The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-05-18
ENGLAND'S NEW KING.
George An Amiahle Man, Who Was
a Good Naval Officer.

George Of Wales, now King, is that
of an amiable but not too effectual
Englsh gentleman, who has lived As
years of a life that is said to have
held little laughter.
He is man who has been describ-
ed often as without salient traits. He
is kind husband and father, collects
postage stamps, mechanical toys and
picture posters and wears a small hat.
Fishing, shooting, golf and Billiards
are his recreations and the fact that
he has spent most of his life at sea
is given as the explanation of his new.
er riding to hounds. He has a taste
for farming, which he INDUCES in.
raising fancy fruits and vegetables.
His life from early manhood to ma
turity was pent in England's navy.
and the time was when England ac-
claimed him with a touch of enthu.
siasm as her Sailor Prince" AS a
youth he was more popular than his
brother, the Duke of Clarence, by
whose death he became direct heir
to the throne, but as Prince of Wales
he has shone dimly in the public
light, and is now praised principally
on the score Of his fawless respecta-
Dility. Mostly he has lived in pri-
vate, and in conversation is said to
show none Of the light, swift thought.
still less the adroit tact, that were
considered remarkable in his father.
He has been obliged to speak in pub
lie frequently, but seems never to
have been able to formulate a sem
tence that has fingered in the public
mind.
He was born at Marlborough House
June 3, 1865, just II months after the
birth of his elder brother the Duke
of Clarence. The two young princes
entered the navy together as cadets
in 1877, and after spending two years
on the training ship Britannia started
on three years voyage around the
world in the Bacchaute. On the
cruise they were accompanied by a
tutor, Rev. Mr. Dalton, who on their
return, prepared for the press a VOL
ume said to have been written by
them in collaboration, giving descrip-
tions and anecdotes Of countries WIS.,
tied by them.
In 1888 Prince George was made a
midshipman on the Canada, station
ed on the North Atlantic Coast, and
in 1885 was promoted to a lieuten-
ancy after passing a set of difficult ex-
aminations with distinction In 1890
he vas given the command of the
gunboat Thrush, on the West Indian
Station. During the same year he
opened the Jamaica Industrial Expo-
sition and the year following he was
made a full commander.
On trip to Ireland he contracted
typhoid fever, was brought near death
and recovered only after long con-
valescence. The Duke Of Clarence
died January IA, 1892, and Prince
George became heir to the throne. 1t
was then that the popular imagina-
ton settled on him the title of Sailor
Prince"
All navy officers who have served
with the new King have agreed in
calling him an excellent captain and
capable sea officer. His whole heart
was always in his naval work, and
the Prince was always lost to view in
the sailor He spent Is years in ac-
tive naval service and abandoned it
with general regret.
In 1898 there was announced his
engagement to Princess Mary Of
Teck, who had been betrothed to his
brother the Duke Of Clarence. There
had been opposition by Queen Vic
toria to the engagement between the
Princess and the Duke of Clarence,
but in the case of the Prince Of Wales,
then Duke of York, Queen Victoria
favored the match in every way. The
marriage took place July 6. 1898, in
the Chapel Royal, at st. James Pal
ace.
Six children have been born Of the
marriage-Edward Albert, Albert
Frederick, Victoria Alexandria,
Henry William, George Edward and
John Charles.
On the celebration of his safe re-
turn from a tour of the British col-
Onies in 1901 he was entertained by
and in a speech aroused comment by
advising the nation to wake up" In