Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-01

| lock, the chief clerk at the Smithsonian.
| and w. V. Cox. the chief clerk at the
museum. Specimens sent to the museum or
| Smithsonian pass first into the care of S. c.
Brown, the registrar, by whom they are as
| signed to the appropriate curator. The cor
| respondence concerning them will be in the
hands of r. /. Geare, head of the division of
correspondence and reports.
PRINCE OF WALES AS A HOST.
How One Dined and Slept Aboard the
Royal Yacht Osborne.
A writer in a London weekly describes a
night on the Prince of Wales yacht. The
unident titled guest says: "A telegram from
| Sir Francis Knollys. saying that the Prince
| of Wales invited me to dine and sleep on
board the Osborne. took me to Cowes one
| Friday afternoon in the yachting season.
1T was a beautiful day. A fresh breeze
was blowing from the west, and the flags
| Of the yachts. the guardship. the Victoria
and Albert, and the Osborne flew stiffiy
from their respective mastj. Reaching
Cowes at O'Clock. 1 went to the hotel in
the first instance to get cup of tea and
little rest after my journey from town.
failed to learn what time was the dinner
hour on board the Osborne. but / arranged
for a boat to take me on board at pm.
Assuming that dinner was at or $50.
this would give me ample time to dress. To
dress! All. that was the question. The
thought suddenly struck me that 1 had
| heard that the guests Of the Prince of
Wales. when afioat. are expected to attire
themselves in yachting jackets of a special
pattern.
Il think 1 had been told that the prac-
tice dated from the time when the prince
visited India I'm the Scraps. At all events,
had no such garment. and there was no
time to procure it. At o'clock 1 embarked
with my portmanteau in the wherry l had
engaged.
What ship. STR? said the boatman.
Il told him. In few minutes we were
alongside. The Osborne is a comfortable
paddleboat of about 800 tons. She is paint
ed dark blue. picked out with gold and
white An electric launch was alongside.
l scrambled up the companion and was
greeted by Capt. Milne. the commander.
The Prince Was Gracious.
The prince was not yet on board, and
to the popular captain of, the royal yacht
confided my difficulty about costume He
confirmed the impression had gained that
on board the Osborne ordinary evening
dress is discarded in favor Of a marine gar
ment. Just then his royal highness came
on board ana was saluted by the officer on
watch and the captain.
Entering into conversation with me, the
prince was good enough to excuse the de-
fciency in my toilet, for which l apologized.
The Osbornes deck Is carpeted and covered
with an awning. Comfortable lounges and
ueck CEatrS are scattered ABOUT, ana there
is strai &c blending of the smartness of a
man-o'-war with the luxury of a yacht.
In a short time l was shown to my cabin.
a most comfortable stateroom. hung with
a pretty chintz of an exquisite freshness.
The +. and o. and the Cunard Company
have larger cabins but none so prettiy and
Compactly arranged. The steward brought
me all 1 wanted, and l was soon ready for
dinner. Entering the drawing room below
deck, while awaiting the assembly of the
company, l lad leisure to notice the lovely
flowers and exquisite taste of the decora-
items. Beautiful water-color drawings of
fair scenes In southern waters adorned the
walls or bulkheads. and but for the sloping
heel of the mizzenmast rising through the
floor there was nothing to tell that we were
aioat.
A Brilliant Dinner.
I'm short time every one was assem-
bled and. the dinner being announced, the
Duke of Cornaught led the Prince of Wales
to the dining saloon on deck. Some twenty
guests were present, and a beautiful sight
was presented when all were seated at
table. Lovely fruits and flowers graced the
board. Beautiful ladies AMI famous men
in the highest spirits surrounded it. The
glass sides to the saloon were withdrawn,
and We sat at dinner in the midst of a
fairy scene. Already some of the yachts
had begun their Nominations. The town
of Cowes and the quay were gay with
colored lights. Beautiful music was being
discoursed from the upper deck. After din
ordered alongside. and were all con-
veyed to the Royal Yacht Squadron head
quarters, in order to gaze on the fireworks
in ease and comfort. The work of trans
porting the whole company was carried
out with the greatest ease and comfort in
a few moments, each guest being told off
to a boat. On landing at the squadron
boatslip, we were conducted to the balcony
of the clubhouse, where the fireworks be-
gan with the firing of the gun. 1t was a
beautiful night, and the scene could not
be matched by any country except Eng
land. Those of who were to sleep on
board were conveyed to the Osborne in
the same way we had come. We arrived
on board after midnight, when some sand
witches and aerated waters, with perhaps
slight adm!xture of good old Scotch
whisky, were acceptable. The prince STAYED
up to the last. the life and soul of the
rarty."
in the morning a cup of tea was brought
to the cabin by the steward. and at $50
breakfast was served in the beautiful dining
saloon on deck. The air was fresh, and the
little ripple against the side of the royal
yacht was a pleasant sound. The scene by
daylight was perhaps even more enhancing
than the fairy fireworks of the night before
and a hundred yachts were tripping their
anchors preparatory to a start. The prince
enters. We air rise and remain standing
Until he Is seated, then continue our break
fast After the meal a few brief words ac-
complish my courteous dismissal and 1
embark for COwes. en- route back to town,
not altogether sorry that my visit, pleas
ant as 1t was, Is over"