The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-06-08 00:00:00

THE BIRTHDAY GUARD.

The Daily News gives the following interesting account
of the ceremony of "trooping the guard" on the Queen's ,
Birthday:—
Those country cousins who happen to be in London ,
on the oc tasion fixed for the celebration of her Ma-
jesty's Birthday, and who having conscientiously
" done" the Park and the flow, ascended the Moot, '
ment, permeate.l the Tower, visited Madame Tussam i's,
laughed at Mr. Buckstone, listened to Mr. Spurge
and nearly fainted at the gyrations of Mae. Sara Love,
have a special treat provided for them which, like
Christmas and one's bitthday, "only comes once a
year." This lathe ceremony known as "trooping the
guard ;" anl, although the guard is "trisimd" at
eleven o'clock on every morning in the year, the per.
formance on the Queen's blithday is a special me, the
locality being changed from Palace-ya: d, St. James's,
to the Parade-ground behind the Horse-guards, sod the
affair being honoured by the presence of the Com-
mander-in-Chief and some of the more important mem-
bers of his staff.
On Saturday morning at ten o'clock, and, oddly
enough, there being no rain actually falling, a
large number of persons provided by the military
authorities with tickets, permitting them to pass
the line of sentries. took up their positions on
the Guards' parade-ground, and waited patiently
until the ceremony should commence. This little
gathering of spectators was for the most very well
dressed, having amongst them a large propor-
tion of ladies, in light and airy summer costume.
Amongst the men were many civil servants of
the Crown, not the loungers and dandies of White-
hall, but employs of the gast-end Government
establishments, whose enjoyment of their unwonted
holiday seemed somewhat damped by the astonish-
ment they felt at finding themselves in the streets at
such an hour, and many men of unmistakeable military
appearance. What on earth could they want there?
They must have seen Guards "trooped," colours
saluted, and marclaings past in almost every pos-
sible climate, from Greenland's icy mountains to Africa
coral strand, and yet, as actors when not at work in-
variably go to the play, and as the waiter who got a
holiday spent it in helping the other waiter to lay the
cloth for a public dinner, so here are these bronzed

seamed lined men, abeent on leave or sick leave from
their regiments in IndiA or the Colonies, recruiting
their health by living at the military London club,
and a•nusing themselves by looking on at "trooping
the guard."
••

The troops on parade for the occasion were three
battalions of the Grenadiers, one of the Scots Finds
hers, and one of the Coldstreams, and there was also
present an escort troop of the 2nd Life Guards, with
their baud. Punctually at half-past ten the Duke of
Cambridge, in his uniform of colonel of the Grenadier
Guards, and looking bluff and hearty, rode on to the
ground. He was accompanied by the Duke of Edin-
burgh and Prince Teck (wearing the uniform of a
vrianteer artTery carpal Prince Edward of Saxe
Weimar, Colonel James Macdonald, slid a brilliant
atalf. Taking up their position at the saluting
base in fropt of the Horse gnarls, the Duke then
gave orders fur the ceremony to commence. The
"colour party" moved out of the ranks; the colours
given to the charge af an officer were duly saluted by
tire presentation of arms, while their quondam beaters
marched thooigh the ripened lines of the troop. Then
they took post in line, and the "march" past began.
It was taker, part in by the whole battalion, with the
Life Guards band in front, and was executed troth in
quick and slow time with admirable precisit al and
excellent effect. The ceremony was concluded by the
battalion wheeling into hue, and the united bawls
playing the National Anthem.

The Daily Telegraph has also an account of the ceremony,
from which the folios tug ia an extract :

At 10.25 all the troops were in position, and the
" regimental dog "sitting on his haunches in his proper
place. At 10 30 his Royal Highness the Commander-
in-Chief and his staff advanced, and "God Save the
Queen" was received with a silent salute. I cannot
profess to tell you who were on :,he staff, or, indeed,
who were present on or off duty ; but I will just
say that his Royal Highness the Commander, who
seems to ride much lighter than wheu I last
had the honour of seeing him, some months ago, was
magnificently mounted. Near him were the Duke
Teck, Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, Colonel the
Hon. James Macdonald—without whom, I believe, no
civil or military ceremony in London could go on or
off —Colonel Clifton, Colonel Marshall, and scores of
others whom it did one's heart good to see, looking so
like the good old days gone by. I did not observe Mr.
Cardwell.

Military readers do not require a description of the
"trooping "-given in proper language, civilians would
not understand it-so I will try to explain it in
" mufti " tongue. It is a very simple performance, in
fact. The three regiments of Foot Guards are drawn
ifc review onive'r, ancr' cde c?wrrariwirezAr,iir-c2i-A"
spects them; then they fall back into their positions,
facing half of the square. The " colours " are
posted in the north,vent angle of the square. Pre-
sently the band strikes up. No 1 Company of the
" Grenadiers " advances and halts in front of the
"colours "-those glorious recoids of nought save
vii tory. Now begins the trooping. Ihe junior ensign
advances aml receives the colours, which he and his
company "salute." The effect of this is very
picturesque. Then the company fall back into the
rear of the regiments on parade; while the standard-
bearer - such he is for to-day - marches at slow
time around the whole square, and very well he
did it, with my respectful compliments, each re-
giment saluting the "colours" as they are carried
Fast. Then the "colours" are restored, and we have
trooped " them. The rest is the review of any day.
A maich past -slow and quick time-admirably done.
Troops steady as Prussians, and a deal better-looking.
Such marching and such wheeling I never saw. One
felt inclined to cheer. His Royal Higffiless the Duke
advances, thanks the officers, and dismisses the parade.
Time 11.2 t).

THE SACRED WEDNESDAY.
Motion made, and Question put, " That thie Monte do adjourn
over Wednesday, the 29th of May.")
!I ADJOURN o'er Wednesday ? Wherefore to r

"That we may to the Derby go.
On Wedneaday little e'er goes on ;
That day's almost a dire non."
" Wednesday a dies nos, indeed!
The only day that you concede
To crotchet m. tkgers. Throw away
Would you your weekly All-Fools-Day r—Puneh.