HOW I "HELD UP "THE KING AND QUEEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 224, 10 June 1918, Page 6

HOW I "HELD UP "THE KING AND QUEEN

, « U.S.A. INSURANCE AGENT TELLS HIS STORY. Captain W.-M'ack, an American insurance agent "in real life," who is now the agent of the United States Governments Insurance Board for inducing the soldiers to take out war life insurances, tells the following diverting story of how ho "held up" the King and Queen at Lincoln for their autographs:— Going down in the train I spoke to hir Henry Fowler of my desire. lou can't do it, not once in a thousand years," ho'replied. "Get mo presented, and v you'll see," I told him. I heard no more until Tuesday, when I received a message from him saying that if I would come to Lincoln he would , arrange for, me to be presented. * Bully of him, wasn't it? When his message was put into my hands I was addressing our men. Holding up the message, 1 said to them: "See here, boys, this » . an invitation-forme to go to Lincoln, and meet the King and Queen ot Lng- , laud. v If I do that I'm going to get their signatures. Whether or not I do that depends upon your giving me your signatures first/' ; They fell for it instantly; all of them had signed up for insurance within, IS . minutes, and I was off \o Lincoln. Arriving there, I took station in front of the Guildhall, but one of your bootland Yard men chased me'oft. However, I wont round later to tho works • where Their Majesties were. Sir Henrj Fowler got mo presentea. Seeing tno appealability of Their Majesties ami the good humour they were in, I judged my chance was good. So I made the Pl "Weil, yes," said the Queen laughing- • lv, "but I've nothing to write upon. ' "Soon remedied, .Your Majesty, 1 replied. "Bend down, sergeant. And, as you know, sho wrote her signature upon the sergeant's back. This made her laugh more, and the. King laughed too. So, as the Queen had honoured me, I guessed the King would do so also, and asked him. My fountain pen leaked and I could not offer it. Consequently I borrowed the sergeants, and, as you know, tliat ran dry. Quite. • promptly Sir Henry Fowler ottered his, and his back for a table, aud the King U I did not quite realise that I had dono so familiar a thing as to pat your lung upon the shoulder, but when I told His Majesty that my request was very human, if it was not very military ho replied that it was very human indeed. • Afterwards Sir Henry Fowler said to mo: "I take off my hat to you I never thought you could have done it. lou ought to bo appointed Nerve-Extractor-in-Chicf to the British nation. King George is the real democratic monarch of the world. I.couldn t liavo not close up to our President m that way, try how I might. If the American pcoplo only knew King George and Queen Mary for what they really arcthey'd just love them. But, taken all round, you British are the most democratic people under the sun. Well, I've cabled to my home town of Cincinnati isbout my reception by {h"o King and Queen. I took their autographs, straightaway to .a meeting of onr men. Holding up tlio envelope, I said,. "Look at this boys, I'vo got the signatures of the King and Queen. Now I want yours as well," and everyone present signed up. I've sold a million and a half dollars (.£300,000) worth of insurance among our troops to-day by tho aid of tho royal autographs.' A U.S.A. soldier can insure his lifo for' £1000 for a year.