The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-06-11
TWO ROYAL MIDDles.
somc "Reminiscences of the Wales Hoys
When They Wcro Anoat.

Fine street fire insurance company of
this city, says the N. Y. Times, was
shipmate Of the late duke of Clarence
and of his brother, Prince George, on
board her majcsty's ship Britannia.
He has clear remembrance of the
day they joined the ship, and of their
reception by their fellow-middies. In
speaking of that vcntrecently he said:
AT 3:15 Jan, lS, 1877, on board her
majesty's ship Britannia, training-ship
for gentlemen cadets, stationed at
Dartmouth, Devon. the buglcr sound
cd quarters and all hands, in full uni
form, were mustered to receive the
two newly appointed cadets the royal
princes. Capt. Fairfax, commanding.
was standing at the head of the gang
way with the first lieutenant, in full
dress, and rs the steam pinnace came
alongside, the ships band struck up
God Bless the Prince of Wales
Capt. Fairfax, having introduced
each of the wardroom officers and all
the instructors to their royal high
nessos, sang out Attention! by your
right, dress; eyes front! Gentlemen
cadets OF her majcsty's ship Britannia,
l now collectively present you to yoGN
now shipmales, their royal highncsses
Prince Albert Victor and Prince George
of Wales, will. whom | will now leave
You. Two PAGES forward, right about,
turn. dismiss!"
"I'hcn began all the usual boyish
cha!f, or running as l believe it is
called at Annapolis, followed by the
task OF showing our new shipmates
over the ship. As soon as they reach
cd tho upper deck the senior cadet
captain said to them: Mates. it is an
old custom that each new on joining
shall go aloft over the futtocks, avoid
ing the lubber's hole rs he would the
bottomlcss pit. Which Of you two will
be over. iirst?' So over the futtocks
and down again went the two princes,
finally joining in a game of swing the
monkey until the buglc sounded for
cadets to put on mess uniform for tea.
"At the sound Of the bugle call two
venerable family retaincrs advanced
to our new shipmates, with every out
ward sign of civilian respect, but no
nautical tug of the forelock, to inform
them that their mess uniform was pre-
pared. A shrill voice called out:
"'Who arc your ancient chums,
Wales?'
"Why, don't you see, some other
wit replied, 'one is the wet nurse and
the other the dry nurse
sTho main differences between the
Waleses and the other cadets was,
that instead of sleeping in hammocks
they had large cabins Knocked up for
them on the main housekeeping, din
ing, and working rooms being pro-
vided. They also had special tutor,
who was appointed naval instructor,
the Rev. j. N. Dalton, who aftcrward
accompanied them in her majesty's
ship Bacchante in their voyage around
the world.
"a favorite cadet joke was to get
Prince Eddie to stroke pleasure
boat and when the coxswain allowed
an easy all some one would say:
Wales, when you are indeed my ruler,
1 would very much like it if you would
make me duke.
"Make you a duke, you swab, I'll
make you shocblack.'
"He would then be taken by the legs
and ducked till he agreed end gave his
royal word of honor that each mem
Der of the boats crew should be q duke
when he came to the throne.
although without the high spirits OF
his younger brother, sweetcr tenn
pered and more unassuming cadet
was never entered in the books of her
majesty's ship Britannia, and those
characteristics he always retained.
Tho last time l saw him was in 1883,
when he was serving as q captain in
the Tenth hussars at York, al:d gave
me the same cordial greeting that he
always had given ten years before,
when we We're brother cadets
"a time-honorcd custom on board
the Britannia is that cadets in their
first term shall fay for cadets in their
third and fouth terms, and that cadets
in their second term shall'fag for those
in the fourth Or final term. This rule
was in no way abatcd with the Wales
boys, and have seen them on several
occasions hauling cadet of the neces-
sary seniority up the hill to the cricket
field on broiling day, with the per-
spiration rolling down their royal
prU1s. 1t was good discipline"