The Washington times., 1936-01-21


dignity, the late King earned
appreciation of the entire worl
King George was the younger
son of King Edward VII and
Queen Alexander, then Prince
and Princess of Wales. His elder
brother, Prince Albert Victor,
Duke of Clarence, an amiable,
shy and delicate fellow, survived
until January, 1892. At that
date his younger brother was in
his twenty-Seventh year, having
been born at Marlborough House
on June 8, 1865.
King George was born at MARI
borough House, in London, on
June 3, 1865, and was baptized
at Windsor Castle a month
later.
Changed Family Name
Until the World War the mon
arch, together with the rest of
his family, was officially a men,
Der of the Guelph family Of
SAKE oburg- Gotha, reigning line
in a small German duchy. In
1917, by his own command, the
King changed the name to Wind
Sor.
AS Prince George, the future
ruler of the British empire, re-
ce1ved an energetic and exhila-
rating training, and was early
brought into contact with practi-
cal affairs and the larger world.
At IL years of age he was sent
to the Royal Naval Training Col
lege at Dartmouth, and went
through the ordinary prepare
ion for a career in England's
Royal Navy.
Nor was the physical educa.
ton Of Prince George neglected.
Short and rather slight in fig
ure, he was alert, active and
wiry, with no trace of the bron-
chial trouble which in later life
was to cause his family so much
concern.
He was a competent horseman
and, after his accession to the
throne, rode regularly in the parks
Of London and Windsor for exer-
else, although he did not share
his fathers taste for the hunting
field. nor his own eldest sons de-
light in all forms of equine sport.
Expert With Gun
His Favorite recreation out Of
doors was shooting, and in his
prime he was extremely expert
with gun and rifle, being &C"
counted Britain's second best shot.
The Kings intellectual hobby
was philately, and he owned what
has been characterized as the
most valuable private stamp col
lection in the world.
In 1884 he received his commits
sion as a sublieutenant in the
British navy, and the following
year served in the Mediterranean.
He went through the ordinary
routine of any other young naval
officer, and owed his rapid pro-
motion to his professional compe-
tency as much as to his august
connections. At the age of Is he
was in command of gunboat,
and at SO, when heir to the throne,
he was submitted to the severe
test of commanding light cruiser
in naval maneuvers. He became
a rear admiral in 1901, vice ad-
miral in 1908, and admiral of the
fleet in 1910.
The interest Of the King in
maritime affairs lasted through
out his life. He was never hap
pier than with the fleet on ma
newer.
A World Upset
He did not know that Britain
during his Is years on the throne
was to see more history made than
at any time since William the Con-
olleror of Normandy started the
long line of England's rulers in
1866. -,
He could not foresee the World
war, nor the Irish struggles. nor
the economic changes which would
rush the world overnight from the
horse-and-buggy Victorian era to a
machine controlled planet.
But by education and world
travel he was equipped to be the
head of a constitutional monarchy
and far-flung empire, and he was
prepared temperamentally to en-
dure strains which four short
years later we're to come upon all
the rulers of the world.
He proved then capability Of
inspiring his people by sharing
their courage, hardships and
anxieties, Always, he discharged