The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

Since Lieut.. Collard, of the royal navy, |
has just been court-martialed for the role |
which he played in connection with the
recent very serious mutiny of the naval
stokers at Portsmouth a mutiny which |
was brought about by the order which |
he gave to a number OF the men that they !
should go down on their knees. it may !
be timely to consider the question Of
kneeling. The latter figures quite ex-
tensively in our existence, that is TO say, !
in the existence Of those of us who be-
long to the masculine persuasion. We
are, all of us at some time or another /
Of cur lives on our knees, especially Il |
we happen 10 have experienced the pangs
of love, or the consolation Of religion.
II is a posture that Is to be found in al
most every country and cline, no mat
49, whether the people have attained
theA highest point OF civilization, or are
plunged in the most profound depths of
\ barbarian; and the carvings on the ruins
in Egypt furnish US with convincing
demonstration that 1t was as common
thousands of years before the Christian
era as 1t is to-day. If Lieut.. COlard has
been court-martialed. it is not so much
on account OF the fact that he command
ed the st0keFs to kneel, as to the cir
cumstances in relation TO the affair An
officer in the British navy who has occa-
sion to address a large body OF men will
often direct the front ranks TO kneel so
that his words may reach those in the
rear. The sailors in such cases as these /
offer no more objection to complying with
the demand than when required to drop
on one knee during fire and bayonet drill,
and rifle practice. But In this particular
instance Mr.. ColIard seems to have or
dered the men or their knees by way
of punishment They were leaving the
drill shed, and returning 10 barracks at
the conclusion of roll call when ne took
exception TO the noise which they were
making while filing out into the grounds.
and accordingly ordered them all back
and into line, and then in tones of anger
shouted the command, "On the knees.
f. he subsequently explained. II was for
fhe purpose Of delivering a reprOOf 10 the
( entire force. But the men, who were most
Of them young fellows TO whom this
kneeling maneuver was not familiar,
construed it as a punishment and as an
attempt by an unpopular officer 10 hu-
initiate and demean them, and so they
refused 10 obey. It may be added that
Lieut. COliard had already some time
previously been called to severe account
by his superiors for the lack of con-
sideration with which he treated the men
under his command.
Whether American naval officers in ad-
dressing bodies of men ever order those
in front to knceI so that their voices may
reach the rear ranks, 1 am unable to say.
But it is difficult 10 imagine any AmeTi-
can sailor, no matter how high spirited. !
taking exception to d command of this
kind as loug as no humiliation is meant
thereby. IN fact, an American tar would
attach no more Importance TO It than
when ordered TO lie fat on his stomach
during collision drill or when directed TO
kncel during skirmish maneuvers on land.
OF course, il all depends upon the way in
which the order is given and the apparent
object thereof. and if q young officer pos /
sesSed OF a sWeiled head and of an often
sive manner toward his interiors were 10
order even old and seasoned seamen on
their knees by way Of punishment. in or
der to humiliate them, he would certainly
hear something more about the matter,
even if they obeyed orders.
officers both Of the navy and of the
army for the matter of that. are often
required by the exigencies Of service to go
down on their knees, and no one thinks
the worse of them for it. For instance, /
in England, whenever new colors are con-
sCcrated and presented TO regiment, two
junior officers Of the latter receive the /
flags on bended knee from the ruler or
from his delegate Then too. officers, no
matter whether admirais or generals are
called upon 20 kneel when receiving the
honor of knighthood from the sovereign, /
which is administered in the following
fashion. The officer drops on bis left
knee and then the monarch takes a
sword from one of the equerr;es or aids
de-camp in attendance and strikes him
gently with the blade on the left shoul-
der. eXClaiming, Rise Sir Richard, or
Sir Arthur" as the case may be. During
the late reign it was customary for the
candidate for knighthood to kiss the
Queens hand before she dubbed him
knight After going down on his knee he
would extend his right hand. back upper
most and on this her majesty would lay
her hand 20 be kissed. She vas very par
tiCular about these ceremonials Of confer
ring knighthOod. and is on record as hav-
ing on one occasion exclaimed in rather
10 a new-made knight who had risen
somewhat prematurely from his knee.
Nowadays King Edward and Emperor
William permit those Of their ministers
with whom they are on terms Of personal
friendship 10 be seated when discussing
the affairs of state in private audiences.
Emperor Francis Joseph and the Car
still adhere 10 the fashion in vogue in
the reign Of Queen Victoria. Of COMPEL
ing ministers to stand when transacting
public business with them. Of course
this has the advantage in the eyes of
the sovereign Of causing the statesmen 10
be as concise and as brief as possible IN
Their remarks. In former days the min
listers Of the crown used to kneel when
received in audience by the sovereign,
and the great Lord Chatham father of
William Pitt. was always on his knees
when talking with George III about
questions relating to the government At
cOrOnations in Westminster Abbey, all the
princes of the blood, the peers OF the
realm, and certain Of the archbishops
and bishops occupying seats in the House
Of Lords, kneel before the sovereign to
offer their homage and this ceremony is
usually attended by some contretemps.
At the coronation Of King Edward the
primate was unable to rise and had to
be assisted to his feet while at that Of
Queen Victoria, poor old Lord De Ros
caught his foot In his robes when he
reached the top of the dais and rolled
down the steps much 10 the concern Of
the young sovereign. Moreover, bishops
and archbish0ps on their appointment
IL 7 L