Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-04
Trooping
The CoFors,

tary display on the occasion of the sovs
ereign's birthday since the time of
George II C1727-6O). The invention of
this parade is attributed to the Duke Of
Cumberland colonel of the First Foot
guards 1t is said that this commando
ing officer professed to be shocked az
the uncertain gait and unsteadineSs of
his officers. who showed plainly that
they had scarcely recovered, from the
nights orgies, the parade In those days
being held at the uncomfortable hour Of
6 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. Ths
necessity for this test can hardly ba
said to exist at present, but the parade
continues to be given with all the pres
cision of the form in which it was FIRST
established.
| The ceremony--one Of pomp and
| splendor-is annually given with more
increasing eclat and is regarded as one
of the most magnificent sights in tho
| world. 1t takes place at the Horse
| guard parade, Whitehall. and during
the reign of Queen Victoria. always
naturally. on May "a.
| The guards, lin all their glory being
| drawn up on parade, company is deS
tailed under the command of the senioA
captain as guard for the colorts, The
two youngest leutenants and the flva
senior color sergeants usually form tho
color party. The colors, which are usuS
ally kept in the regimental guardrooni
or the officers messy where there is aid
ways a sentry placed over them, ara
4 under the charge of the drum majof,
whose duty it is to see that they ara
kept in perfect order.
The guard for the colors marches uN
and form in open order, and the drum
major, taking them from the sentry
uncases them and hands them over I'd
| the color party, they being accepted by
the lieutenants. At the same time the
guards and sentries are ordered to preS
sent arms. and the color party takes itA
j place in the center of the company
Then they receive the order to shouldeA
arms and close order and move off "iH
fours" in 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 ofi4
GERS in front. The massed bands being
in the center of the rear of the lines
the commander in chief and his staff
take their stand facing the center, al
some distance in front of the line.
When the colors approach, the ordet
is given to present arms, and every of1
ficer including the commander in CHIEF
and staff, salutes and colors. Immea
diately the drums and flies cease plays
ing and the massed bands strike uu
the national anthem.
The color party then forms up az
right angles on the left Of the linea
which goes through the movement Of
shoulder arms, and the bands move
out in 'front.' headed by the drummers
under command of the senior drun
major. They march up and downs
playing patriotic airs and ending witl
a grand march. Then they advance to
; the color party, which moves off at q
slow step, the troops again presenting
arms, and the colors 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 OF
the line, when the troops again shouldeH
arms Then the commander in chen
riding along the line, inspects the ranks
after which feu de joie is fired Of threa
blank cartridges. This gunpowder sag
|
rank is carried along to the left Of the
line and back again along the rear ranl
To the right. and after each round the
artillery booms seven times and the
bands play a stave of the national ana
them. After the last gun has been fireQ
the troops again shoulder and presenq
arms and advance in review order abouk
ten PAGES, the band once more playing
"God Save the Queen" When they
come to a halt, they ground arms, and
the commander in chief orders "thrsd
cheers for the queen" The entire body
of soIdierv remove their helmets and
rive a trio of resounding huzzas iri-tha
midst of the widest excitement.
The ceremony thus being ended, the
troons reform into column and marctS
off headed by their respective bandas
the commander in chief reviewing thenN
as they march past. The color party
takes the sacred bunting to the charge
of the sentry.
Trnon their arrival at the barracks tfe
troops usually receive pint OF bees
from the canteen to drink the queens
health though their own deserves
after the firing parade.
Es INQUIRIES is apparently an un4
co,,tb expression, but in the Guernsey
1 Il.
II signifies the militia review invariably
held on that island to commemorate the
anniversary Of her majesty's birth. I19
former years only the insular force took
mart in the military demonstration, hud
in the past decade or two the garrisoN
troops have joinedin the celebration, and
consequently the origin of the quaint
nhrase has lost obviously its propeS
meaning. In Guernsey, as in the sias
fer island, Jersey, the days programme
e ranch the same, but from a pics
turesoue point of view the military opA
erations are conducted in the former ocS
site offering greater and better ado
vantages for the display. The BelveS
dere field. where the review is held. is
| encompassed by the ramparts and bats
teries of Fort George-that elevated city
adel commanding the ancient Castl&
Cornel-and a charming panoramic ling
of seacoast. confined to the east by the
islands of Sark, Herm and Jethou. To
the northward a glimpse of the dreaded
Casouets rocks may be obtained WITH
the frowning coast OF Alderney fartheN
in the distance The ramparts and bate
teries lining the Belvedere field on its
three sides afford comfortable points OF
vantage for the sightseers, and undeN
ordinary circumstances from 5000 I'd
Is. 900 people congregate there to vita
ness the striking spectacle, which haS
! some features in common with the
trooping of the colors at Whitehall.
Ant Nests Made of Leaves.
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