The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-26
PAGES
9 to IL.
Troopirg
The CoIors,

The 'trooping OF the Color to give IL
the precise designation, though the
headline indicates the common express
sion. has been the occasion OF mll.-
tary display on the occasion OF the soy
ereign's birthday since the time Of
George III Q727-6O). The invention Of
this parade is attributed 10 the Duke Of
Cumberland. colonel of the First Foot
guards. IL is said that this command
ing officer professed TO be shocked at
the uncertain gait anc unsteadiness OF
ms olilcers' who showed plainly that
they had scarcely recovered from the
nights orgies, the parade In those days
being held at the uncomfortable hour Of
in the morning. The duke therefore
devised manuevers that required each
officer to march slowly and separately
in straight line. to his post. the least
irregularity being easily detected. The
necessity for this test can hardly be
said to exist at present, but the parade
continues TO be given with all the pre-
cision of the form in which it was first
established
The ceremony-4one OF pomp and
splendor-is annually given with more
increasing eclat and is regarded an one
of the most magnificent sights in the
world. It takes place at the Horse
guard parade, Whitehall. and during
the reign of Queen Victoria always,
naturally. on May "a.
The guards, 'in all their glory" being
drawn up on parade. company is de-
tailed under the command of the senior
captain as a guard for the colors. The
two youngest lieutenants and the five
senior color sergeants usually form the
color party. The colors, which are usu-
ally kept in the regimental guardroom
or the officers mess. where there is al
ways a sentry placed over them, are
under the charge of the drum major.
whose duty IL is to see that they are
kept in perfect order.
The guard for the colors marches IN
and form I'm open order, and the drum
major, taking them from the sentry,
uncases them and hands them over to
the color party, they being accepted by
the lieutenants. At the same time the
guards and sentries are ordered TO pre-
sent arms, and the color party takes its
place in the center of the company
Then theT receive the order to shoulder
arms and close order and move off "in
fours' I'm the direction of the parade
ground, headed by the drums and flies.
which are sounding an enlivening air
The troops which have already formed
into line at open order have their OFF,
GERS In front. The massed bands being
in the center of the rear of the line
the commander in chief and his staff
take their stand facing the center. at
some distance in front of the line.
When the colors approach. the order
is given to present arms, and every Of
ficer, including the commander in chief
and staff, salutes and colors. Imme-
diately the drums and flies cease play
| ing and the massed bands strike zip
the national anthem.
| The color party then forms up at
right angles on the left of the line,
which goes through the movement OF
shoulder arms, and the bands move
out in front. headed by the drymmers
under command OF the senior drum
major. They march up and down,
playing patriotic airs and ending with
grand march. Then they advance TO
the color party. which moves off at a
slow step. the troops again presenting
arms, and the coors are carried along
the entire line, the band continuing its
notes of a grand march. They move
around the entire square until they
reach their old position on the left or
the line. when the troops again shoulder
arms Then the commander in chief,
riding along the line, inspects the ranks.
after which a feu de joie is fired OF three
blank cartridges. This gunpowder sa-
lutte. beginning at the right of the front
rank, is carried along to the left OF tho
line and back again along the rear rank
to the right, and after each round the
artillery booms seven times and the
bands play stave of the national an
them. After the last gun has been fired
the troops again shoulder and present
arms and advance in review order about
ten PAGES, the band once more playing
God Save the Queen When they
come to a halt, they ground arms, ana
the commander i'm chief orders three
cheers for the queen" The entire body
OF soldiery remove their helmets and
give a trio of resounding huzzas in the
midst OF the widest excitement.
The ceremony thus being ended. the
troons reform into column and march
off headed by their respective bands,
the commander in chief reviewing them
as they march past. The color party
takes the sacred bunting TO the charge
of the sentry.
ITnon their arrival at the barracks the
troops usually receive pint or beer
IRON, the canteen to drink the queens
health. though their own deserves IL
after the firing parade.
Es mourtres is apparently an un-
couth expression. but in the Guernsey
vernacular. relic OF a Norman dialect.
II signifies the militia review invariably
held on that island TO commemorate this
anniversary of her matesty's birth. In
former years only the insular force took
mart in the military demonstration. but
in the past decade or two the garrison
troops have Joined i'm the celebration, and
consequently the origin OF the quaint
nhrase has lost obviously its proper
meaning. In Guernsey, as In the sis
ter island. Jersey. the days programme
is much the same. but from u pic
turesque point of view the military OPP
erations are conducted i'm the former on
n site Offering greater and better adj
vantages for the display. The Beive-
dere field. where the review is held, 10
encompassed by the ramparts and bat
teries of Fort George-that elevated cit-
i a.. NJ N