SEEING ‘THE PRINCE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3479, 6 May 1920, Page 5

SEEING ‘THE PRINCE.

(From Our Ohutu Conrespoxident.)

For weeks past the question, “Are you going to see.the Prince?” has been on almost everyo_l_le’s lips, and ‘ the writer, despite previously expressed determination not to go to see H.'R.H., found that circumstances so shaped themselves that among the ‘throng that journeyed to Marton was your scribe. Joining the train at Utiku, one became infected with the gay, irresponsible feeling that pervaded the train, duechiefly to the happy crowd .of- children that formed the major portion of the passengers. The journey to Marten was devoid of incident7;i‘Marton—cold, . cheerless, Mar-tonr-—had attempted to» decorate the streets, and‘ without wishing to be uncharitable, their attempts looked cheap. t. However, it sutficed. The " singing, ‘ cheering lorry loads of kiddies made Marten feel that, despite the chilly atmosphere, the warm glow of child-:-'en’s enthusiasm was in keeping with the great. event. The function took place in the High School grounds, and the children, some 2000 odd, were drawn up in front of the dais, flanked on either side with returned soldiers, nurses, territorials, and cadets, with the adult population wherever they could get. It was thus at 10 o’clock, is and slowly the minutes dragged on; 10.15 a.m.—-the time of the Prince"s

arrival—and yet no sign of the visitor.

Friends chatted, and some girls in ~, front of the writer got up quite a '' heated argument as to whether the Prince would wear uniform. or mufti. The argument remained ;unset.tled, for the sound of distant cheering told of the coming of the Prince, while suddenly the sound of a shrill whistle was the signal for the band to strike up the National Anthem, and every head was bared. The Prince was at *""the gates, and slowly came a Lexington motor car, containing the long-looked-for.Prince, with Admiral Lionel’ Halsey. The car stopped in front of ' {the dais, and there stepped forth a boyish-looking young man, flushed, and ,5 palpably nervous, attired ina lounge suit, with a grey overcoat, wearing a light grey felt hat. ' It .was' the Prince; Grouped on the dais were the officialyisitors, and after the presentation’ of addresses and introductions, the Prince moved to the edge of the platform to how his acknowledgments to the :welcome, among which the children seemed to predominate. Step-,. ping off the dais to meet the returned men, he did so to the accompaniment of “God Bless the Prince of Wales,” sung by the children. ‘The Returned soldiers then filed past. the Prince, the 5‘ A Prince shaking hands with each, using ‘r his left hand—to do so, and _ stopping those wearing honours for a moment ’s chat. After the veterans had been similarly honoured, the Prince nioved among the children, and as he did so the most inspiring moment of the day I arrived, for, with pro§l.'on'ged, ‘happy . ehering, with the waving of thousflags of flags, did the children greet their future King. There was nothting forced about their n'elco,nle, it ' came from the childrenlfs hearts, unafiected and sincere, and as’ the sun caught the glint of the waving flags ‘the scene was most picturesque. Across ' the cheering came the thought of similar scenes, when The present King was Here as Duke of York, when thousands of boys then cheered their future ’ King, little t.hinking of the day that was to come when they would be "call_p ed on to show their loyalty in sufiering xx‘; and, aye, by death itself, and I wondered if some of the present cheering boys would so suffer. But, God forbid it. But there was not much time for moralising, for the Prince had left the children and was coming down the line where we stood. One little girl, with a neat little 'curtesy, oifered the Prince :1 posy of roses, and the Prince smilingly accepted them, shaking the 5, little one’s hand, and leaving her, no doubt, one of the happiest mortals on. earth. He passed on to the dais, and after a few moments with the oflieial L party, stepped down the steps to get ‘ into his car. As he did so, a troupe of boy scouts gave their rally, and the Prince passed along their lines. Thanks ‘to Lord Hamilton, the writer and his friends were permitted to be near the Royal car as ‘it -stood waiting for its Royal passenger, and were enabled :to ngeta close view of the -Prince. It could be seen that the strain is already telling on him, for he looked weary; but, despite this, the kindly, boyish smile that has endeared the Prince to the people was not absent. He has a pleasant face,.a kindly and unassuming manner. Entering his car, he , drove slowly away", standing up, supported by Admira] Halsey, and raising his hat in acknowledgment‘ of the cheers. Thus did the Prince pass out of view, leaving behindhimpmemories that will live for many a longgday to come. Now for a confession. “Your Own” went ‘to Marten feling prejuI diced by what he had ‘heard or ‘ the Prince’s physical qualities, and now that he has seen for himself he is convinced that sueh tales are a libel. I i came back feeling the greatest’ sym- ‘ 'pathy for the P<rince—-sympathy born A of the fact that the should be forced

to live his life in the public eye, to s_ubmit to a round of tiresome formali. ties, that must bore him to ‘the utmost; yet amid it all he must appear as if he were enjoying himself.