Evening star., 1928-12-22
ENGLAND PREPARES
FOR yULE GAyETY
Kings Continued Progress
Stimulates Nations Plans
for Joyous Christmas.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, December %. King
George had fairly restful night with
no noticeable alteration of his con-
dition and there was no disposition
among the public to regard it as other
than satisfactory under the circum-
stances.
The Kings physicians by their recent
statements have satisfied the popular
mind that his majesty's case has taken
a more favorable turn and that he has
been making real, If slight and slow,
progress.
Consequently Christmas activities
went on today in the same atmosphere
of subdued cheerfulness which has
marked them during the past few
days.
Palace Is Optimistic.
While the Kings condition has re-
mained stationary for the last IL
hours, it was stated in authoritative
quarters that he had lost no ground.
Therefore optimism continued at Buck
ingham Palace.
This mornings bulletin read:
THE King has had a fair night and
his majeSty'S condition remains un-
changed"
The Daily Express said today that an
official message would be given the ma
ton before Christmas expressing graft
tude to the Kings subjects for the sym.
pathy they had shown in the worried
no
would also voice the hope that the peo-
ple would not let the illness of their SOW
ereign diminish their private and pub
lie festivities or their customary Christ
mas happiness.
Progress Remains Steady.
The King certainly was not yet out
of danger today nor could 1t be SAID
that he was firmly on the road TO re-
covery. But his progress at this stage
of the illness has continued steady and
has rekindled hopes everywhere.
Lady Dawson, wife of one OF the
physicians to the King, was quoted by
the Daily Mirror today as saying:
at am feeling much happier. / be-
lieve we are going to enjoy ourselves on
Christmas. Thursday was the first day
in more than three weeks that my
husband has not gone to the palace at
midday
The favorable bulletins Of the last
three days had a good effect on Christ
mas trade which had been bit too
slow to please Shopkeepers. caterers and
hotel and restaurant proprietors. They
had hesitated to prepare for their usual
Christmas trade unless at the last
minute bad news should come from the
palace to stifle all merriment. Now
they were going ahead with plans for
plenty of food, wine and music.
Buying Now Brisker.
Department stores reported brisker
buying. They mixed business acumen
with LOYALTY in posting encouraging
bulletins in prominent places. Shoppers
reading the bulletins with exclamations
of satisfaction passed on to the counters
where the psychological effect of more
cheerful news manifested itself in prac-
tical form.
The Duke of Gloucester is expected to
arrive at the palace tomorrow, complet-
ing the family group. He was on the
seas today between Madeira and
Southampton.
The arrival of Prince George at
Southampton and later at London from
New York was attended with mini
mum of formality. The mayor of South
ampton met him at the dock and after
cordial greetings the prince took the
train Immediately for London. He drove
straight to the palace, where he was
at once greeted by the Queen and
Princess Mary
The prince told newspaper men that
he was deeply impressed with the in
tense interest shown in America to-
ward the illness of the King and the
extended everywhere. 1t was
3-oof of the fine spirit that exists be-
tween the two countries"