THE KING'S WEEK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 81, 31 December 1918, Page 2

THE KING'S WEEK

The "King's Week."—So surely may the iveek which has just passed in London go down to.history. Instinctively the people, awed, moved mysteriously by a force in themselves hardly dimly suspected in the years of careless prosperity before, sought the Palace on that summer tiny four years ago, says "The Queen" of November 23, just as instinctively they (locked there In their thousands again Inst week—lenvI ing_ even tho captured guns unnoticed in. their one dominating desire. • Under the brilliance of that summer 6iin, through the calm beauty of tho night, sweet-scented with flowering shrubs in tho Park and the fragrance of bios-' soms wafted over the high Palnce walls, they stood then, shocked to a quiet almost uncanny with such numbers hushed so effectually that the sud-vn voico calling, "he King!" sounded si til nbovo the silence Last week, in the ill drizzle of the November day. they stood there again—young men in khaki or hospital blue amongst theni, to many of whom England was but a cherished name in far-off Dominions when London's son's and daughters kept anxious vigil beneath the windows of their King through those summer hours. Last week the men led tho chant, "We want the King; we want tho King!" which brought Hi* Majesty out on to the balcony, the Queen with smiling eyes and tremulous lips beside him, to bo greeted as surely hiirdly any sovereign has beeji all down tho ages, with so tremendous and spontaneous nn ovation. And so it was each day, whether the Royal carriage 'drove through the avenue ot captured guns and the Strand s to the Cathedral, or south, or east, or north, or, as on Saturday, west to the Pree Church thanksgiving in the Albeit Hall. Always it was tue same picture—tho King amidst his people. One of the prettiest incident's of tho wonderful week was tne tribute of loyal rejoicing paid by the women's corps to I the King and Queen. Here rapid organisation had played its part, and evolved a most striking scene out of what might have been lost in the general mass ot .tribute. To Mrs, Arthur Croxlon lielongs the kudos both of the idea and its materialisation; and this not only 'made a notable occasion even more notable, but gave girls whose duty lay out ot London their opportunity, too. Mr.s, Croxlon had sent to various centres and arranged for representatives of different sections to come up to' London. About live o'clock they lined up in Wellington Barracks—members of the Q.M. A.A..C., W.U.N.S., and V.A.D.; of the Women's Legion, Women's Volunteer Reserve, Women's Land Army, l'ornge Corps, A.S.C., and'from Woolwich Arsenal. Led by the pipers of the Scots Guards, they marched-to the Palace, one company after another of khaki-clad girls, tho dark blue of the senior service (senior still where its women are concerned, as was noticed at a recent gathering where Dame Katherine Purse, Director of the W.R.N.S., was given precedence in pre-', senting some of her corps to the Queen), the merry Land girls, and the Arsenal workers in their overalls and closelycapped heads. The King mid Queen were at tea, having not <ong bince returned, from their first momentous drive, whan the cheers of the women and' the skirl of the pipes broke in upon thoir retreat. Promptly the origin of the ''demonstration was inquired into, and as promptly the King left'Hhe round table With it's bowls of outdoor chrysanthemums, and went on to the balcony, the Queen following hini when she liad 'put on a long coat of soft bluo brende with big chinchilla collar v Then Princess Mary in her V.A.D. uniform, and Princess Arthur in her nursing drew, too, went into the chill evening air with Their Majesties, while the assemblfd gi'ls cheered ami cheered again. The Queen was manifestly touched by the demonstration, and repeatedly waved her hand, and the King, who was in navei.uniform, was 'immensely delighted, and was heard to say that he was sorry lie could not mnke a speerh I" Iho women, but it was hopeless to be '*ard from the balnmy. Dame Katherine Furse and Mrs Burleigh Leach, who headed their respective corps, find Lady Amnthill. who came with her V.A.TVs, were epnt for by Their Majesties ns wn«" Airs. Croxtnn, and all hrard nl first hand of the real pleasure which the prettily .•oneeived tribute h«d i»'w»i.