Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-27
King George v. of England Is
a Lovable Man, Says Per-
sonal Friend.
is A STUDENT OF AFFAIRS
How He Once Warned His Country
When He Acted as Guide to
an American.

/
turtles. He has been affectionately
called the sailor prince" His mar
riage with the popular Princess Mary
of Teck, who was previously engaged
to his elder brother. the Duke of Clar-
ence. brought him still further favor
with the British people. and trips to
the far corners of the colonies have
made him known in distant corners OF
the earth, but of his intimate person
al character only a few things are
| known.
] Lord Burnham, who was a personal
knew intimately the whole royal fam
lily, sums up the personal characters
tics OF King George in the following
paragraphs:
He has undergone sedulous training
and has been educated to rule by learn
ing to obey. The country will discov-
er in him what those admitted to his
confidence have always realized-ad-
mirable traits OF kindness and
strength, wise common sense, practical
judgment of affairs, a shrewd insight
into character and a singularly up
right and lofty conception of kingly
duty.
Deliberate In Thought.
"He has frank, generous, unspoil-
ed nature, is quick in apprehension,
deliberate in thought. careful in ex-
preston, controlled by farreaching
consciousness of duty and is animated
by a vivid sense of his exalted mission.
among other qualities which hap
PLY belong to our new sovereign, he Is
keen sportsman, an admirable father
and husband and a lovable man. He
comes to the throne at a time Of a
keen political crisis, and, while all par
tisan rivalries are naturally hushed
during the poignancy of natural grief,
we know he has the tact and ability
to give inestimable advice to his min
listers and the power to solve many Of
our most acute problems"
King Georges tastes are quiet and
unostentatious, and he is a constant
reader and a close student of national
and international affairs. Tory lean
ings are attributed to him, and there Is
very little doubt that he inclines to
conservative view in national politics.
Yet a British king is in theory above
and beyond politics, and those familiar
with King Georges earnest desire in
all things to do his duty as he sees 1t
are inclined to believe that he will be
able to hold an even balance between
the two contending parties.
His "Wake Up, England" Speech.
That King George has a mind Of
his own and thinks has been evidenced
more than once in his public address
es, which, it is said, are not for the
most part prepared for him, but are
the result of his own work and study.
Englishmen will not soon forget his
famous Wake up, England!' speech,
which was made on his return from a
tour of the British empire, which be-
gan in 1908. He was welcomed back
by a luncheon at the guildhall, Lon |
don, at which the city bestowed upon
him its freedom.
One phrase in the speech he made
gave rise to the greatest enthusiasm
not only in the city. but throughout
England and in all the colonies that
had been visited. The phrase was
thought to show that George had come
back alive to affairs and with sense !
of how to handle them. The three |
notable words in which he summed up
the results of his trip were, Wake up, |
iEnglandv' He said:
If 1 were asked to specify any particu-
lar impressions derived from the journey
Il should unhesitatingly place before all
others that of loyalty to the crown and |
attachment to the old country. It was |
touching to hear the invariable references
to home even from the lips of those |
who never had been or were ever likely !
to be in these islands. And with that 10y |
atty were unmistakable evidences Of con- |
seriousness of strength, of true. living |
membership in the empire and of power |
and readiness to share the burden OF the |
responsibility of that membership AS a |
result of the happy relations thus created |
between the mother country and her coll |
Ionies we have seen their spontaneous |
rally round the old flag in defense of the |
nations honor in South Africa.
To the distinguished representatives of |
the commercial interests of the empire |
whom 1 have the pleasure of seeing here |
i venture. however, to allude to an i'm |
preston which seemed generally to pre- /
vail among their brethren across the seas. |
1T was that the old country must wake up /
If she intends to maintain her old posi- |
ltion OF pre-eY-inence in her colonial trade |
against foreign competitors. That is the
impression have brought back with me
l-''Wake up, England!
as a wy mig OCOASC a
midshipman in the navy. He was fair
lily popular with his brother officers, |
unpretentious and quiet in his, ways, |
reserved and an earnest student. He |
rose In due course to the rank of vice /
admiral
Several years ago British ship Of |
war entered the harbor Of Halifax.
N. g.. with the new king. then Prince
of Wales, and naval officer on board.
A prominent American, temporarily in
Halifax, managed to get permission to
go over the ship.
Acted as Guide TO an American.
In the boat that took him over was
British officer of the garrison, with
whom he had some acquaintance.
When they arrived at the ship coaling
was in full swing. and the CRIME was
inches deep from bow to stern. They
were met by a particularly grimy
young officer. who volunteered to show I