Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-05-26


No European sovereign is so much
a man of the open air as the king, and
since he came to the throne he has
seemed to live even more and more
out of doors. His majesty's health is
excellent evidence of the good results
which follow abundant exercise and
much fresh air. He is IS years old
today, but with increasing years he
retains his surprising vigor of mind
and body He is singularlv energetic,
though not active in the sense of one
who walks rapidly and far When
there is nothing better available for
an out-of-door occupation he does not
despise the gentle game of croquet.
though he has never fallen a victim to
golf
He is not afraid of rain, and my OBJ,
servation leads to the belief that he
actually reyels in the brisk freshness
OF heavy shower He hardly ever
uses an umbrella, or, at least, | cannot
remember having seen him do so.
For life out of doors he prefers clothes
which will resist the rain, but he
does not seem to like the macintosh.
Clad in a long cloth cape. which COM
pletely covers his other clothes, he
scorns to take shelter from even a
tropical downpour. He likes the sea
not only in its fairer moods, as when
he is yachting in pleasant wheather
on the Solent, but also when he can
watch 1t in storm. Often / have seen
him out on small terrace overlook
ing the bay of Biscay when the waves
were rolling savagely in toward the
shore. The rocks threw up the spray
in fine clouds as the king stood watch
ing the sunset beyond the Cote des
Basques, and enjoying the salt wind
that came in from the stormy Atlantic.
On his tour abroad this year the king
was perpetually out of doors, in the
royal yacht, or ashore in motor cars
Or carriages. He picnicked wherever
he could, even at Girgenti and Pompeii
Malta was entirely traversed in the
duke Of Connaught's motor car.
His majesty is, indeed, at his best
when he is at home in Norfolk.
Then he becomes as one of the Nor
folk farmers, and the people OF Kings
Lynn delight to name him THE
squire of Sandringham" Those of us
who most highly appreciate his majes-
ty for his great gifts of craftsmanship,
for his illustriuos position among
European ruler, for his power, as Nj.
Delcasse put it, of doing the right
thing in the right way at the right
time in the right place, have only a
slight idea of the deep affection which
is entertained for the king as squire.
lie is the best of landlords, of course,
but he also strict one No public
house is allowed on his majesty's prop
erty. Instead, he has provided club
houses in every village on the estate.
The king is not in the least selfish
in the enjoyment of his Norfolk estate.
Even on days when big shoots are to-
ward, with perhaps the famous Horse
shoe covert to wind UP the day. there
are few restrictions imposed. Not
only is Sandringham one of the most
perfectly managed properties in Eng
land, but it is one of the most open.
Wide highways intersect it. Just now
on the broad main rode, which sweeps
round by the beautiful gates presented
on their marriage to the then prince
and princess of Wales by the city OF
Norwich gates from which the king
has not removed the arms of the
many titles he bore when prince-the
graceful pheasants strut or leisurely
lift themselves over the fences into
the wood. Never keeper is in sight.
November usually finds damp wind
blowing from the Wash, an unpleasant
product of the North sea, pines break
It's force and, even in winter, give a
fresh wholesome aroma to the air.
From the end of the avenue the
Wash may be seen on fine