New-York tribune., 1900-10-30

London Oct. So 6 a m.-The homecoming of
the London Volunteers has been the first town
show on a large scale since the Queens Jubilee.
The route, from Hyde Park Corner to St. PauTs.
was the same trayersed by the Queen
with her retlnue of princes and ambassadors,
and IL was lined under similar conditions by
$4,000 troops Foot Guards and volunteers with
files Of cavalry at the crossings. There was the
same display of color in the street decorations
and the same concourse of spectators in the
windows and balconies on housetops and in the
roadways. There was the mighty
from thousands of throats when the procession
passed. and the same rollicking hurlyburly in
the streets when the town show had ended.
TWO PAGEANTs COMPARED.
The two pageants. alike in environment were
dissimilar in spirit. The Jubilee march was pre-
eminent for its stately splendor, brilliant color
and scientific management, and the spectators
were almost overawed by the glory Of IT. The
volunteers march was a homely and unre-
strained popular welcome. All hearts were
touched by the sight Of the veterans in their
dull khaki returning from their arduous and
gallant campaign. London crowds ordinari-
T. phlegmatic silent and Unconditional, but men
felt a strange gulping in the throat when the
volunteers passed and the handkerchiefs waved
by women were wet with tears. The street dec
orations were simpler and less effective than at
the Jubilee, and the crowds were smaller, but
there was no lack Of either color or enthusiasm
The prolonged roar OF welcome. first raised at
Paddington. was taken up by the living walls
Of spectators all the way TO the Marble Arch
and Hyde Park Corner. There were twelve
bands in the procession, and Soldiers OF the
Queen" was the favorite marching tune and
the crowds took it UP with great spirit, singing
verse after verse Justify until the blare of trum-
pets could hardly be heard for the volume OF
vocal accompaniment in many keys
The battery first came into view with its own
Maxims. the remaining guns. which were
brought into effective use at Lindley, Beth
lehem and Erasmus's Camp, having been left
behind. TWO companies Of mounted infantry
were next seen and they had, as they deserved,
the warmest welcome, for they had fought in
as many as forty-four battles and skirmishes.
Their faces were bronzed from protracted ser
vice, and they looked like seasoned veterans
who had been scouting and skirmishing all the
way from Jacobsdal to Komatipoort. An In
fantry battalion came next IN two divisions,
and they marched like who had covered
their thousandth mile in South Africa. Their
khaki suits had been renewed and they were
not battlestained and in tatters, but their work
nanlike color contrasted strongly with the spick
and span uniforms Of the crack regiments Of
guards and volunteers presenting arms as they
passed. and so also cid their wiry figures and
weatherbeaten faces with the sleek and we'll
groomed soldiers lining up for them The ma
chine gun section followed the battalion, and
there was touch of pathos at the close. for the
invaHded soldiers were in brakes. One poor fell
low had died early IN the morning as mis- COM
rades were leaving the ship.
SCENES ALONG THE ROUTE.
In PiccadnIy the Burdett-Coutts house was
garrisoned with colonials and relatives Of the
volunteers and while the balconies huttered
with handkerchiefs the soldiers strained their
eyes 10 recognize familiar faces, Soldiers Of
the Queen" was sung with fine effect by the
crowds around the green park, and in ST James
ST. on the borders of clubland. the enthusiasm
was intense. Pail Mall and Trafalgar Square was
densely crowded, and Lord Wolseley, Lord Lans-
downe, Sir Evelyn Wood and other prominent
spectators looked on from the War ONCE with
pleased faces. The staid and shabby Strand
masquerading in holiday colors welcomed the
veterans with sincere affection and a note Of
hearty rejoicing, and the Lord Mayor and
sherifs were waiting in state at Griffin to lead
the way to St. PauTs without offering the keys
and sword, as they had done when the Queen
drove by to her thanksgiving service.
Fleet-st was frightened with a blaze of
color. and so densely thronged with singing null
ttudes that the volunteers were compelled TO
force their way through in small detachments.
Ludgate Hill was the nearest approach TO a
kopie on the line Of march and tremendous
was the pressure Of the crowds that the soldiers
marched in single file The management of the
crowds was so bad that a serious panic ensued
and a dozen spectators were badly injured.
The service at st. Pauls belated, but
simple and impressive and mainly musical The
volunteers occupied the nave marching behind
The trumpeters choristers and clergy It was
thanksgiving service with ten minute sermon
by the Bishop of stepney and the national
anthem and Now Thank We All Our God" were
sung with splendid effect the soldiers and spec
tators Joining with the utmost heartiness
The civic ceremonies at the -Guildhall were
brief. and the banquet at the armory came on
early in the evening, with immense assem-
bage Of guests from liveried companies ana
with the Lord Mayor Lord Wolseley and many
officers Of high rank at the top Of the tapie'
colonels Mackinnon and Cholmondeley and Lord
AIbemarle were conspicuous figures at the ban
quet, as they had been in the streets. The
Prince Of Wales was not present but he had
looked on from a platform at the entrance TO
Marlborough House and had been saluted by
Colonel Mackinnon and the soldiers they
passed. The Prince shared with the volunteers
the enthusiasm Of the crowds in Pail Mall but
in reality needed their sympathy. for the news of
the death Of his nephew, Prince Christian Vic |
tor gallant young officer, had barely been !
received Marlborough House.
MORE HONORs YET TO COME.
The service Of the London Volunteers has |
ended but additional honors viii be bestowed |
There viii be a series Of banquets for the OFF, |
GERS, and the men viii be the heroes Of the |
volunteer organizations TO which they return
A MOI in, apI'G ro be