Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1911 — King George Has ’Phone [ARTICLE]

King George Has ’Phone

Special Exchange Has Been Installed In Buckingham Palace With Three Fifty-Line Boards.

London. —Among many other Improvements at Buckingham palace, sweeping alterations have been made in regard to the telephone department, which in King Edward’s time was of the most primitive description. The late king heartily disliked the telephone and never used it if he could maange without it, but King George, who is methodical and businesslike, uses it constantly day and night. The general postoffice has now installed a special exchange to the palace with three fifty-line switchboards, two for day and one for night service. There Is an extension from the switchboard to the king’s private apartments and in addition, the king has a private exchange line of his own which is used for specially private conversation on affairs of state with cabinet ministers and high officials. Thera -is also a private wire to Windsor castle and to the residence of Lord Knollys, Sir Arthur Bigg and other court officials; to Marlborough house, York house, the residence of the duke of Connaught and St James Palace. The most extraordinary precautions have been taken to prevent these private conversations from being overheard. The king’s number, which is, of course, not made public,

is "832 Westminster,” but any one who expected to “get through to the king” by calling up that number would be disappointed. Queen Mary, in addition to the same facilities, has a private line from her boudoir to the children’s school rooms, and she, too, uses the telephone on every /possible occasion. King George frequently gets through a lot of business on the telephone before be goes out at nine o’clock for his ride in Hyde Park.