Evening star., 1934-11-18


again to the wedding of George, royal
prince Of Great Britain and Ireland,
and Marina, princess of Greece Qn
exile), whom I remember well as a
brilliant, precocious, slim girl IA years
old when saw her in Venice, at the
Lido, with her parents still see her,
silently watching our conversation
with deep. thoughtful eyes.
What is the meaning of the tre-
mendous outburst of JOY with which
she has been received in London, in
Scotland, everywhere in Great Brit
ain, by immense crowds?
Such manifestations are all the more
important when one recalls that there
is no doubt about the disappearance
in England Of the old type of dynastic
loyalty that consisted mainly Of Vic
torian complacency.
The British today are more con-
scious of the fact that the history of
a nation is vast weaving where every
thread is necessary; and they are con-
vinced that the continuity of the pat
tern is insured by the monarchic ira
dition. They are grateful to members
of the reigning house for the SIM
plicity of their lives. for their political
and personal honesty, for their good
humor, even for the lack of very
strong personalities among them. They
resemble their subjects; and for that
the subjects are thankful
Very recently I have been given
proof that the recent shows of loyal
ism and affection to Prince George
and his fiancee are real and lasting
feelings which are not imperiled by
the ups and downs of political enthu-
siasm. This was when I had as
guests for week or two in my coun-
try house some English people who
were highly representative of all classes
of the nation; former diplomat be-
longing to one of the oldest families
of the United Kingdom; a famous OK
ford professor, and the dear old nurse
of my children. All of them were
equally enthusiastic about the mar
riage Of George and Marina.
Royal Writing Scorned.
To these people I showed the auto
biography of Marie. Queen Mother Of
Rumania. which had been published
shortly before. All my English friends
agreed that it was sickening to read
so many pages about Uncle BERTHE"
(King Edward), about the Wales
cousins" (the present King and Queen
of England, about Windsor Castle in
a mist, Windsor Castle and its sunset.
All this royal style. so gushing, so
full of repetitions and sentimentality
and artificial ecstasies, is not to be
endured today. Life is too serious
now; prospects are too cloudy for
everybody. In spite of that, it
is probable that dynastic loyalty in
England is, in way, just as strong. if
not stronger, than in the Victorian
age
The joy honestly and sincerely
shown by the British nation for the
marriage of son of their King offers
new proof that the House of Windsor
has learned the lesson of the history
of England-that the leading factor in
British history is the English people;
but that in order to make good team
out of the contrasting elements which
have developed in England and Scot
land, it is useful, it is necessary. they
believe, to have a single supreme
symbol-the King-on condition that
the King remain always loyal to his
mission. to his duty.
If this feeling endures-as it Is very
likely to-the House of Windsor may
be sure of long generations of Ed
wards and Georges marrvinp amidst
the Joy of their fellow citizens.