KING GEORGE V.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 812, 9 May 1910, Page 3

KING GEORGE V.

THE SAILOR PRINCE'S CAREER.

TRAINING AND CHARACTER.;

\l ' SEAFARING EDUCATION. e King George V, whoso full namo is , s George. Frederick ■ Ernost Albert, wasi '"I born on June 3, 1865, being theS 0 second son of tho then Prince of; '" Wales, afterwards Edward VII. A writer! " in "M.A.P." has recalled an entertain-1 'I ing story of his childish years. Thet \ most robust of King Edward's children,! our new King was tho pickle of tho Royal| Queen Victoria was a strict dis-f ciplinarian, and when her grandsons mis-K [! behaved at table, she used" to send them 1 in disgrace under the table, and not allow' them to emerge until thoy promised to: I bo good. On ono occasion tho"nsual pun- 1 Jishment had been inflicted, and Eerf Majesty put the customary question, 5 'Are yon good?" "Not yet," was the' reply. Again the same question, and'theO; J same answer. At last they said, "We| pre good now."- "Then you may comep ) out," said tho Queen. So out tho littleS ; Princes came, and waltzed gaily roundi? j the-table—naked! Needless to say, itK 5 was Prince George who suggested this ''■■ 1 way ' to punish grandmamma," '■ '{ It is rehited of tho. King and tho latex; J Duke of Clarenco. that they wero both 'i fond of the study of English his-f? Tory, and that more especially the dra- '{■. jmatic incidents of tho period covored bj'v i tho Wars of the Roses appealed to their 1; f boyish imaginations. As tho elder mightß ;;in due course expect as sovereign someE j day to bedomo iJuko of Lancaster, thep j younger determined. that if over ho hadp ;: to choose a dukedom, it should be that S ; 01 York. When tho time .caino for thea] t, choice to be mado, though .many other's {titular combinations were suggested am\4 pressed upon him, yet ho.steadfastly ad- ? j jfhercd to this. His subsequent « 01 the Whito Eoso of Edward VI, as one i £;it his favourite, badges, is also interest- 'j > ing, as being illustrative . of this persist-il \, =ncy oE puipos».. . a •■ Enters tho Navy. | j Prince Georgo, -as ho was -then, entered ? 5 Inn Navy as .young as it was possible for '< ! , 4ny boy to do so, when ho was barelv? 0 twelvo yews old. Dnring navy years lie \- 1 applied himself steadily to his and the years wero full of work for him* audof the healthiest discipline, as well? us of manifold education in tho widest | sense of thn term, in all parts of the ;T w world. His experience, also, was more y J5 Lhan usually varied., He served on? |, nearly overy naval station—tho East In-5 |ilian, the Australian, tho South African,]'; p and I he South Amorican; three times on'' B the 'ltorth American and IVost' Indian; ii guild as many more in tho Mediterranean I: pnnd in tho Channel, and on board ships f f of almost overy kind. Tho messmates oft; i? liis early gunroom days (it has , been r j Sj said) when ho was a middy on board the R S Bacchante, the- Inconstant, or thcE I Canada, aud thoso who were in class '■]

■rrith him when afterwards he was passij'iig through tho College of Greenwich. ■i; ■r;inthe Excellent, testified to liis'geni- ;'; ility arid popularity with officers and ij.nen. ' ' ' '•" .- g Moro than one story is current ilhistra-J-'dvo of hie sense of humour, and. of hi? pi-jood nature,-and it is believed that il |i iras his diary that' furnished', the greater p;,iart of - tho naive and boyish , remarks wore pnblished in- the hvo-volumed ; ; 'Cruisoof the Bacchante" in. 1882. "The <j strenuous diligence. with which he has 'i leyoted himself to his studies, and the 5 ability which; ho has displayed in,.mastering the subjects which he has had to gtackle for the series of examinations ;j which he has had to undergo (stated a &. writer in the 'Now Review' some years i? ago) have been evinced by the manner

'(■in which ho has acquitted himself, and i " ji by tho places ho, has won in the class j lists, , inasmuch as they are incontcstablj < r |l'ar above the average."- When'off' duty i ■;<lio.ever participated freely , and heartily j " si in the open-air amusements of his brother'' •rofficers. cricket, polo, or lawn tennis; he i; • ■■ is well known as a- keen sportsman and i • i Qrst-rate shot. Ho is said to be very fond J ; of whist, and-to play a good'hand. ? ■{ A sailor who had served • under theE :< command' of our new King onco stated,^ , jlo a writer in "P.T.0." -.—"When first wefe I heard that tho Prince was going to com-S '• mand ns we were a- bit dubious, ■ and cer-B ftainly wo had to put up with a lot ofs; \ chaff from the other ships of the fleet, ji |who : promptly christened our boat "Buck-j| 'flngham Palace,- , and would stop us'in tlieE 'g street and T)og our lordships' pardon, butffi •|could we oblige them with a match?" M '■% "Tho Prince had not been aboardjjjl "Jalong, however, before we found outthatE fijhewas no ornamental sailor, but a realc down'to his boots. And he stoodjj; '4no-nonsense, either! He .knew what he| £1 wanted, and he saw that he got it. Dur- f, K ing' the whole cruise our ship wasi a pic K 5 ture, and a better-disciplined or happierß j: crew never sailed.- The Prince . was a 'ij tj great change from sonio of the shouting, | f raving captains I have served under." jU r ou- can take it from me," added 'thejs iitar.'in conclusion,' "(hat tho Prince ofFi f; Wales is a-jolly good sailor"—only the 3, is adjective'ho used was not "jolly." "i I ' ■ ' " "' '" \ Ij Plucky and Popular. , i I A', writer-in tho' "English Illustrated i? K Itagazino" onco gave some interesting in- jj I formation touching tho new King's char- ;1 fiicter "and. abilities-.—"From his earliest fdays.at sea," he wrote, "Prince George f has ever been a thoroughly efficient and J also a most popular officer, not only withg his comrades in tho gunroom or the ward- $' room,'but also with all the men over i\ whom he has had conimand. As a inid-§J| shipman he was always keen to do aIISL in his power' to render the boat's crew [f or the gun entrusted to his -charge the w| smartest and best-handled in the ship'; j as a lieutenant ho was always alive to allK tho individual characters of tho men ofp? Ids -division. Those who showed thom-J ! neat, steady, smart, and eager tolif fulfil their duties and get on; he wasft. ever Teady ' to encourage • by word and! sympathy and helping-hand." 11 Dnring the Naval Hanoeuvrea of 18S9r ; fc tho -Prime had chargo of one of tho finest'• f torpedo boats:—"lt haiipcnod that an-£, <yt!ier of theso oraft disabled her scroiwi! 1 0(1 tho ooast of Ireland, and wasin danger i? ; of drifting on to. a lee shcro. Tho. sea 0 iv»7S nnmrng hg-h, and thoro was a stiff '■. a ■ale blowing. Priuco Georgo was sent f«§ 5 hor assietanco. Tho task was a in«st ■■' e difficult ono; owing to the delicate naturoty 5 of the construction of such boats. He f! showed, however, such skill, judgment, % [' ■xai 'nerTO in approaching, securing with S! wiro hawser after several hours' effort *' " and ultimately towing the disabled crafl ?, •' into safety, as won him high encomiums 'i & of praise to tho /\<!mira!ty from-Captain u Fitzgerald and other senior officers wlicfc' , ivitnessed his conduct on that occasion, ji l Tho achievement was perhaps all the more i " noteworthy as Princo Goorgo (liko Ncl- i ''' son'-and many another- distinguished.',* naval officer) suffers terribly from sea-?]-- , sickness; and tho behaviour of a torpedo boat, in rough weather' is not the most»J conducive to quietness' of nerve-.or foifj'comfortably collecting the thoughts." '( !"

|Tbo Two Princes. I The 'writer stated that Prince George iiacted as a constant and welcome stimulus, aboth in work and play fours, to ffoo Smoro lyniphatio temperament- o£' Prince gEddy. Were they following, the hounds i\ together as boys, It was Prince George whose pony had to take tie fence or jjhedge the first, and give Prince Eddy the ■dead; were they bathing together in th« ' sea, it was Prince George who was the { first to leap off the ship's or yachfe side I into tho water, and not till he was swimjming around and encouraging his:brother •j to follow him did the elder take the m- ) evitablo plunge. In many ways the elder '.constantly leant upon the younger J_ '...' :__

'SbTothor; and the younger reciprocate .■ t the. confidence with warm-hearted manli devotion. ■■ . •■,■ , . 'ft The , undoubted brain power that ,hi j possesses is inherited perhaps from ■■. th< ■ aPrraee. Consort as well as from the Qaeei : ?3f : Denmark. He ia known to bo a greal ■J; reader, o£ active habits of mind anc 'Isbody,-punctual in the• discharge of th< ; smiillest appointments, -warm and conI •■ stant in. his ondowe3 ifith j !if large share of practical' co-mmon-sense ; ■il simple in hie tastes, and,, lite his. ■ late ■ jArother, singularly free him any trac< ■'-of self-esteem or conceit, most- consider1S ate for tho feelings of others, willing t<: ■ ;■ learn from all, generous and opeahanded, -_i yet careful and frugal on his own ac- '■■ 5j count, for his private allowance has' up mvw heen moderate and never large."

; Accomplishments and Hobbies. ; King George V- is an- excellent speaker v his : voice : being clear and resonant, and i; his • utterance-very much to the point, \ But he underwent much preliminary misorj jirhen, as'chairman at a charity dinner, i lie had'to make his debut as an orator. \ He asked -tho Duke of Cambridge how he ji ought to manajjo the the Duke, !a. very old ■ hand at the business, said, { "Have your speech typewritten, hold if sin your hand; and refer to it when th« f< moment comes." But Prince George'degcided'to be more self-reliant, and-deter- & mined to do.without his notes. What r| was his surprise when he heard his I venerable relative at his side exclaim, [j "Conceited boy! 'Why didn't.he do as I f, told him? Absurd! he will break down." I The Prince, however, did not break'down. 3 His speech was a great success;, so much gio.'that the Duke drove back in great $ glee to tell the late King (then Prince; g of Wales) of his son's'surprising oratoria cal : feat, which had resulted in the sribbscription of a .record, sum at; the dinner. £ Next to pnblic speaking,' the particular k talent of onr.'new. King 'is'shooting. He j> is, according; to a, writer in "M.A:P.," None of the .very,best shots in the tTnited |K'ingdom.':.His hatred of.toadyism was Sonco exemplified during a shoot; ' Early ain.tie daya.inan came.u'pto the Prince ■h.n& said, "I'have bepn picking up yonr IRoyal Highness's birds.". "That's all priplit, , ' .said'.tho Jfince, "how many have .; you?"-' "Thirteen, sir,"..-said'the' man. ij "That's fuhhyi" commented the Prince, ; ;"considering""l. have only shot eight." J.Tbo'Prince's, talents, by the ivay, do not 'include music,..although- his father and \ mother weTe-.very. musical. Both the late [.King and.Queen Alexandra took a genuline deligh|''}iymusic of tho highest class, each being' specially devoted to Wagner. Oiir.preserit'King, on.tho contrary, found Wagner" and all other high-class music frankly a boro, ond'in tho privacy of his fwnily never failed to let this circumstance be known. ■ '

jFavburito .ReCrEationj, . . j Kin's Cic'oige'a pet diversions, next, to jshopting, aro smoking and ing. Another queer hobby is collecting babies' photographs. ~ The more comical the iace of. tho baby the better its pur-' trait pleases His Majesty. It has been said that.ho even collects pictures of babies, published ~as. ..advertisements bj proprietors,, of .jufanjs , ; foods. His eellection of postnge-stamps > is worth at least i 820,000. .So keen a pbHatelist is h« that, on several occasions coHeotars have hart to tilting him for'..throwing light on uncertain scientific poiits coHcarning the stndy of. stamps. He once wrote o( starap collectiKg to a friend:—"lf is on'« of the greatest pleasnrra of my life." Like his father, the Kinc is a. whelo hearted devotee of the wetd. "A short time , ago," lie onco remarked, "I had an 'idea lliat. cigarettes were, bad for me, ia I'determined to limit myself to fire a day.- -The-first day. I managed to tsisl upon the number I had determined upon smoking. Tho second'day I smoked'all five beforo lunch, and felt miserable during tho vest of tho day. The third day 1 -,-moked the fivo judiciously, but still felt x great wanting.' The 'fourth day I ■jouldn't staml it any longer, , so smoked fifteen nigarnttcs-to make, up for my selfrlenial during the. other days." It is well ihiown that tho King is 'simplo in his personal tastes, shows no ■ tendency tc

extravagance, though generous. on occa- \ sipn, never forgets a mend, and has thes-j Eoyal memory for faces and names. I] His Marriage. s The Prince's marriage to' tie Princess v Mary (May) of Teck, daughter of Queen* Victoria's first cousin, the Duchess <jl\ Teok, happened under'rather unusual c?_r-;' cumstancea. Tlie Princess was : betrothed I in December, 1891, to tho Dubs of Glai-i once, but on January 14 of the following' yeaf the Dnke.diea flora &n -attack of \ influenza, leaving his. brother Geozge tho direct line of succession to iths throne. > On May. 3,: 1893, . Queen Victoria an-' oounced the betrothal of tho' Princess \ May to Prince George, and oin July 6 j their marriage took place in tie. Chapel * Royal at St.. James's Palace, Qpeen Tic-; toria being present. , --■■/. ."' ■ The beautiful and gracious Princes' was deservedly popular. She ha/s had.six > children—Edward, born June i! 3, -1891 •: Albert, born December 14; 1895;! Victoria, \ born on April 25, 1897; Henry/ ', torn on '■ March 31, 1900; George, bora oij Decem-; ber 20, 1902; and John, born or; July, 12''? 1905.. The two eldest boys will receive sea-training like their father. ' -j 8 The present King received his'-title .'of? jPrineeof Wales on his return from;his * jcolonial tour of 1901. Before that he was*! JDuke of Cornwall . and . York, • during I JKing Edward's reign, and in' the. ireign i Sof Queen Victoria, Duke oi Tort, ° : &

EMPIRE TRAVELS,

{' NO. J.-ROUND THE WORLD M jj H.M.S.BACCHANTE, . . I "UFE ON- THE OCEAN WAYS,". I Jt is peculiarly appropriate that the wSpvereign of the. greatest naval power in j the world should be himself a; .■sailor: >i The three early and impressionable years t, of-.our' King's life, from-1879 to 1882 9 which he spent on the Bacchante ; with ; ; the Dnke of Clarence, particularly known gin. those days-as Prince' Eddy,; < were I doubtless of the greatest, benefit m 'the gshaping of his later,character.;. It was a the discipline, and mental; and moral Straining which they would there erperijience that induced the late King-to send I his boys •to sea. To gain preliminary * experience they spent two years, from t< 1877 to 1679, as naval cadets, oa board JH:H.S. Britannia at Dartmouth. It was gthen decided that they should make a Slong cruise of'the'world, and on Augus 1 8, 1879, they joined H.M.S. Bacchante, ilstiU as naval cadets. In the course o «two. voyages they visited ■ the Medrter|ranean, ToneriiFe, the West Indies, Bilkaland Islands, Cape of Good Hope, Fiji, a Japan, China, Singapore, and the' Bet SSea. Throughan unlucky accident which Jcould not he foreseen, New , Zealand-had jjto be omitted from their itinerary. Their Rev. J. N. Dalt'on, who *accomSpanied the Princea, and who edited for ? publication an account'of their travels 't made' up from the private diaries■ of Jcjtlio Eoyal youths, states, that -"as long jjjas-they were on board ship the Princes fivere treated, exactly: like the other'inid- \ shipmen, and performed' all the duties W-rrhich usually fell to their" loti they took Ijtheir turn in all .weathers , by day w or anight, at watch-keeping and going, aloft, Sat sail drill, or boat duty. There was |no. difference, not even.the slightest of iany sort or kind made between them Kaiiy 6ort gun-room' •messmatee. , ' The SPrmceS i were kept very busy while at sea, Iffor besides, .instruction, in their-sailors-|auties, that was the chief time for their perieral studies. They were taught -seasmanshipby the first lieutenant of'the Bacchante, • the Hon. H.- G.. Curzon-Howe, Sand gunnery by the'gunnery lieutenant, fjMr:- C. H. Adair. ■ Their • mathematica S teacljer was Mr. John ;W. lawless, who j was • also their, naval, instructor, and ■ Sir. i; Dalton was responsible, for their 'general tj education. Eecreation was' afforded by I trips ashore whenever" the Bacchiite j touched land,, entertainments, ndes,-'liats j the country, and shooting excursions. : i; .On January 8, 1880,_.the Princes were pleyated to the' status,..of midshrjnnen ; Their first voyage was' to the" Meditersranean and West Indies,' and. before starting_ on their second'and longer'trip the Princes went;' in- July and Angus glBBo,--on-a cruise- to. Bantry Bay-and Vigq->.with the combined ' Channel" and Reserve' Squadrons; ImmetEately after they, left in the Bacchante on-their longest, voyage to South the jjCape, Australia, and the Par. East The I literary studies'of the- Boyal lads durI ing both main trips were guided by the ; course-of the Bacchante. -At the Berimuda Islands they read ■ Shakespeare's Tempest," at Trinidad- they were ■■■absorbed in Kingsley's "At Last/' "irhich describes- the scenery of that island; off the coast of Patagonia tier followed L™"™ 1 , 9 Adventures in the Bearie," and ; •MageUin's -VOTagerf their Bfc = «rary fare in the Beighbourhood of the % famous strait..-. They-reached Cape Town gat the'tune of the llajriba Hill disaster I and met there the ill-fated Prince Louis I Napoleon. On-May 16; -1881, the Edyal gtraveners obtained, at' Albany, thW-first Is glimpse- of Australia, a'land-.-whjob. interjjested them, we are told,-in. a iyery./speBcial degree. One can- gather: as much I from the increased length now'given to Rtho' recording of their, experiences" arid E impressions in the Koyal' diaries.' , '*• ;. I The.Prraces' first, diversion at' Albany S vas a qpail-shooting expeditian.iin irhioh I Prince George was shown howvtoi bring K the birds aroirnd him by wtafetling low I in. imitation of their call. 'The ntse psucceeded perfectly,' but perhaps from fJmodesty we are-not-told, the,dimensions gof.:the young sportsmanfs'Trag." -The K present. Eing and- Emperor; played; also Bin a cricket match, between an eleven I from tho • Bacchante and T - the Albinv I Union Club. The match. , was not.'dfr K cisive, and the Boyal- score, tras notchrortg icled in the Princes' diaiira. The Baca ohante's band went on shore, and played (Jon :the cricket field, where (iere'were I many of the colonists and a-few- abori iigines. ■' . ( . ■'■ ■\- . ■ ->.

I Camping Out. ■.. , .'•,...• I In West Australia the tiro Princes had fja delightful experience of camping"'bat. I From Albany they rode, accompanied'by SCaptain Hill, commander of the Bacychanto, two-other seniors, and'fonr messjj mates from the ward-room and- gun-room 5 to 'Murlborough, a distance of, 30' miles. i& "small shanty," as' they form itj had ilbeen chosen for a hunting lodga. "This I consists," the diary state's, "of'ta-o'rbonis a completely empty, and with clean bare floors; each room has a large open .fir&. place.and' plenty'!of jarrah wood,, a pile of which last is stacked in the. verandah outside, so as to be conveniently handy for', throwing on tho .'fixe afl v Bight through. Two grand wood fires:.are'aK ready burning night. and day,, such/ a contrast to ,'what we have had.' for. ;the last-few weeks on board ship. A smaE two-wheeled cart that -has brougtit .'our nattresses and rugs, and what few things we want for the night, has arrived. r4forous, and ,we proceed.at onco to ina&e our.toilet in the open air, for,thero. is Vsnty of fresh water in : the'tank r/utside, and a small wooden .trough iioes duty by turns for each of the party." Eyervone was "very hearty, and jolly," the' Princes write, over, the "tea-supper* , at a farmhouse which next followed, and they did "ample justice to the fowls, minced kangaroo,. the jam, cream, scones. and no end of beautiful fresh inin.-'. and butter, such as we had : not fasted since we. had left England." Then they r<s turned to their shanty, and. "slept as soundly as possibly (nine in tho two, rooms), with the windows open and the fires burning." In the moraatg the Princes took part in. a kangaroo'.-hunt, a.nd : afterwards enjoyed some dnen-shoot iag, "George" making "some good 'flyisg shbti kigh overhead." ■ .' .' South Australia and Victoria. On June 9 the' Princes left for Ad*, laid* in th« m»il steaner Cathay, then: inteatien b»ißff te rejoin the Bacchante at Melbourne. Apparently jt is our pre, seat .Kins who narrates the following iSnUrtnininj incident:—"lt happened til Iμ my duty," tho account says, ™fw beard her (the" mail steamer) as -mids shipman m charge of • the guard-boat and , I was amused when, in coarse ol conversation on her deck, one of.her ofl*. cers remarked, TVhat a nuisance it 15 that tho Princes are going to Adelaide mth us.' 'Yes,' I replied, '1 quite agree with you, it would' be." . The Pnna; knew how to take a-joke, for he con, tinues, "Shortly afterwards, whoa , the, officer of the guard came up and introduced us together, wo had - a. good laugh'^ The steam©'- arrived off Adelaide 01

Tune 12, : and the Princes were oheered by a large crowd while being. driven to Government House, where they were the Boosts .of-Str William Jervois, theGov.Describing subsequent manifesta*»»'.of HoocLTCifi the Eoyal travellers modestly relate, "The enthusiasm'of the people (whi£h means, of course,' their attachment tjo Great Britain, not to "us personally) ;is most hearty and thorough." They left Adelaido on June 20 amidst popmlar cheers, on a coach" journey to MUkng, 38 miles distant," whor« a: kangaroo; hunt was in prospect. Evidently tho two lads were full of affability and kmdliniess, fkxr th«y. narrate as follows an iacSdent at one place whoro they ohan'gcd- hkirses: "Getting down-for 'a few minute we chatted with aibt'of little- lads from; Hahndorf School, close by, amongst whom one who was a German',' and 'another who was. a Jew, made iu> brightest jokes." Of : the kangaroo rant it is jecqrded that in the first drive Eddy shot two kangaroos, a right- and left'.shot; ; George shot three. '. . From South'. Australia the Princes went by coaoh ttf Hamilton, : in-Victoria, where a warm-hearted public reception,.' A-t-Ararat, Ballarat, and Geolons, on : thle main ■ route to Melbourne, enthusiastic welcomes were, given. .'The Premier, Mr. Berry, and members of his Cabinet met •■ the' lads at Melbourne, where-"both sides of the street were lined with people who all eeem very pleased, and kept cheering away as hard as they could." After several days spent in .seeing the sights of. Melbourne they paid a second visit to Ballarat with the Governor (Lord Normanhy), the* admiral, captains, and 23 officers of- tl»e Australian Squadron, Here a citizens* address was presented, to which "Prince Eddy" . replied. The Princes went down a shaft of one of the mines,' i first; putting oil - miners' olothes:— thick canvas trousers, oilskin coats and caps,- and. thick, heavy boots.. A succession ' of' festivities followed- theiT return to the capital, and the elder' Prince laid the foundation stone' of a new pavilion in the Melbourne Cricket Ground,'- and both were made : honorary, members • of the olub. Visits' , to Sandhurst, Kyneton, and Castlemaine were marked-by loyal demonstratioiis, . and; on- Jnly 8. the Princes left Melbourne in the.lnconstant bo: go with-the Australian Squadron to Sydney; Auckland; and Fiji.

New South Wales and. Brisbane. S : Five days spent at, Sydney in the usual; festivities and. visits.,-were followed -by a$ Tip . with, the Premier, Sir Henryß Parkes. to the Bine Mountains,'.and- on; to " Bathurst, Prince. George' riding ■ for i some distance .on the engine. , e It tad been intended that the Prince? jj should leave Sydney with the eqnadror J or Auckland,. where they, were to Bpond ; ] Sye days. . At the last moment, ■ how- ■• ever, the Admiral, the. Earl, of i Clamvilliam, was stricken with ill-1 ness,; and .the sailing of the > Squadron, was postponed. Eleven day? | jvere. lost tlrrough this misfortune, and j then, on Angust 3, the admiral mad* \ >ignal that "on leaving, sauadron vrijl £ proceed ,to , Fiji. and-Yokohama. ; Neir|s Zealand will not be visited." On August fl 2 the Princes had rejoined the 'Bacchante, jjj im her -arrival from- Melbourne, and in j their old ship they arrived on Augusts 16 at Brisbane, leaving.-again on.AufrnrfS 20.' after loyalcelebrations.-i' for 'Fiji, j! Their remaining course to ToWo, Shanr & hai, Hong-Kone, Singapore, Colombo, via | the Bed Sea home need not bo folloired in j detail. ; ' - ■. ' ■ " ;!

MO. 2.-THE IMPERIAL TOUR OF

I.; . COLONIES' WELCOME. . | : The greatest event-. in . the new King't jj life was , the tour which he made in 1901' :j is Duko. of. Cornwall and York, 'together | willi:. the'. Duchess, of the .British'colo-1 Tse'. project •of a- Eoyal visit "tri the^'australasian'-'-'"colonies, .had . been , a broached as; early'-'as 1893, when, a | few 'months after--'their : marriage, thf g Dnke ■anaSvDnchesS'rfwere invited to hon' | our t.with' their presence these-portions of | his Majesty's dominions. . On the occa- jjj sion of Queeji Victoria's Diamond Jubiler a in 1897 the invitation : was renewed'.bTj.j the' New Zealand Government "in fittingdj recognition; .of the hospitality..iof •:;■; the? Britishnation, and as evidence 'of;--Our| attachment to the Throne . and to thPd Royal, Family. , ' It wfts not, however. | nracticable' foT' the' Prince and Princes' [i fo make : -the jooniey af this period. ' In a 1900, when the ■ consnminntion \oi Austra- p lia's federation marked a new tKe history of those.States. and J the enthusiasm' ! wrth which the cplonieF; had sent the flower'of their maiJaocfd to i assist the Mother Country in the South ( African strngptle seemed to in«rit eoiw retnrn, the proposal : was , revived withg sfronger foroa. The consent- of Queen ;: Victoria was'obtadned, and on September ? 17- Mr. ChamK>eriaui informed the ; colo- j nfes concerned as follows:— ' '.' . % ,"Her Majesfy has been graciously pleas- J ?d : to assent, on the recommendation of i the Marqirisof Salisb'nrv, to-the visit of \ their Royal' Highnesses the Dnkd and « Duchess" of Tork -to colonies of Aus- i tralia in'the sprine'of'next year.. Hi.« \ Boyal Higiness will.be commissioned by \ her Majesty , , to open the first' session of \ the Paniannent.of- the Australian Com- J irioriwealth 'in heT name. , AJthpush th' S Queen naturally shrinks from partin(r{ with her Rrandson for so long a period, t her Majesty fully recognises the great; ness of the occasion which brings the * colonies of A-nstralia -into a_ Federal > union,' and desires to give this ■ special j proof of her interest in oil that con- j Mrns'the welfare of'her Australian sub-3 jects. Her Majesty' wishes -at • the same § iime'to signify ner sense of 'the loyalty £ and devotton wjiich have prompted.-the j; spdnteheons aid so liberally by * all the coloniesl in the South African S war, and of the splendid gsllantiy.df her f colonial' troope." ' ' '-. ' ' ''J In reply-to New 'Zealand's' invitation, * Mr Chamberlain, telegraphed to tho G«v- j ernment on September 29:— ' . ' . j i"Xour telegram of September. 20 waeJ laid before Her Majesty and .the Dukt;and Duolwes of Tork, who desire me tcf convey cordial -thanks to .your .Gover-s? Jment and.the people of New Zealand: Her 5 I Majesty-. al«>;. commands me to request j Kou will- convey, to ■ the Legislature her | fe-ncera thauks for the address, which has | Igiven her much pleasure. . Her Majesty i ffiitows well ehe has no more loyal eubjests (1 j'than the people of New. Zealand;" . .}

ijCanada Included. ~.■-..'" I The 'question of including Canada ■ in *■ :3th© tour was not eo easily settled, owing i Sto its • remoteness from the other coun- 8 atries to be visited, and the prolonged ab-s seenee from England which this would en- 1 fi Uul xipon the Dnko and Duchess. Finally f= fit w-as decided to include the 'Dominion V, \ m their visit, the journey from New % 6 Zcalknd being made via Mauritius and 5 J the Cape of Good Hopo to Quebec. Thcg !f Orient Company's . steamer Ophir was \ I chosen for tho voyage, and a large nuip- jj * her of necessary altorations were put in;^ "i hatnd. His Eoyal Highness selected the :| \ members of his suite, and alei the offi- / CceTS of the ship. . . ' * '<i In.the midst of the preparations thfs r entire • natton was plunged into pro- % i. found srief by tho death of Queen Vic- ] ttoria, Cfust as the'death of King Edwards -. at this juncture forestalls Prince George'e i 6 contemplated trip_ to Sontli, • Africa. to ij lonen tho first Union Parliament). .Queen:' ■J Victoria's death, it was expected at.first, v ■< would cause tho abandonment . of the } 'i tour The preparations were, indeed, | s suspended; but, aft*r tlie, first poignancy i, 'A Q f ■ Vrief■'■ had passed,' it was. Teeognised J gthat the iirfended visit .to, the. colqnie'-ti 1 was an. erent of.gTavo importance, pi Iwhich tho consummation conid not be a \ BTong to sorrow. In Fcbrmry, 1901, - the- 6 King announced as follows ia tho.Speech % the Throne:— . i "Th* establistoient of the' Australian> $ Common-vttalth was proclaimed . at' Syd- < k n«y on January 1 with, many manifesta-1 Stione of pnWJc enthusiasm and rejoicing." a£y dcepfr beloved and lamented mother 5 |had assenW to the visit of the Duko and j of Cornwall and Tork to oponjS ! tli« first Parliament of the new Common- c |wMtlth in h«r name. A. separation from! ijmy eon, especially at such a moment,* earaot be otherwise than deeply pain- 1 full, but I d«ire to giT» effect to hot | Lit* Majtety , * wishee, and as an evidence j of h«r urf»ro»t ; as well is my ot\ti in all S thet eoactTJii the welfare of my.eubjeoU? beyo»4 th* haro decided thot Hk) ri*it to Australia shall not be abao-i doned, and sliall b» artonded to ■ New [ Zealand and to the Dominion of Canada."! On March.l 6, 1901, .the Ophir, accqni-j panied by two crnisers, left Portsmouth;

Jj with.her Eoyal .'party. At Gibraltar tho| SjPnnee and Princess were accorded af I warm welcome j at Malta there were aj t reception, great illuminatione,- and a car-i μ^nival;.Aden expressed its loyalty; an. en-i [sthusiastic reception was given at Co- \ alombo; and at Kandv the Duke ande SDuohess were amazed by a procession of j elephants and "devil-dancers,"; |and inspected Bnddha's work, "the ob-i; jjject ■of profoundest veneration- of the J agroat- Bnddhist viorld." ' $

j Homage to Neptune. * In connection, with the crossing of the \ Equator .it pleased the Duke of York £ to nave the usual ceremonies carried out in. the most complete manner. Shortly the momentous day this general .signal was displayed from the Ophir:— bj /'His Eoyal Highness received a telef warn while at Colombo from Mt. and jJlrs. Neptune expressing an jaitention to j visit the ships of the squadron on April < lα. . His Eoyal Highness hopes you will E permit this visit, and as there must be \ many young men on board your ships who jjliavo not yet had the honour of a perjj Sonal introduction to this old sea-dog, he j trusts you will allow! the anoient custom aof the service to be carried out for the and amusement of the I ships' companies." I "Both the accompanying ' cruisers ex- \ pressed their willingness to receive the ;; proposed visit, one of them, the St., 'i George, replying :— '/"Please inform His Eoyn] Highness jthat I have ordered the hawse "plugs to jbo kept open on the 25th, for. King Nep-I 5 tune and his wife and daughters, and i i shall have the honour ef presenting iuy |debutants to them." •• '■ ( The Duke entered with great zest intc 5 the arrangements for tho -time-honoured J ceremony. He. oven expressed his wish j that every man on board, whether ho had i crossed the Line , before or riot, should iundergo the rite, and.this wish was carf;ried out. On board.the Ophir a great jbath was made ..on .the main, deck forward J by means of a , sail, on the edge of which, ijhvo or three feet above the level of tte j! itater,.- was oonstrtictedji''-a'V.'pldtform of |boards. /■; : Tho- ■traditionally garbed, "and eeated'- on , a-magnificeni wheelless car, was drawn to the spot by H rtorft bluejackets." By his side .sat Briatanuia and facing the Eoyal pair, her |two daughtci's, Australia and" Canada, the iJ-iame amphitrite accompanying her spouse Jon foot. The Duke, whohad been delighted ;sin preparing for the ceremony, was perSifectly ready to bo its first victim. He was "Muly lathered'.and. shavedvby..one of the fbarbers in. attendance,, and .tipped'over backwards; into,,.thei..canY.as,.-uath, whe« a, number, of strong'"bears" wete waiting to receive' and duck' him repeatedly. The members of his suite and members of the ships" companies were then similarly treated, to the great -diversion of the lookers-on. ■■-.''. Australia and New Zealand. . On Monday, -May 6, ; and Duchess - arrived-; ati:Melbo.urne, where aiches of .'welcome'.'hod been erected, the streets_were : gayiowrfli flass'-.and decorations, and-, an.- enthusiastic was given.by. the tefas,'of thousands vcho lined the streets. During "his stay at" Melbourne tho Duke held a levee of nearly four persons, and shook. hands with everyone,, tho performance, lasting two and a half hours. .In opening the first session of the new Commonwealth Parliament; .in the presence of twelve thousand people, His Eoyal Highness made i short speech; expressing, the satisfaction of the King'at the. event. vThe : .following telegram was. .reoewed,;-.;-.-froin,-. Edward yil:—"My thoughts' are. .with' you in this important .cereniijny. „'Most, fervently do I wish Australia prosperity." ; In Melbourne, the , . Prince and' Princess . witnessed an exhibition of rough-riding by iWcr two hundred horsemen, and regjviewed 15,000 -troops. • I : WnTm-hearted receptions, axx»mpanied Sby" levees, pageants, and the laying of afountlation stones followed at Ballarat, |Brisbane, and Sydney;, At Brisbane the |Eoyal-".'visitors also witnessed an aborigiSnol foorroboree.:-.- . -, ■ a On June. 11 the Qphir-glided jnto "3iuoklajid Harbour, .'and- the jr<jpiieir, the pate MrV Seddoii,'presented .a'n address welcome from thocolony toits-gueste. 3His Eoyal Highness, in replying, said:-B'.':-"The -readiness, and. promptitude with sirhich'the Government and people of Now sprang to the assistance of the 5 Mother : Gountrr struggle, still unSbnppily proceeding, Africa, will S ever bo remembered with gratitude by "i His Majesty and.br the people of the \ United Kingdom. Your action in that 5; matter- has proved to -the world that rayonr. appreciation of .the benefits you Benjoy as citizens of the British Empire H-.vill, when-ever the occasion'-arises, be fi shown by deeds, not words, and. that you B are prepared to Bhare in the responsibilmaintaining the glorious..traditions S'ind heritage which are out birthright as S much as that of' the Motherland."_'

| A military : display. and presentation qf'i k irar. medals, together with a veterans' s K banquet, were among the principal events < Hof the .Royal stay in Auckland. A -visit ij ivae next paid to. Rotornn, where a mag-g oifioent "welcome was given by the assem-j bled representatives of. the Maori . tribes, { md hakas and poi dances were performedfc on a lavish scale. Valuable gifts were alsog made to the.Duke and Duchess. ' ,|

\At Wellington. ' | t On Tuesday, June 18, ■ the visitors ar- !jj t rived' in Wellington,., where elaborate pre- jj ; parations had been made for their recep- a ?tion. An address from the' citizens wasß 5 presented by the ■ Mayor,. Mr. Aitken. 3 ■;The Duke inspected, local veterans at 9 i Government .House, and .chatted withW sthem, about their various campaigns.; i Honours were conferred on men who had?' signal service to the ; colony, i § including tho Governor, Lord • Ranf urly, i ? who: was made a Knight Grand. Cross ofi< ■3 St. Michael 'and St. George, and thefc -; Hon: J. G. Ward,-who. was'.made ao fltnight Commander. .-Tho--/foundation j ! stones of the Town Hall and new railway -; buildings .were laid, and a State '': at Government House was followed by { ;3. reception, at which' between four and i 8 five - hundred leading citizens were pre- E ? sented to, and shook . hands with, their jj I Royal Highnesses. At a subsequent r«- i ', caption nearly 700 guests enjoyed thisa j privilege. . A dozen., deputations offeredft > loyal, addresses to the Duke, who, in re-L* <i plying, said:— ... '-. ..' . .. ,■ . '■ J: S -His Majesty andrthe whole nation wills •\ never forget how the flower of New Zea- ti \ land manhood,; abandoning their peaceful § ' of a civilised life,; promptly I ! and. with eagerness hastened .to- arms in [ Support of the Motherland, and gallantly J ; fought and died in the Empire's • service." i ; A special compliment .was paid 'to s i; jighty-two survivors of the.first pioneere, s jof whom tho Duke remarked: "It is notf ; too much to say-that to the'pluck and ( '■ perseverance of" them' and fellow-workersf S may be'attributed, to a , large Orient the > flourishing condition, of , .'the col-f ■|pny." His Eoyal Highness-ialso said:; j "During the past week the. Duchess and \ P, f have had the great ..pleasure of be- b J coming acquainted with the Maori people, i '/.hy whom we were 'recoiled withi Janthusiasm and kindness, _ which havcy • jreatly touched us. •' I. rejoicb to think J 'of that splendid race-living in peace undi 'contentment-and' in a. efeadily-improTing~ n condition under British'.rale." 0: 5

I The- Eoyal visitors'-reached Christchurch f! i on Saturday, June 22.. /A 'review of ten Ej 5 thousand- troops was -tho •"chief. featurelj '{ of 'their stay in '■ the Cathedral-city, and] 5 Dunedin was next, visited. '.Atvboth thejl j South Island.towns the same enthusiasm ;\ v was shown as in the north. '; Before leav- * Sing-the colony the Duke wrote to-the '\ 5 Earl of Kahfurly as 'follows:— , ' i I "Ontheevoof o'uf'departure'l am anxi-S aons:to tell the: people;-of-"■ Nc#: Zealand 1 I tow hanpy :wojhave.- been.iri.their■ beauti-; Sful land, with - what ■•'regret :>we-leave it,,| Smd what'lasting feehngs;'of gratitude wo] i carry away, for the loyal onthusiasm cor-j I diality and kindheartednossso.nniversally j liccorded to us. . . . Though unfortnnateM '/, our stay ■ has, through force of circum- J '} stances, been a short one, , I earnestly* i trust that the experience and: knowledge 1 ? if the conntry which I have gained, and! Z my personal intercourse with the people,! ■ Tiay in some measure tend to sustain | «md enhance the existing feeling of sym-! iipathy and interest botwoen the Motheiji Country and New Zealand, and thus draw- j I itill cfoßer those ties of affection and ': P brotherhood by which we are bo happily; S bound. Heartily wishing the steady; i jrowth and prosperity of the country 1 1 niay ever continue, I am, etc., etc." ! ; Hetuming to .Australia, the Duke and! Y Duchess enjoyed enthusiastic, welcomes? j! at Hobart, Adelaide, and Perth. . J I The Cape and Canada.. . ' * . Mauritius,' where- they arrived on Au-; Suust 5, was their next place of visitation, \

Sand at Durban, and Cape Town, in South 'Africa, the exuberance of their public ;' welcome was not affected by the pro- ? jress of the war. A sea journey of 3300 t miles took the Koyal travellers to Quebec, > where they were received with a warm ;; affection which was Manifested wherever J they went in Canada. They crossed the ; Dominion by train, .riding on the cowS catcher of the ongine to' see tho wild \ scenery of the Eockies, ate humble fare I'm a lumberman's shanty on the St,. Law■, rence, and witnessed a great Indian "powat Calgary. Finally, they took Uhoir leave of St. John's, Newfoundland, $011 Friday, October 25, and on November ■; 1, arriving in the Solent, were welcomed «by their Majesties the King and Queen aon board the Eoyal yacht Victoria and i During the tour over 45,000 miles were ■i covered, of which 33,000 wero by sea. KjJNo fewer than 11,390 guns were fired in 544" addresses wore received, and 1 58 replies given; the Duke made 28 1 other speeches, 2t foundation stones wero jjjlaid, 62,174 troops were reviewed, including 10,407 cadets, 4329 South African war ■j medals were presented, 8 now colours gwere presented, and 142 investitures and Sknighthoods wero bestowed. The Duke jjjihook hands with about 35,000 people. . j The graciousness and consideration j-hown by the Eoyal couple at all the § places of their stay did much to strengththe devotion of the colonies towards s die Eoyal Family.

I Speech at the Guildhall. i On Saturday, November 9, the King's J Birthday, it was officially announced that ;.; the Duke and Duchess had becomo Prince ii ind Princess of Wales. On December !,~> thsir Eoyal Highnesses were euterJtained at luncheon by the Lord Mayor j ind Corporation in the Guildhall, and |presentcd with an address which stated s chat "the dignity, courtesy, and nevoriS failing tact of Your Eoyal Highness |ind of your gracious Consort, the PrinjjQcss of Wales, have confirmed and accentuated among our brothers and sisters in btho many and far-off colonies and dependencies of the British Crown that loyal S love and attachment to the Old CoiinStry.and its beloved Sovereign that has aeyer been their distinguishing characteristic." ■ ■ f> The Prince, in a memorable reply, reHcapitulated the .chief events of the great jjitour, referring to this country as affordjiing "a striking example of a vigorous, iginaependent, and prosperous people, living |in the full enjoyment of free and liberal and where many interesting asocial- experiments are being put to the ijtest." After referring to the military astrength of the colonies, and expressing jc commendation of the cadet system, the al'rinxM said: "To the distinguished representatives of the commercial interests of jnlho Empire whom I have the pleasure of feeing here I venture to allude to the GJimpression which seemed generally to [s prevail among their brethren across the ijseas that the Old Country must wake up S'if she intends to maintain her old posiipion of pre-eminence in her colonial ; trade against foreign competitors." He i;also urged the Mother Country to send •;iout her fittest.emigrants to the colonies.

NO. 3.-TOUR OF INDIA,

I EECEIVED BY NATIVE PEINCES. \ After a few years' rest at home the i Prince and Princess entered upon their s next great journey, • a' prolonged tour of Undia. The great dependency had been ; omitted from both the Prince's previous ii tours, and signs of disaffection which apJpearod there made it desirable that tile iloyalty ■of the Hindu people should be ] strengthened by the visit of .the heir to 'the throne. The tour was a fairly coin- , prehensive one, lasting from the beginning of November, 1905, till the middle 'of- March, 1906. The Prince and Princess j anded at Bombay on November 9, tc , find the whole city, native and European, ! gaily bedecked in their honour, and to be jrcminded by triumphal arches inscribed iin many languages of the great variety ;of raoes. under 'the British flag. ". The ; Prince, in an address, stated.that.it wa? ISO. years, all but a day, since- his Eoyal jfather .had received, a similar welcome jfroni Bombay, when, commencing his toiir Wf India'. The Prince added that ho had inherited .from-his. father/and, from his grandmother a. love for-the great dependency, and that it was his: earnest hope that he in turn might win the confidence of ita people. He,also expressed a hope that the visit of the heirs to the English (Jrown would continue from generation to generation. The Prince was welcomed, by a number of the feudatory rulers, upon whom his charm of ■ manner • created c deep impression.. The Princess, who. was the first Eoyal lady of England to vis: India, received a special welcome from the Hindu women. of rank. ' Oriental Pageantry. . ~ , . '.Thenceforward the Eoyal tour was one brilliant succession of enthusiastic receptions, amid all the pomp and pageantry and blaze of colours of which .the East is capable. At Indore a large assemblage of the ruling chiefs of Central India 'welcomed the future 1 Emperor of the de-, ! pendency, a magnificent Durbar was held at Udaspir, and there was gorgeous pag--eantry •at Jaipur, where, we. are fold,' j"the i-outo of the procession was moro| Jthan two' miles long, but every yard was jlined with troops and retainers-of- Jaipur] ■State, on foot, on horseback, on elephants,! and on camels. As for the colouring,! that ' simply defies description. Every shade of every colour was there. To one looking down the road it seemed one unending vista of living rainbows. Equally varied were tho equipments and accoutrements." ' ' ■•'■'■ ......

Si At Lahore the Princo held a brilliant I reception of chiefs, and after going Sthrough tho Kliyber Pass to the Afghan i border, received in audience at Raival i Pindi the Tashi Lama, the spiritual head £ of tho Bhuddist Church, and reviewed i 55,000 troops. Magnificent receptions foli lowed at Amritsar, the sacred city of tin E loyal Sikhs, at Delhi, at Agra, at GwaHior, where t'ne Prince and Princess i visited • the Maharajah Sindhia, the leadl ing Mahratta chief, at Lucknow, where £ they shook hands with the survivors of, i the famous siege, and at Calcutta, which fthey reached, on .December 29. s The -Royal visit to India synchronised i with tho departure of Lord Curzon and ' the arrival of Lord Minto as Viceroy. B ' Lord and Lady Minto ■ the Koyal visitors were officially welcomed to Calcutta on behalf of the people of ■ India, amid imimmense enthusiasm, 200,000 people being 5 present at the welcome. They spent t i week in .the capital, winning the hearts ■■ of all by ffieir unfailing graciousness am ' consideration for others, and by the keenness of their interest in all they saw. iThe' population of Calcutta, swelled by ; an enormous influx of visitors from the 'i neighbouring districts, turned out daily k in their scores of thousands to catch a s'limpso of tho Princo and Princess, and Eo greet them with every evidence ol eager interest and genuine respect. • From India the Eoyal visitors went to '• Burma, where previous scenes of enthusiasm were repeated at Rangoon and ■; Mandalay. Next, landing at Madras, they visited Mysore, Hyderabad, and Benf ares, near which last placo ■ the Princs ■I took part in an immense tiger hunting ;| axpedition, in which four hundred elephanta were employed. The Prince and Princess rode in state through the streets jiof Benares on a. superb elephant, def-, dared to be the largest in India, with a golden howdah" and resplendent trap- | pings, followed by a procession of native '( princes, only a few degrees less gorge--1 ously equipped. . . j At the conclusion of his tour, the •( Prince wrote to Lord- Minto a letter, in ! which he said that the Princess and him- ; self left India with' much regret. Their t Royal Highnesses were especially delighted nt visiting the great native'princes, j and were deeply impressed .with. their' illoyalty to the Throne, and'their personal ■affection towards Kiig Edward. "We' !j wero profoundly impressed," he. addoo i "with tho affectionate enthusiasm of the S thousands who welcomed us and made us jj feel at homo." . ! Many Colours and Peoples. 1 From their landing at Bombay till % their embarkment at Karachi, the Prince j and Princess covered over 8000 miles by I rail, besides a eea voyage of some 2000 ''miles to and from Burma. Yet the magnitude of their journeys was insignificant 5 in comparison with the diversity of seen., This was well expressed by isfcho correspondent of "The Times" -at the. iconelusion of the tour:. "They have Ipassed," lie said,. "from the warm aid inumid zone of the western.coast around

Bombay, across immense tracts of parch- i ed and: 6nn-scorchod ; tableland, where the ' black shadow of famine too often hangs 5 over the country, and a few inclies of !i rain make all the difference between star- 'j vation and plonty, to the wild mountain- s ous borderland of the North-west fron-P tier, close up under 'the Eoof of the I World, where summer and winter marks tho extremes of heat and cold; they have ■ traversed the densely-populated alluvialK plnius of the Gnngetic delta, as well as'j tho deserts of Western Rajputana and the j? scarcely less desolate plateau of the strewn Sedan, whilst in Burma and in Madras thoy have seen tho splendid lux-? uriance of tropical vegetation under the 5 inihienco of regular trade-winds and i steady rainfall. They havo been greeted • iby Pathan and Beluchi tribesmen with* strongly marked Semitic features, byp Mussulman Punjabis and Bengali Hin-v dus, smiling Butokuis xi-ith. slantinpK ICongolian eyes, and by dark-skinned-Tamils of the old Drandian stock. . . . • Even amongst those with whom the i Prince has been brought into personal'; contact, what nn infinite variety of types j • E

.what a medley of strange contradictions!" j Tho visit must have been an experience of intense interest and. of great practical value to tho now Sovereign of India. It was, also profoundly appreciated by his subjects, who everywhere and on every occasion welcomed his appear•ance with enthusiasm. The Prince and Princess, on their side, not only respond'ed with Eoyal graciousness to these exhibitions, of popular goodwill,'but they sought constantly '• to • enlarge the circle of Indian ladies and gentlemen who qonld he admitted to the privilege of personal intercourse with,; them. "Like all Oriental people, the races of Intua," observed "The Times" correspondent,, "have this, at least in common, thrtt'. they, prejfer outward arid visible signs to mere); abstract conceptions, ojul the actual pre-j sence amongst them of the lieir-appar-s ent to the thron6, accompanied by sot gracious a consort as tho Princass, hpjped| to quicken, as nothing elso could, Theiit perception of that which bound them tot Great Britain." "t