The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-17 00:00:00

GRAND ASSAULT AT ARMS AT THE

ALBERT HALL.

There was a great gathering on Monday afternoon
in the Royal Albert Hall to witness a grand military
assault-at-arms by the Gymnastic Staff of the Alder-
shot Gymnasium assisted by non-commissioned
officers and men of army and navy, the proceeds
to be devoted in aid of the widows and orphans of sol-
diers who fell in the Zulu war. The presence of the
Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess
of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Teck, and the
Prince and Princess Christian of Holstein-Augusten-
burg, with several of the junior members of the Royal
family, lent brilliancy to the large gathering that had
assembled. Five military bands were in attendance—
viz., those of the let Life Guards, the Royal Horse
Guards, the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream
Guards, and the Scots Guards.
It would be difficult to fancy a scene more imposing
than that . which the hail presented when, on the
arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the whole
company—numbering certainly not less than eight
thousand—rose and stood uncovered whilst the united
bands filled the great space with the strains of the
Nations Anthem. A ringing cheer followed the last
bars of the Anthem, and then the company resumed
their seats, evidently intent upon enjoying the per-
formance. The programme was diversified and
Interesting, not only from a pleasurable but also from
a practical point of view, for it was a genuine test of
the training of our soldiers in various branches, and of
their general efficiency. There were exhibitions of the
cunning of fence, the cut and thrust of the cavalry
broad sword, the lanCe exercise —a very admirable
exhibition of skill—bayonet exercise, and extra-
ordinary sword feats by Chief Instructor Adams.
The second portion of the programme was, perhaps,
the most interesting, for in this there were cutlass
and bayonet combats between men of the Royal Navy,
some admirable fencing with the small sword, in which
keen thrusts were rapidly exchanged; an interesting
duel between sword and bayonet, which proved that the
former arm has but small chance ins contest with what a
renowned commanderchristened the queen of weapons;
and an " ancisnt combat," in which each combatant
was doubly armed, having a sword in his left hand as
wel as his right. There were exhibitions, too, of
wonderful muscular development in the wielding of
the dumb bells, Indian clubs and various gymnastic
achievements of much merit. But amongst those•
features, which seemed chiefly to amuse as well as
to interest the audience were the boxing matches
and the single stick and quarter-staff exchanges of
compliments—more vigorous, it must be admitted,
than courteous. The quarter-staff engagement was
particularly earnest, since after both men had received
great blows on the head, they dropped their staves
and had a very lively encounter with the gloves.
Altogether, the performance was decidedly a success,
and was thoroughly appreciated by all present, the
Prince of Wales especially seeming to enjoy the
ludicrous episodes. At the close of the performance
the united bands again played the National Anthem,
and the Royal party retired amidst hearty cheering.
Before his departure the Prince of Wales sent for
Major Gildea, under whose superintendence the enter-
tainment had been carried out, and warmly compli-
mented him on the perfection of the arrangements.
In addition to the general receipts, which were
upwards of £7OO, the Princess Mary of Cambridge
intimated that she had received towards the fund from
the Duchess of Bedford £25, from Mrs. Freake £5O,
from Lady Edwards £5 from the Marchioness of
London& rry £lO, and from the Baroness Burdett-
Coutts-25. Itlldinifidirrtly'entimatedi therefore, that
the net balance to be handed over to the fund as the
I result of Monday's performance—after paying all
I expenses—will exceed £5OO.

The Americans have hitherto been right in their
prophecies alit° weather In the old country. Now they fore.
tall us a fearful fate. The weather Is to change before next
harvest to such an extreme heat, that tile lest will hive
to be gathered durl4 the nlght—tbe day be too hot and
the sun too powerful for men to *k under I .