Westward with the Prince of WalesNewton, W. Douglas (Wilfrid Douglas)
History
Westward with the Prince of Wales
Newton, W. Douglas (Wilfrid Douglas)
Canada -- Description and travel; Windsor, Edward, Duke of, 1894-1972
Forming companies almost with a click on the wide green, they saluted
and stood at attention while the Prince and his party inspected the
lines. Then, the Prince at the saluting point again, the three
companies in admirable order marched past. There was not a flaw in the
rigid ranks as they swept along, their eyes right, the red-sashed "four
year men" holding slender swords at the salute.
The Prince lunched with the officers, and after lunch the cadets
swarmed into the room to hear him speak, having first warmed up the
atmosphere with a rousing and prolonged college yell. Having spoken in
praise of their discipline and bearing, the Prince was made the subject
of another yell, and more, was saluted with the college whistle, a
thing unique and distinctive, that put the seal upon his visit.
That night the Prince played host upon _Renown_, giving a brilliant
dinner to his friends in New York. This was the only other ceremony of
the day.
VII
Friday, November 21st, the Prince's last day in New York, was an
extraordinarily full one, and that full not merely in program, but in
emotion. In that amazing day it seemed to me that the people of this
splendid city sought to express with superb eloquence the regard they
felt for him, seemed to make a point of trying to make his last day
memorable.
The morning was devoted to a semi-private journey to Oyster Bay, in
order that the Prince might place a wreath on the tomb of President
Roosevelt. The Prince had several times expressed his admiration for
the great and forceful American who represented so much of what was
individual in the national character, and his visit to the burial-place
was a tribute of real feeling.
After lunch at the Piping Rock Club he returned to _Renown_, where he
had planned to hold a reception after his own heart to a thousand of
New York's children.
On _Renown_ a score of "gadgets" had been prepared for the fun of the
children. The capstans had been turned into roundabouts, a switchback
and a chute had been fixed up, the deck of the great steel monster had
been transformed into fairyland, while a "scrumptious" tea in a pretty
tea lounge had been prepared all out of Navy magic.
The tugs that were to bring off the guests, however, brought few that
could come under the heading of "kiddies." Those that were not quite
grown up, were in the young man and young woman stage. Fairyland had
to be abandoned. Roundabout and switchback and chute were abandoned,
and only that "scrumptious" tea remained in the program. It was a
pleasant afternoon, but not a "kiddies'" afternoon.
The evening was quick with crowds.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account