AMERICANS AND THE KING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8304, 6 December 1906, Page 7

AMERICANS AND THE KING.

The Bi-Monthly Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers has circulated advance sheets containing an account by the secretary of the institute of the recent visit of members to England. The secretary thus describes the presentation of the Sir Henry Bessemer gold medal to His Majesty in the presence of members of the American engineering institute and those of the British Iron and Steel Institute: "The proceedings were perfectly informal. The King, in a simple morning dress, without insignia of any kind, entered the room in which we were assembled; we were individually presented to him by Mr Hadfield. president of the Iron and Steel Institute; he shook hands with each of us saying he was glad.to see us (or words to that effect); Mr Hadfield presented the medal, with an address of perhaps a dozen lines, comprising one or two sentences; the King replied that he was happy to receive this token from the representatives of so important an industry, and the ceremony was over. Then His Majesty asked a few cordial questions of Mr Hadfield, who told him in reply that his society was endeavoring to return to ■its American visitors some of the abundant hospitality it had received on two occasions in the United States, at which the King nodded approval, intimating that he had experienced American hospitality himself, and added : ' I suppose you will show them a little of this country before you let them go home?" On being informed that we were to be taken to York, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, he expressed his satisfaction with that programme, and said: 'I hope you will have a very pleasant time.' A little later, remarking, 'Well, gentlemen, I will bid you good afternoon,' he departed as he had come, and we thereupon departed as we had come (to wit, in President Hadfield's splendid auto mobiles); and thatwas all. Nothing could have been more simple, hearty and agreeable. Seen thus at close quarters, King Edward appeared to be a stalwart, healthy, intelligent, and dignified and kindly gentleman ; not needing to be pompous in order to show himself great; completely at home in whatever circumstances, and instinctively able to put. others similarly at ease; able to command without shouting, and to influence without either deceiving or dictating. And nothing is more striking than the absolute and universal unanimity with which all classes, denominations, and parties in Great Britain hold and declare this opinion of their Sovereign."