Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-25
KINGS EAGER TO LEARN.

KINGS EAGER TO LEARN.
When you speak of the government
| in any modern nation which retains a
king, YOU never have the king in mind
at all II means the same thing as
/ when in this country we speak of the
| Washington administration The king
has his palace and his functions. but
no king. except in few remaining
dynasties, has any power comparable
with that Of the president OF the United
States.
IL is inconceivahle that a king in any
European country. having responsible
ministries. should undertake TO direct
large public policies He may talk in
language of ancient days. now gone
forever. about my army" and my
navy" and my subjects" but these are
meaningless words to real power.
King Georges Question.
Speaking of their status. | am sure I
violate no proprieties by repeating a
question which the King of England
asked me when l was in London. |
found later that it was a question which
had percolated through official circles
and was the cause of no little merri-
ment. II indicates. too. the British
sense of humor. which is better than
II has been painted.
May | ask you question. said King
/ George, about telegram which rumor
! says you sent to President Wilson a
short time after he reached Paris dur
ing the peace conference?"
Certainly" was my reply.
And then King George with a twin
kle in his eye. for he loves a story and
is not wanting in humor. asked this
question:
is it true that you sent the following
massage:
Washington. d. c.,
January. 1919.
e To Hon. Woodrow Wilson.
" President.
. Paris France.
Come home At once. Unless YOU do
so the United States will become re
public.
"'Josephus Daniels.
Secretary of the Navy
Story Was Popular.
That evening at dinner. at the home Of
n distinguished member OF the govern
ment. the same question was again asked
me. And again in Scotland by an i'm
portant official just returned from Lon
don. 1t was one OF those stories which
go the rounds. never being credited
10 any particular person, but remaining
current in official circles as a stock
anecdote at dinners where the talk goes
largely to questions relating to public
men or public policies
These inner circles stories arc gener-
ally told in the utmost confidence, and
when you are new in Washington YOU
think they must be held sacred. though
YOU know they are of little importance.
Generally, if you have observed the eau
ton not TO mention this story. you
find that everybody in oficialdom al
ready knows il or it is in process Of go-
ing the rounds. That fact became so
apparent that a short time after Mr..
Wilson became president a gentleman
told him he wished 10 tell him a secret
TO be held in confidence.
No" said President Wilson. Il can
not take il. When l first came here
let some friends tell me stories which
was assured were most confidential.
carried these stories concealed on my
person, thinking l was the sole recipient
Of confidence. After a while learned
that everybody I came in contact with
had been told the same extra conhden-
tial story.
Never again. If you tell me the story
and I accept il in confidence and keep
it. lose my interest.
If | tell the story. received IN con
f1dence. lose my principle"
King George is Democratic.
found King George most affab1e and
chatty. He loves good story. and can
tell one most effectively. He impressed
me as exceedingly well informed. and in
telligenty alert on all matters Of world
concern.
He was quite unceremonious and
democratic. and gathered from things
he said and from his general attitude
that he had reached the conclusion that
the time had come IL history when a
wise king would make himself as un-
obtrusively useful 10 his people as pos
sible if he wanted 10 retain his crown
and throne.
He seemed much attached 10 his
horses and cows and TO take a genuine
pride and interest in his garden and
conservatories.
The British talk about their king as a I
nice good-natured little man" Some 4
body said that as a king George Y is a /
most successful stamp collector. As a /
matter OF fact. the British have a great |
deal of respect and affectionate regard /
for him He did two things during the |
war which pleased theIn-he worked /
very hard at whatever the government |
asked him to do and he kept his hands |