The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-03
KING GEORGE, 47 TO-DAY, IS
 MORE THAN A ..FIGUREHEAD.'

Today the British people, at home and in s'the dominions beyond the seas," will celebrate the forty-seventh birthday of King George w. Born on June 3, 1865, at Marlborough House in London, the ruler of the empire christened George Frederick Ernest Albert As al youth he was known as "Archer,"~ from his great liking for bow and arrow. and in his young manhood was generally known as the Sailor Prince" since he was of a battleship. His liking for the sea has never left him and not long ago he gratified his eager desire for trip in a submarine.
 Today's observance of the King s birthday will be a quiet one for the royal family. as the court is in mourn : ing for tie late King Frederick of Denmark. uncle of King George: About three-fourths of Georges reign has been marked by mourning. His reign necessarily began with a long period in black in memory of King Edward There followed brief sea son of social activity, ended by the Francis of Teck. The period of mourning for King Frederick is the second this year, the first having been for the Duke of Fife, husband of Princess Louise. a sister of the King.
 Tehere is a theory, generally enter tained on this side of the water, that King George has less real power than, for instance, the President of Costa Rica This conception of the British monarch as mere fgurehead is en- tirely erroneous. During his brief reign the King has caused his inf1u- difficulties which Premier and Parlia- ment found themselves unable to cope with.
 Numerous and remarkable are the powers and privileges of King George, although many of them are of such a practical. For instance, George w.. by ancient law still in full effect, is the guardian of all the idiots of the kingdom. Literally and actually, the King can do no wrong, and cannot be held personally responsible for any crime. This provision, However. of fers no attractions to. one of King Georges peaceful and philosophic temperament. The King, by flaw. is the sole and undisputed owner of the beds of, all the. tidal rivers of Eng land. Theoretically, the King is. al- ways present at. all sessions of law courts, and a criminal is an offender against the Kings peace 7 and as such the monarch. has full powers to par: don anyone he p1eases. The, sole right to print and, publish the Bible in British realms is vested in the King. The motor cars of the monarch are not required to be numbered. and the speed limit, so far. as the King is con cerned, is nu1I and void. George ", however, has given orders to his chauffeurs never. to exceed. the legal limit. Moreover, he has never taken advantage of the law by which he could travel on special trains on any railroad in the United Kingdom with out cost. The King always pays all travelling expenses, and insists even upon paying. for the royal box at thea tres. !s s.f
 King Georges hobby is phiiately .and his collection of postage stamps is one of the finest and most valua- ble in the world. The recent proposal to substitute a new machine for post tage stamps Nsas effectually squelched by His Royal Highness. As hunter King George, on the occasion of his recent visit. to India, surpassed Col. Roosevelf's record by bagging thirty tigers and thirteen rhinoceri.