The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-12-15
The Distribution of The Iron Cross.

Writing from Versailles on Nov. q,
the correspondent of the London Times
says: At 3 o'clock there was pretty
ceremony in front of the Trianon, which
was seen by very few persons. Three
detachments of Roeder's Horse-cuiras-
siers, dragons and ldncers-were drawn
up along the avenue to attend the pre-
sentation of the iron cross to officers and
privates at the hands of his Royal High
ness, the Crown Prince. just before
the ceremony large dark colored bal
loon passed over Versailles. 1t was
about q p. M-the light colored bal
loon passed before 10 A. NJ. The persons
in the former could have seen the Grown
Prince and his staff riding to Trianon,
through their glasses, for the day was
very bright and clear. His Royal High
ness on appearing on the right of the
line formed by the Seventh Cuirassiers
(the Grand Duke of Coburg's) was re-
ceived by flourish OF trumpets, taken
up by the band of each regiment. He
rode slowly along the front, and, at in
tervals, i'll reply to his salutation of
Good morning" the men cheered ST.
multaneously. On reaching the left and
1900 cavalry, the Field Marshal wheeled
around and galloped along the front to
the right. The officers and men to be
decorated were drawn up in detach-
ments on the other side OF the avenue,
opposite their regiments. The Grown
| Prince having reached the right of the
line wheeled his horse again, and took
up his post III front of the Cuirassier de-
tachment-big men on big horses, in
white tunics, steel cuirasses and helmets,
white feathers, and huge jack-boots; ri
ding, should think, at least a stone
more than our Life Guards. Officer and
men, one by one, came out as he was
summoned, and reined up his horse in
front and little on the right flank OF
the Prince, who spoke to each and held
out his hand ut the close of his address
The honored soldier placed his own hand
in the Princes, who shook it. Then he
rode back to the ranks, conscious that in
his palm reposed the coveted decoration
OF the Iron Cross, which he soon fixed in
his breast by passing the ribbon through
his buttonhole. 1t was very simple,
touching and effective spectacle. The
Prince on such occasions is seen to the
| STSdlSSI tuNdlldSc. 1lc IOOhS sNel LnCu
and he has q great many OF them in
length and breadth solder-manly,
unaffected and noble in his attitude and
gestures. His staff is very brilliant.
There are many fine fellows on it--gal-
liant gentlemen of excellent bearing and
presence, princely persons and dlstin-
guished officers; but a stranger could,
/ think, pick out the Crown Prince
among them all. The rays of the sun
glinted on the bright colors and glis-
tening steel of the long line which ta-
pered away i'll the receding avenue to a
many-hued band. A wandering priest
or two caught up in his meditatlons by
the unexpected pageant few small
groups Of civilians, a couple of American
ladies in carriage, and some halt-dozen
French women. were the only additions
to the following of the Germans from
the town who had heard OF the ceremo-
ny. Mr.. Home was among the specta-
tors, and must have enjoyed the aston
ishment OF the shades Of several Louis
great and small, at the sight, particu-
larly if they were listening to the con-
versation in Teuton tongues of those il
the flesh.