Evening star., 1905-11-04
A QUIET LEAVE-TAK|NG
King Edwards Goodbye to
the Prince and Consort.
ROYALTY OFF FOR INDIA
PROPOSED LADIES' CLUB IN LON
DON A DEPARTURE.
Sale Of Jewels Belonging to Late King
Of Bavaria-New Theatrt-
cal Policy.
ROY YALTY OFF FOR INDIA
Special Correspondence of The star.

| Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON, October 81 1908.
There was quiet family leave taking
at Victoria station Thursday morning. 1t
was very different in it's essentials from
what one may see any day of the week
| on the departure of the Continental train
1t is true that except for small dis
tinguished party, the platform was pri-
vate, that a special and elaborate train
waited patiently for the travellers. and
that decorous footmen in royal livery
were directing the handling of huge piles
of luggage. But these were mere Incl
dentals, things quite apart and almost
quite unnoticed. and the impression made
on one when royalty, smiling and chat
ting, stepped out of a prosaic waiting
room was that a 1ovial English father
had come down to the station for the last
chat at the carriage window.
For one thing. royalty was very quietly
dressed, the ceremonial attire used earlier
In the week was laid aside-one wonders
how gladly. The king had forgotten he
was king, and had merely come to say
pom voyage to his son and daughter In
law on their departure for India. And SO
tho father, looking we'll and hearty-aI-
most rubtcund-walked on to the plat
form, chatting gayly to his. son. and the
sweet-faced mother followed, walking
daughter-fn-law. There seemed to be q
little more than suspicion of tears in
her eyes. but that was natural in a mother
seeing her children off on long journey.
ana though great ladies bobbed courtesies
and eminent men bowed deeply as the
travellers walked round the little circle,
noddlng smiles and shaking hands 1t did
NOT spoil the harmony Of the family party.
And then the travellers entered their ga
loon, and just before the train moved away
the rather said few parting words to his
SON The little group of spectators all
stood away at q respectful distance so that
no one knows what he said but 1t seemed
as though 1t ended with "Well. goodbye
George and 1 hope you will have a good
time"
Much of the luggage which was conspic-
uous at the station was no doubt. full of
ceremonial dresses for the numerous func-
dons which both the prince and princess
will have to attend on their tour. But three
stanch boxes, l was told, were full of
books, some novels for Willing away rail-
way journeys and sea voyages but the
great bulk of the literature matter taken
out by the prince and princess deals with
India.
Some few months ago, when the project
of the tour was first announced the prin-
cess. who is a close and ardent student of
affairs. asked the advice of a retired Anglo
Indian official with a great reputation for
his writings on India, as to course of
reading which would make her acquainted
with the country she was about to visit, its
commercial conditions, its history, its peo-
pie and their manners and customs The
gentleman appealed to supplied her with a
long and comprehensive list which she has
been diligently absorbing for the past few
months.
Even at Balmoral, where she was recruit
Ing her health, after the birth Of her last
child, the princess spent all her leisure In
reading. and by the time she reaches Cal
cutta she hopes to have mastered all the
1ntricacies of Indian history. and gained a
complete knowledge of the varied life of
that country.