THE REAL KING GEORGE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1878, 11 October 1913, Page 11

THE REAL KING GEORGE.

A CHARMING SKETCH.

Interesting and intimate personal details of the private life and tastes of King George are given with much frankness by ihe well-informed writer (usually Sir Edward Russell) who contributes "From a Club Window" to the "Liverpool Daily Post." The King's interests, he says, smart from his State duties, are bound up with his children and with agriculture: "So far from being a ladios' man, as his father was, one is tempted to say, the writer adds, "that, apart from his wife and daughter, the King is completely indifferent to the fair box. Nothing during his reign has irritated him so much as the militant Suffragette movement, and he speaks of thiß with bitter contempt, and in doing so departs from his otherwise invariable rule ot not giving an opinion on controversial topics of the day. In private life -he is the simplest and quietest of English eontlemon. By habit ho is inclined to be taciturn, but as it is not etiquette to address him unless ho first speaks, ho is for ever breaking his own tendency to silence. 1

Most Domestic of Men. "Ho is the most domestic of men, the kindest of fathers, and always happy in the bosom of his family. It is 110 secret that the Queon has the main voice in directing the trend of all the education of their children. 1 'But .it must not bo thought that the King is a domestic cipher. On the contrary, .he not only occupies himself with every detail about air his offspring, but when ho thinks it right ho insists on having i his own way. ' , "Next, to his children, the King best likes agriculture, but he haß practioally no time for this. He would have made a capital country gentleman, but ho would never have been an Al.i'.H., for'he is not keon on hunting, and has not a particularly good seat when ridi ing. _ No Interest In Coif.

"As bo advances in middle ago, though he has no tendency to corpulence, the King finds an increasing need for exorcise, which is why ho not only rides every day whpn in London, but generally manages to obtain a set of lawn tennis. Indeed, in the grounds of Buckingham Palace he has often as many as half a dozen sets in an afternoon. He. is not a ■ good server, but is strong when close to the not, though he moves rather slowly. "Golf possesses no interest for him, and though he onco in a way plays a hundred up at billiards, he can seldom mako a break of twenty. _ Of courso, his supreme sport is shooting, at which he oxcels. "His Majesty is a most abstemious man, not fond.of champagne, but a.9 a rule drinking a light whito wine or whisky well diluted. Tho King loves a good English cheese both at lunch and when he is dining quietly. He likes a choice, somewhat mild cigar, and it is not unusual for him to consume a dozen a day, "Those around him well aware of the obstinate tenacity of_his opinions, and nothing modifies his view of a thing except on the grounds of public utility.

"Ho has very little leisure for reading, beyond what he devotes to studying tho daily papers, but when he takes lip a book it is never a novel, but a volume of geographical explors.tion, and he is fond of studying the reports of tho Geographical Society. "Tim King if. of courso, Berved by a marvellously efficient staff of secretaries, but lie conscientiously investigates everything, and ho is not a man of quick apprehension, which renders his task tho more onerous."