Kirrg was fr. -'H i r re f 1. S'lainling in the room was a living example of tho danger to

operators. This was Air Harnack, one of the X-ray martyrs, whose hands are being gradually eaten away, lie worked in the London Hospital until he could work no longer, and then the authorities gave him a pension, and the Government made a grant to his wife. Deep sympathy was written on the faces of the King and Queen as they turned to greet Mr Harnack. “] sympathise with you with all my heart,” said the King. His Majesty’s Solicitude. Tn the Lupus Ward Aliss Alackintosh, the new matron of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, was pointed out to Their Al <jesties, who expressed a desire for her to be presented. The original intention had been for the royal visitors to stay’ at the hospital only half an hour, but so much had to be seen that before they left to return to Alarlborough House through South London they had stayed an hour. The King’s solicitude for the public was shown in his remark as he once more stood on the steps of the hospital leading into White chapel. “We really must go,” said His Majesty. “It is too bad to keep the people in the 'streets waiting so long after tiie time at which we were expected to de pa rt.” Yet another such example can be gathered from a conversation which the King had with Air. Holland as he walked about the Hospital. His Majesty told of an occasion some time ago, when he was still Prince of Wales. A series of articles attacking the staff of tho London Hospital for their treatment of outdoor women patients had been read by Hi s Alajesty, and he visited the hospital as a student in order to satisfy himself that the charges were unfounded. “ 1 am glad to say.” added His Alajesty, “that 1 found the treatment of all patients everything that could be desired.” The return journey to Alarlborough House was witnessed by more enormous crowds. Across London Bridge Their Majesties passed into Southwark. In many places barefooted and ragged children lined the kerb, and women in aprons left their work to see the royal procession. Small Union lacks, such as may’ bo purchased for a penny* or twopence, were fixed in the windows of artisans’ dwellings. and shopkeepers had also decorated their premises with digs. But the lieartine-s of (bp cheers which followed the progress of the royal party left no doubt as to tho deep attachment of all classes to the reigning house. After Ihe royal vi-it to the hospital an edd man entered the soeretarv’s office with a donation of Cl. anil wrote tn the book: “A workman of oightv subscribe-? fl In tho T.ondoU Hn-mial in gratilnd-* for Hu King and Duoon’s patronage to all the London hospitals.”