New-York tribune., 1901-03-17

been carried by William Pitt. George III CUM
tined the shamrock with the rose and the thistle
The leek has never been emblazoned on the
uniforms. although the welshmen carried the
Yeomen and the Lancastrian rose to victory at
RosUorfh Field Only once have the initials OF
TWO sovereigns appeared That was in the reign
OF William and Mary, when the Queen inherited
by blood her right 10 the throne ana the crown
was offered 10 the King. The only changes IN
,,ol1ed by the now reign in the gold embroideries
r-u be the substitution OF e r." for ~. X.
On each side Of the thistle. the rose and the
shamrock 1t is possible, however, that the
picturesque pink uniform. with plumed hats
may be revived from the Stuart period for the
officers. if there be any marked increase OF court
ceremonial during the reign
ONCE THEY WERE FIGHTING MEN.
The Yeomen Of the Guard distinguished them
selves in Tudor times as fighting men, Ihey
nccompanied the sovereign in campaigns ana
on foreign Journeys, and attended ambassadors
and ,n,,ovs TO foreign courts one of them is
alleged 10 have saved the life and standard OF
Naximilian l in battle, and the exploit is re-
corded in marble and bronze in the grand
sen,Ilchral monument of the emperor IN the
Franciscan church at Innsbruck, the hattie
scene being one of the most spirited relleis-
The Yeomen took part in the splendid pageant
Of the embarkation Of Henry VIII at Ports
mouth for France, and also in the glorious
pageantry of the Field Of the Cloth OF Cold
Numerous old prints bear witness TO the con-
slant service of the Yeomen at court. one OF
them contains the pictorial story Of Henry VIII
and the cobbler The King was in the habit Of
going about London disguised as a Heomah'
and he made several visits 10 a cobber who
finally suggested that there ought TO be return
Of hospitality The King told him TO call at the
md fOr Henry
visit was paid three Eeomen of the Guard met
the cobbler at the gate and conducted him TO
the throne room, where the monarch awaited
him in state. The Yeomen Of the Guard bore
the body Of Henry VII. amid clouds of incense
10 The high altar of the Abbey in l5o9 y PRINT
rresents Yeoman in the act Of tasting food' as
s. safeguard against poisoning. before 1t was
carried 10 the royal table. one Of the feomen
in the Tudor reigns was bedmaker 10 the King
ard reported daily 10 the clerk of the cheeue
that the royal couch was in proper condltlon TOT
the slumbers and dreams OF his majesty ana
that there were no conspirators lurking under
meath it. So close were the relations OF the
Yeornan 10 the sovereign that an officer used TO
.laAn in = room opposite to the royal chamber,
and another officer was the first to wake MIN
in the morning.
One Of the old prints shows the Yeomen In
attendance on William at The Hague, and there
are many representations of the Guard IN the
court ceremonies of Elizabeth and Charles H.
The life Of George III was saved by Neonah
Of the Guard. During the eighteenth century
the civilian element predominated in the Guard
vet when William " died at Windsor the old
traditions were closely followed. messenger
was sent from the castle to London with tidings
Of his fatal illness and file Of The Guard with
several changes of horses rode back at high
lsay yE-gG
buried From Tudor times the Yeomen sur
rounded the King day by day, ministering to his
pleasures and rendering loyal service; and when
he was cold in death :hey stood by, faithful to
the end When the King was buried they swore
allegiance 10 mis- successor When Queen Vic
tclia died there the first break in this rec
ord of continuous service. Osborne House was a
private estate. and all state functions were sus-
penoed. The Yeomen took part in the escort
Of the gun carriage with the coffin and crown
through the streets Of London, but the whole
Guard was represented on that day. There was
a body Of Yeomen at the station at Windsor
and another at the entrance to St. Georges
Chapel. and the remainder were on guard at St
Jamess Palace. Queen Victoria. however, had
never neglected the Guard but had always
taken deep interest in its fortunes. With her
accession to the throne the Guard resumed its
exclusively military character AS every officer
and Yeoman was a veteran who had been deco
rated for service in the field. it became in real
sense a guard Of honor, consisting. as in the
time Of Henry VIII of soldiers who had fought
for their sovereign.
BRAVE SOLDIERS, ALL
The strength of ;he Guard in its palmiest days
during the time of Henry VIII was 600
men The maximum is now 100, with a
captain earl Waldegrave), lieutenant, en-
sign, clerk Of the cheque ana adjutant, and four
exons the last title coming from French word
implying exemption from regular duty. In a
fun muster Of the Guard the orders and decora-
tions on the breasts of the officers and men rep
resent every English campaign and almost
every battle during sixty years until the out
break - the Boer War. When the Yeomen
last paraded before Queen Victoria 145 medals
were worn which had been won for gallantry
and goos conduct in nineteen campaigns. includ-
ing the crimea, the Indian Mutiny. the relief Of
Lucknow. the relief Of Kandahar and military
operations in the Punjab. South Africa, Persia.
China. NeN-Zealand. Abyssinia. Ashantee,
Afghanistan, Burmah, Egypt and the Soudan.
There were also eighty decorations. including
the Victoria Cross the Distir guished Service
Order the Distinguished and Meritorious Ser
vice Order. the Legion OF Honor, the Medjdie.
the Khedive Star and French Sandman and
Turkish War medals. In addition to these.
nearly every Yeoman possessed long service and
good conduct medals. No Yeoman can enter
the Guard unless he offer evidence of
Dnspotted record a soldier in service. and he
must also have held at least commissioned. war
rant or sergeants rank and have been decorated
for brilliant work in the field. Whenever
vacancy occurs ii is filled by appointment by the
comma n der -in-chief Of the army from lists Of
applicants, which always extend into the hun
dTeds. The appointment is for life. with in
creasinE pay for the men and pensions when
they are unfit for duty. For ordinary service
al court the Guard is divided into four sections,