Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-06
TWO ROYAL MIDDIEa
Some "Reminiscences of the Wales Eoys
Anoat

From, the New York Times.
gentleman whose Office is in Pine street
nre insurance company of this city was a ship
mate of the late Duke of Clarence and of his
brother, Prince George, on board her majesty 5
snip Britannia He has clear remembrance
of the day they joined the ship and Of their recep-
ton by their fellow middies. In speaking OF
that event yesterday he said:
cat 3:l5 on January Is, 1877. on board her
majesty's ship Britannia, training ship for gen
tlemen cadets, stationed at Dartmouth, Devon,
the bugler sounded quarters and all hands, in
full uniform, were mustered to receive tie two
newly appointed cadets, the royal princes.
Capt Fairfax, commanding standing at
the head of the gangway with the first iiertcn-
ant In full dress, and as the steam pinnace came
alongside, the ships band struck up God Bless
the Prince of Wales
Capt Fairfax. having introduced each of
the ward room officers and all the instructors 20
their royal highnesses, sang ont Attention
by your right. dress; eyes front. Gentlemen
cadets of her majesty's ship britannia, 1 now
collectively present you to your new shipmates,
their royal highnesses Prince Albert Victor and
Prince George Of Wales, with whom will now
leave you. Two PAGES, forward, right about,
turn. dismissr
Then began all the usual boyish chat. of
running, as | believe ii is called at ANNAPOLIS,
followed by the task of showing our new ship
mates over the ship. As soon as they reached
the upper deck the senior cadet captain said to
them: Mates, II Is an old custom that each
new on joining, shall so aloft, over the fut-
tocks avoiding the Iubbers hole as lie woull
the bottomless pit Which of YOU two vii! lie
over first? So over the futtocks and down
again went the two princes, finally joining IA a
game Of swing the monkey until the bugle
sounded for cadets to put on mess uniform Tor
tea
AT the sound of the bugle call two venerable
family retainers &C vanced 10 our new shiplnates
with every outward sign of civilian respect but
| no nautical tug of the forelock. to inform theta
that their mess uniform was prepared. A shrlll
| voice called out:
"'Who are your ancient chums, WalesY'
why, don't you see,' some other Wit re-
piled, 'one is the wet nurse and the other the
dry nurse.
The main difference between the Wales and
the other cadets was that instead of sleeping in
hammocks they had large cabtct knocked up
for them on the main deck, sleeping dining
and working rooms being provided. They also
had a special tutor, who was appointed a naval
instructor. the Rev. J. n Dalton, who after
ward accompanied them in her maiestys 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 easy all some one
would say, Wales, when you are indeed my
ruler would very much like It if you would
make me duke
" Make you a duke, you swab, I'll make you
| o shoeblack.'
He would then be taken by the legs and
ducked till he agreed and gave his royal word
of honor that each member of that boats crew
should be = duke when he came to the
throne.
Although without the high spirits of his
younger brother, a sweeter tempered and more
unassuming cadet was never entered in the
books OF her majestys ship Britannia, and
| those characteristics he always retained The
last time saw him was in lSSS. when he was
serving as q captain in the tenth hussars at
York, and he gave me the same cordial greet
ing that he always had given ten years before,
when We were brother cadets
"A time honored custom on board the Bri-
| tannla Is that cadets in thei- first term shall
| Tag for cadets in their third and fourth terms.
and that cadets in their second term shall flag
for those in the fourth or final term. This RUE
was In no way abated with the Wales boys, and
| have seen them on several occasions hauling
| cadet OF the necessary seniority up the hill to
the cricket field. on a broiling day, with the
perspiration rolling down their royal brows- 1t
was good discipline"