The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-01-21

relic of the right and might
Of kings of the Middle Ages.
His people knew him as kind
ly gentleman. They did not know
much about him. All he seemed to
do was open bazars, conferences,
lay corner stones, and make in
spring speeches in voice that
was SO lacking in accent and Or
binary that his listeners, without
knowing what they expected, were
surprised. They never could i'm
agine the King as an ordinary hui
man-being. That was their royal
ty complex, carefully nurtured
throughout the years.
Never a Breath of Scandal
There were none Of the some
times scandalous stories of gay
doings among the bright lights
that surrounded King Edward.
Queen Victoria's court was severe
with all the narrow mindedneSs of
the 'nineties. King Georges court
was more lax. 1t recognized the
modern trend of civilization. But
there was never a breath of scam
dial.
1t could be said that until his
nearly fatal illness in 1928, the
king was just the king, in capital
letters, to his people. When bron-
chial pneumonia all but killed him
at the Christmas of 1928, there was
an unprecedented outburst of af-
lection which surprised those
members of the royal circle who
were long accustomed to the
cheering and hag-waving that al
ways accompanied the appear
ances of royalty in public.
Affection for King Grew
This affection has been steadily,
if not increasingly, apparent ever
since. In his latter years the peo-
pie thought of him mostly as
kindly old gentleman whose health
was not so good, rather than an
aloof king-emperor.
Yet King George will go down to
posterity. Not, like King Edward,
Henry VIII, Edward the Confessor,
or many another ruler since Will
liam the Conqueror, for his own
personal character, but because his
reign has seen more history made
than probably any of his predeces-
sorS.
1t saw the end of the Victorian
era, and the growth of the machine
age; the emancipation of women;
automobiles, airplanes, radio and a
host of other inventions and dis
coveries.
Often Visited at Front
It's highhght was the World War.
King George played kingly part
in it. He sent his sons with mil
lion other sons to the battledeldS.
He, himself, often visited the fronts
and personally cheered his men. He
even cut loose from his German re-
lationS, and changed his name to
the homely one of Windsor.
He Had Many Worries
There were other worries. Ire
land was a sore spot throughout
his reign. 1t was troublesome when
he mounted the throne in 1910,
and the two countries were not on
speaking terms" in 1884.
Actually, there is good reason
for believing that the king had
bigger part in his country's af-
fairs during the autumn of his
life. In the fateful depression year,
1881, his ministers repeatedly
sought his advice. 1t is said that
it was his approval that decided
the government to suspend the
gold standard. He also was di-
rectly concerned in the formation
of Ramsay MacDanold's national
government which put Britain back
on its feet.
A king has died Not a great
one, but a wise and loved one.
A bad cold, which had fatal re-
suits, put King George on the
throne Of Britain.
One bleak week in January
brought him from the comparative
obscurity of second son to the
limelight of potential ruler.
Queen Victoria Ruled
At that time-1892-Q Queen Vic
toria was still on the throne with
a firm grip on the reins of Office
despite her years; King Edward,
then Prince of Wales, was next in
line, and after him the Duke of
Clarence, his flrSt-born. There
seemed but the remotest POSSIBLE
ity of Prince George ever becoming
king.
But the Duke of Clarence caught
a cold while hunting. and within
a week was lead. Queen Victoria
died in 1901, and George became
direct heir to the throne. He
assembled it May 6, 1910, when he
was As years of age, a sailor
king" who was better known,
through his voyages tc the peoples
Of his dominions, than 20 English
men.
Actually King Georges life story
may be said to have started with
the death of his brother. 1t
brought him a wife in addition to
a crown. Before that little was
known of him. Born June 3, 1865.
at Marlborough House, in the
heart of London, he was christened
Frederick Ernest Albert George and
was known to the family as
George"
Weak as a Child
Not over-strong, his childhood
was the severe one of the times.
George and his brother and sisters
were not allowed to read or play
on Sundays. Like his father, he
was fond of the sef., and eventual
iy went to Osborne College, the
Annapolis Of England, and from
there entered the navy, first as a
mildly" and later as a lieutenant.
He was absorbed wholly in his
chosen profession, and he had
travelled widely. but it was not un-