The decision of the King to open Parliament in person
was a wise one, and is in thorough accord with all ho has done throughout the war. He and the Queen are certainly among the keenest, the most unselfish, and the most unwearied of war-workers. They do not even get a rest-day on Sunday. Take for example the past week. They only returned from Sandringham on Saturday, and on Sunday they spent the afternoon visiting the scene of the recent explosion, an experience neeessarily arduous and painful for neither of them is a superficial visitor who takes a glance and passes on. They look into thinks as well as at them.
From the scene of the explosion their Majesties went to visit the sufferers in the Poplarand London Hospitals. But hospital visits, as we have all learned to know, are exacting work for the ordinary man and womannind must be still more so for Royalty, who when on such errands must never seem hurried, and above all must give their full attention-no patients, nurses, and doctors. That was a full day, but Wednesday was even more full, and in the two days between the King had the usual stream of interviews. with Ministers and talks with distinguished soldiers and sailors, not to mention the conferring of decorations in person.- But this type of work by no means exhausts the- King's activities. He is a specially conscientious reader of despatches and State Papers of all kinds. However, when touching on these matters one always feels that the King might very well, and indeed would be by no means unlikely to ask: "Why am I to be praised for not neglecting my duties ? "
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