Evening star., 1937-04-11
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

| 10 OOSeTDS ana eD1LuQte the per.
sonality OF George VI.
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
7 ONDON.-What manner Of man
is this who by an act of destiny
the strangest in British his
~ tory-will be crowned King Of
Great Britain and Ireland, the do
minions beyond the sea, Emperor Of
India? What character lies behind
the grave reserve Of his outward ex-
preston? What Is he like 'off pa
rade," as 1t were, in ordinary social
life?
I have seen him many times on
make many speeches during which I
tried to read the riddle of his person.
ality, or to get a glimpse of his in
dividuality-not so expressive, not so
dramatic in appeal as that of his
eldest brother who was King Edward
VIII
One thing was easy to tell. He was
shy Owing to slight inhibition
when he was speaking publicly so
that now and again he paused per-
ceptible time to get self-control, 1t
was obvious that he was doing some
thing which needed will-power and
courage. He had all my sympathy,
as I hate public speaking and suffer
| incredibly beforehand
But I had the good fortune to spend
| a whole day with him once, and in a
day one may size up any kind Of man.
unless he is hiding from his fellow
| beings.
Boyish and Open Hearted.
The Duke Of York, as he then was,
was not at all in hiding. I was
astonished by his easy way Of con-
versation and by his en-heartedness.
1t shows how one can go wrong,
thought. had no notion that he
was like that-so unstiff, so humorous,
and, on that day at least, SO boyish
went with him to boys camp in
Southwoid. This Is his particular
pet hobby and little scheme of his
own in the way Of social service. He
has run it for many years at his own
expense The idea is to get number
of British public schoolboys, from
Eton, Harrow and the rest, to spend
a camping holiday each year with
boys from industrial classes and dis
tricts, getting them all mixed up in
games and all the activities and amuse-
ments of camp life.
You will be surprised" he told me,
'hoW we'll it works. There is absolute
ly no class consciousness. They learn
lot from each other. And they have
jolly good time"
I could hardly believe that, con-
fess. 1t did not seem to me possible
that Eton could mix with the Mile End
road or Harrow with Bermondsey.
Needless to say, did not express any
doubt to the duke himself. One doesn't
try to spoil mans dream.
He was good enough to ask me into
his own car, and during the journey
he chatted on all sorts of subjects.
He was very much interested in Aus
tralia, I remember. He was also keen
on industrial problems and wanted to
get more done for young boys just over
school age. Then he began talking
with obvious admira ton about his
elder brother, the Prince of Wales at
that time
My brother" he told me, 'is going
to make speech tomorrow lasting for
something like an hour. can't think
how he does it. To me it would be
tremendous ordeal But he has a gift
that way, don't you think"
His shyness was revealed to me
again. I noticed that, whenever the
car halted and there was a chance of
his being recognized, he drew back in
his seat. Once he pulled down the
shade slightly
Il never get used to it," he told me.
But I am sure that by this time he
has overcome that particular nervous
ness, if habit makes any difference.
Tour Of Inspection.
When we arrived at the camp he
was received by rousing cheers from
all the boys, and I accompanied him
on tour Of inspection. But it was
not at all formal, and he stopped fire.
quently to talk to some Of the boys.
They were perfectly at their ease, I
noticed. What is more surprising, per-
haps, is that he was equally at ease
with them. For many men, know,
find it difficult to take up the right
attitude with boys between IS and II.
But the Duke Of York was quite won-
derful with them all through that long
day he spent with them.
He went down to bathe with crowd
of them. Without any awe or rever-
ence they played all manner of tricks
with him in the water, splashing him
with great zest, and afterward rub
bing him down with their towels. 1t
was quite clear to me that he was en-
Joying himself vastly and not allow
ing all this from a sense of duty or
good form"
There was a surprise waiting for
him at the corner of one Of the little
streets of huts in which the boys were
housed. A stuffed figure was hanging
by the neck from lantern.
some one hanged?" asked the
duke. mot a fellow I'm fond Of,
hope"
It was the effigy Of an imaginary
figure, who had failed to live up to
the code Of the camp. "A warming to
all dirty dogs" The Duke of York
laughed heartily.
I shall have to be careful" he said.
If break any of the rules"
The rules were severe. One of them
related to speeches made by the dukes
visitors at lunch. They were allowed,
I think, three minutes for their ora
tory, and it had to be amusing. Amy
pomposity, any fellow, however dis
tinguished, who trespassed over the
allotted time, was quickly brought
down to his seat One of the Harrow
masters who goes by the name of