EDWARD'S BIRTHDAY. The Empire's Democratic Monarch.

Free Lance, Volume IV, Issue 176, 14 November 1903, Page 6

EDWARD'S BIRTHDAY. The Empire's Democratic Monarch.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, I9<>3-

KING'S Birthday; J 903, is chiefly memorable to suburban Wellmgtonians because it rained and filled their tanks, and to people who had been stewing m close shops and offices for six weeks because it was an execrable day for d holiday King s Birthday is a general holiday m Britain, and in this democratic country everybody throws down the tools of his trade, and hits out for pleasure Novembei the 9th is to New Zealanders . universal holiday. -* * * It might occur to some that it 's the anniversary of the reigning monarch s birth We, m New Zealand, don't know the King, and we don t know why we should cerise work because he, like all his subjects, got born "We might, with as much reason, celebrate the ruling Governor s birthday, or as reasonably the natal morning of the Premier We know them so well, and appreciate them so much we are glad they were born * * • If history is to be believed, former kings were adored as being made of very precious material indeed. What a refreshing thing it is to read the history of the sainted Stuarts, or the merry life of that splendid fellow "good" King Hal, the much-married and very pious monarch Shortly, the position of the past British monarchs glozed over their glaring sins, and made them virtues King Edward's very small sins, his baccarat, his horses, his etceteras, have been discussed by the common people. The King has been examined as a witness m a court of law ' • * • He is not out of reach, this monarch of ours He is approachable, and his life is safe m the hands of subjects who do not adore him, but who honour and esteem him both as a man and as their, sovereign He is a personal friend of a grocer, and Sir Thomas Lipton doesn't brag about it The King is the most democratic monarch now reigning, and because of this he is honoured by the world He is a diplomatist, a social tactician, a statesman and he does not seek to surround the Throne with ancient mysteries He has abolished some old-fashioned shibboleths, and has become respected so much as a man that we might almost foiget he is a monarch.

No lcpubhcan head could ha\e effected moic, and with r.ioie tactful diplomacy, than has Edward VII and no people aie so aveise to any other form of head than his subjects aie at present Although we don t know him personally, the King s birthday festival is worth keeping up out of regaid for the fiist man in the Empire, and the broadest-minded monaich on earth It is just as well to remember the 9th of November as something else than a mere holiday