The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-05-26
ENGLISH moNkRcH's DIGESTION
is SUCH THAT He CANNOT
STAND ALCOHOL.
HIS HOME LIFE IS IDEAL
William T. Stead Replies to Libel tina,
New Ruler is Confirmed Drunksrd.
When indigestion Assails Him His
Nose Reddens.
(By William T. SteadD

London. May 2J.-king George has
now been ON the throne for week,
and it is about time the truth was
spoken with emphasis. in order that
mass OF lying, calumnious state.
ments about him should be dispelled
once Tor all
may or may not have had some origin
in fact in the remote past, but the
story now current is neither more nor
less thaa an internal lie.
So far from the king being drunk
ard, he is nearer teetotaler than any
king who has ascenlcd the English
throne. For years past | know, on
first hand authority from those who
have lived IN his house, dined at his
table and travelled with him at home
and abroad, he has been one of the
most abstemious OF men. He has new
er claimed this as virtue ON his
part.
My father" he would say. and all
the men of the older generation take
their wine and are never the worse
for It. As for me, simply cannot. If
/ | were to take a glass OF champagne,
! it would simply bowl me over. hence
! | have to stick to my ginger ale
not because | like ii, but because IL is
the only thing that likes me-"
The simple truth of the matter is
that the kings digestion is very bad.
A very little thing upsets it, and when
he suffers indigestion his lips becom.
livid, his nose reddens and his hands
grow cold. These symptoms, which
are very familiar in certain forms OF
Indigestion, have led unthinking per.
sons to imagine that the king was suf.
fering from intoxication, when in real.
ity he had never touched either wine
or spirits.
was told the other day by those
who know him well that II is nearly
two years since he touched a drop OF
alcohol. About that can say nothinS.
All that know is that those who
know him best ;,re indignant at t"'
persistent circulation OF stories as TO
his fondness for strong drink.
Equally false are the stories that
have been circulated about the marriei
life of the king and queen. Their home
Is simply ideal from the domestic
point of view. They are both devoted
to their children, and are never 50
happy as when they can shut all the
world out OF doors and can devote
themselves TO each other and TO their
children.
But of this devoted couple the most
incredible falsehoois are circulated
by people who accept them without
any malicious desire to believe them
true-simply hearing them continually
repeated assuming they must be true
The other day two workmen stood
before Buckingham palace and began
to talk of the two kings Said one
10 lHp OtHeI
III is a pity the old mans dead. He
wa sa good sort, was Edward
Much better" said the other. than
the new one. who. Il is said goes 10
bed every night drunk"
All" said the first, the sooner
that chap has his heal taken off. the
better"
Iut even this was not so mon
strous an Instance OF the prevalent
impression as TO the habits OF the king
as a letter which ! received from a
bootmaker in Plumstead After re
ferring TO the reasons for believing
that | was personally acquainted with
the habits OF King George, my cores
pondent continued as follows
81 thought perhaps you would kind
ly tell me whether il is true, as re
ported quite commonly here in Wool
wich and Plumstead, that King George
is a drunkard and that his home is
poor drunkards home. This and
other things on the same lines are
p current topics among Christians as
well as Others. | was present at a
prayer meeting last evening and heard
gentleman pray for the king and
queen as poor drunkards, etc, at which
felt indignant"
The contrast between the universal