Evening star., 1936-01-21
DEATH Of ALBERT
PUT HIM IN LINE
Became Heir Apparent at
Aqe of 27 After Service
in Navy.

Will agree C10C he WdS OIAC Va UAAC AA1o0S
democratic rulers that ever sat upon
the British throne. In that respect
many already have gone q step farther
and have placed him In a class by
-himself-without qualification or COM
parison with his predecessors.
Unlike most of the Kings OF Eng
land, George v did not begin train
ing In childhood for occupancy OF the
throne because he was the second son
of King Edward VII. He did not be-
come the heir apparent until ne
reached the age of q, upon the death
j: in 1892 of his elder brother. Albert
Victor. the Duke of Clarence.
Meanwhile, George. who had been
appointed in the naval service. went
through the various grades from cadet
to commander, and after his promo
ton to the latter rank in 1891 was
placed in charge of H. M, S. Melam-
pus. He relinquished that command
upon the death of Albert Victor. as his
duties as heir precluded him devoting
himself exclusively to the navy. How
ever. he continued his connection
with that branch of the service and
was promoted to captain in 1893, to
rear admiral in 1901 and to vice ad-
miral In 1908.
Known as Sailor King.
Thus it was that when King George
ascended the throne after the death
of his father, King Edward VII. he
became known as the sailor King"
Great Britain had sailor Kings before,
one of them, Edward III, having per-
sonally commanded the British fleet
at the battle of Sluys nearly 600 years
before, so that what the new KING was
called did not concern the BRUSH
people so much as what KIND OF a
ruler he was going to be. HIS supJects
knew less about the new King person.
ally perhaps than had even been the
case with a British people.
Until he was q George was almost
constantly at sea, and from that time
until he became King travelled extern
sively. making, all told, six trips to
Canada, three to India and Ceylon
and twice to South Africa. The en-
pire never had sovereign who saw
so much of the world and the do
minions over which he was called to
rule, nor one of whom the English
people had seen so little. Before the
beginning of his reign it was estl,
mated that King George had travelled
more than 100000 miles by land and
sea.
Because of his long naval service
and his frequent visits to the colonies,
King George at first was probably
better known to his people OF the
overseas dominions than to his Eng
lish subjects at home. Thus. 1t was
not surprising that during the early
wears of his reign frequent compari-
sons were made between the actively
social and popular King Edward ano
the apparently contrary demeanor OF
his son.
Misunderstanding Forgotten.
One writer, speaking Of the duties
Of the British monarch within ano
beyond the confines of the court, SAID
edward VII performed all these
functions as if he liked them. as II
they were for his amusement, or at
least q part of his kingly life. HIS
son performs them conscientiously,
indefatigebly, from a stubborn sense
of duty, and, for the most part, as II
they were all in the days work, not
In the days amusement. Seriousness
Is part of his character. NOT crlI!-
cism can be made upon either, nor Is
It necessary to say that one way Is
better than the other. It IS ques-
ton of temperament" >.
Whatever misunderstanding, II 1t
might be called that, there was OF
King George at the beginning, 1t soon
was dissipated by the King ana MS
consort, Queen Mary. who IN all tnelr
actions showed their desire to use
thar royal positions in the most pub
-lic-spirited manner. When the per-
sonality of the King had become bet
ter known to his people at nome a
writer had this to say OF him:
: "When he made his first appear
ance as King it was with the memory
Of his father still fresh In all MINDS
and his father was man whose mere
presence impressed and delighted all.
The new King seemed by comparison
reserved and in his manner there was
something which in a less august per-
sonage might be called shyness. He
wore a grave look. The winning
emile Of King Edward, which capti-
waited all, was missing. He had dig
nifty, but with 1t q slight stiffness.
But there came a change as ne grew
more familiar with his new life ana
contact with all sorts Of people soft
ened the original hardness or inflexi-
bility of bearing. Intimates of the
royal household declare that the
Queen has been an influence and
that with her character, sagacity and
firmness underneath smiling grace
Of manner there has been a kind OF
royal partnership"
Courage Demonstrated.
As a naval officer, King George at
tracted NO special attention, but long
before his reign he impressed the
English people as q man capable OF
thinking for himself and afterward
demonstrated his courage to act In
dependently. Returning from his tour
Of the colonies in 1901, he made
speech at the Guild Hall, recounttng
his experiences and giving straight
forward expression Of the lessons he
had learned abroad. He made plea
for q democratic expansion of the
empire and his dramatic exhortation,
sWake up England" which has never
been forgotten, was characterized as
one Of the most forceful utterances OF
the time.
After he became King story was
told that some one ventured to
demonstrate with King George be-
cause, as many thought. an undue
proportion of invitations to royal
functions went to the army and navy
The Kings significant reply, which
ended further criticism along that
hne, was: "They are the supporters
Of my throne"
King George had begun acquiring q
democratic reputation during his years
as Prince of Wales, and it was said
that with a less popular sovereign on
the throne the development Of the do
mestic political crisis which was OBJ
viously impending when King Edward
died might have created more en-
bArrassment than actually was pro-
.avrnri n, ,o,ll,Isc minds with regard to