Evening journal., 1902-02-26
Mayor Low Tenders Freedom
Of City to Royal Guest
GALA PERFORMANCE OF OPERA
Fully 10000 Persons Give the Dis
tinguiShed Visitor an Ovation
at Battery Park

New York, Feb. 26.-After the
launching of the emperor's yacht the
president, with Mrs. and Miss Roose-
welt were the guests OF the prince ON
board the royal yacht, Hohenzollern. |
the president and his wife leaving for
Washington in the afternoon. Miss
Alice Roosevelt remained in New York
with friends.
The feature of the afternoon was
the presentation of the freedom Of
the city of Greater New York to
Prince Henry. The ceremony, which
took place in the City Hall, was short,
and the prince. in response to the
mayors brief address, gave pleasant
expression TO the desire for continued
and increasing friendship between the
two countries, while he made graceful
acknowledgment of the unusual vel
come accorded him. 1t was interesting
TO note that the function at the City
Hall marks the first time that the free
dom of the city of New York has been
extended to a titled foreigner since
that honor was bestowed upon the
Marquis de Lafayette in 1924. Since
then various princes have been given
marked recognition, but the word
freedom" has never been incOrpo-
rated in resolutions adopted by COM
mon council or board of aldermen.
An immense crowd had assembled
I'm Battery Park to do honor to the
prince and his suite. AS the prince
stepped ashore he was greeted by the
mayors secretary, and as the party,
consisting Of the prince, Ambassador
Won Holleben, Consul General Buenz,
Admiral Evans and the legation at
taches, walked into Battery Place,
there was a tremendous outburst of
cheering. As the carriages containing
the party were driven rapidly up
Broadway the thron'g which lined the
pavements and stood at the windows
Of the tall buildings gave the occu-
pants a rousing welcome. At Wall
street an avalanche Of ticker tape al
most covered the prince who took it
in good part and saluted the throw
ers.
The mayor received the prince just
after he crossed the threshold, and
they shook hands The princes suite
preceded him and took seats at the
right Of President Fornes of the board
of aldermen. AS soon as they were
seated the prince entered on the arm
of President Cantor, who formally in
troduced him to the board and presi
dent
President Fornes said: "Your royal
highness, Prince Henry Of Prussia, 1t
is my especial honor to request his
honor, the mayor of New York, to ten.
der you the resolution passed by this
body granting you the freedom of the
city" Thereupon the mayor formally
presented the resolution.
Prince Henry replied: Mr.. Mayor
am most grateful for the kind re-
ception 1 find here in this house, as
well as for the very kind words you
express on this occasion. 1 am fully
aware of the fact that it is an excep-
tion that a member of my family
should have been offered the freedom
of the city of New York. ! may add
that l am proud of it. l am sorry that
i cannot repay you for all the kind
ness l have found here, but ! think
that l am quite safe in saying that
may offer you the friendship of his
majesty, the emperor of Germany, and
/ agree with you, Mr. Mayor, that
have not come here to create a friend
ship, but to carry on the old friend
ship which has existed between our
two nations, and which l hope may
remain the same in the future. ]
wish to thank you once more and con-
clude with my heartfelt thanks for
the kindness and for your Offering me
the freedom of the city of New York
i wish to add that l wish the city OF
New York everything that is good foI
the future"
After the prince had made his reply
he was applauded for some minutes
and the official ceremony came to an
end.
Notwithstanding the rain It is esti
mated that fully 100000 people waited
outside the city hall until the prince
appeared after the ceremony, ant
here, as well as along the route after
wards taken by the carriages, the
royal visitor was accorded an ovation
by the people of New York. In tn,
evening Prince Henry, his suite ant
the presidential delegates were the
guests of the mayor of New York a
dinner at the Manhattan Club.
Prince Henry was present last even
Ing at a gala performance given in hi
honor at the Metropolitan Oper;
House. The prince did not arrive a
lhe opera until $50. and the first &C
of "Lohengrin," with which the Pre-
gramme was opened, was nearly fin