Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1911 — KING AND HIS PEOPLE [ARTICLE]

KING AND HIS PEOPLE

Most members of the royal family hare had from time to time many Interesting and amusing adventures when going about In disguise. They are able to escape for a little while from the rigid etiquette and ceremony that normally surround them, and to enjoy a degree of freedom very welcome to them. King George as prince of Wales had many adventures in different parts of London in various disguises, which enabled his majesty to obtain a close insight into the different phases of life among many of his subjects, Pearson’s Weekly says. One of the most interesting adventures King George has had in disguise was a visit his majesty paid to a big railway goods yard some years ago on an occasion when there was an enormous pressure of heavy goods traffic. The king, then duke of York, went to the yard at 11 p. m., accompanied by a member of the royal household. Both were dressed in the garb of working men who were waiting In the yard until midnight on the chance of being taken on for the night shift if the work was specially Only a few of the railway officials were aware the heir to the throne was standing among the squad of hungry men eagerly and anxiously waiting the arrival of the foreman, who might pick out some of the most robust among them to aid in shifting the mountain of goods from (he trucks to the clearing sheds during the Ftor nearly an hour the prince watched the work proceeding in the big yard under the white glare of the arc lamps with immense interest, and chatted to the men about him, entering thoroughly into the spirit of their rough hut good humored chaff. A few minutes before midnight one of the railway officials who was aware of the presence of the prince came up to bfa royal highness and stood by him. A minute later the foreman arrived and after easting a tffiyvMng glance over the squad before him.

proceeded slowly to pick out a dozen men, who were then marched off to work. The rest walked out of the yard except the prince and his companion, who were escorted out a little while later by the railway official. The latter had stood by his royal highness in case the foreman should have selected him for the night shift. The foreman was not informed of the identity of the prince, but had simply been instructed not to take on the tyro men beside whom the railway official was standing. Queen Mary has. Indeed, had almost as many adventures as the king in disguise. Some years after her marriage the queen mado a series of expeditions about the east end of London, visiting all the poorest quarters as an ordinary lady visitor, her guide frequently being tfce present bishop of London. The queen also a little while later visited the * poorest quarters of Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool in the guise of a nursing sister, which enabled her majesty to go to the worst quarters of these towns with little fear of being subjected to any rough or unpleasant treatment, for the sisters are almost invariably treated with respect even by the roughest characters in these localities. ; *