The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-01
King and Queen Will Attend in
Their Ancient Red and Gold
State Barge
ny LA MARuuIsr DE FuNrEyoY.

be q grand affair indeed. Jud5-
Ing by the prelim nary motto IS
given out IL is announced that the
King and Queen Will be present in
their ancient red end gold state
! barge" This gorgeous vessel Is 225
years old, for. according to tho brass
piat- attached thereto. IL was built
by King William III. for Queen Mary,
sn 1852" 1t IS constructed OF oak, Is
about forty feet long, and is propelled
by twelve rovcrs arraycd in scarlet
coats with the royal cipher in gold
o nthe breast. blue brcechcs. bucklcd
| Shoes and velvet caps. OF the jockey
pattern. but much heavier and deeper.
Tho barge. according TO rec-nt dc-
counts. is III splendid condition. not
withs tund!nE it's age. Much gold was
used in It's communication when 1t was
first put together more than two cen
turtles ago, and over the stern there
is canopy with rich silk hansings.
surmoun;ed By siidcd crown. Thosa
wao are fortunate enough tn be able
to attend the regatta Will probably
be Interested TO observe whether Will
, liam ILLS taste for brilliant colors is
shared by his successor on the throne.
Perhaps something a little less fam,
! boyant rwill satisfy George V. But IL
he sees fit to retain the twelve rowers
in their splendid costumes. Ii may seem
more appropriate to preserve the tout
ensemble. with the gold crown, red
silk hanEinSs and all the old acces-
sories.
Queen Victoria had a state barge.
which was q much more modern affair.
built in 1915 by Bursoincs, of Kings,
tom on-Thames. But she never us I'd
TO the waterside with the intention of
making trip on board the barge. but
was dissuGded by her Scotch Giliic.
John Brown. for jus, as she was about
sky. cast his eye around the horizon.
shifted the wind obviously, shook his
! head, and finally advised his royal
mistress that H.. ''wadna gang. an he
were she. as IL were over likely
they's ha' some rain" So the usually
stubborn Queen changed hep mind.
went back TO thecastle, and the boat
was never us I'd by her. 1t is of ma
color is of white enamel. The lower
part of the inside is lined with wal
nut, and above the seats are panels
OF emerald graen and gold. decorated
with roses. thistles and shamrocks. at
each thwart is massive brass dol
phin, and at the bow of the boat
larger one richly carved in wood. a
canopy. supported by solid brass
frame. hangs over the stern. the cover
being OF green satin. and the curtains
and upholsterin gof green silk rep.
This barge. during the reign OF King
Edward, was frequently used by Queen
Alexandra.
The etiquetto governing tn, use of
back from time immemorial. No doubt
is is this which prevents a motor be-
ing placed In tho boat and the mus
cular cXertions OF the twelve gorge
ously uniformed oarsmen being dis
pensed with For the present. how
ever, the old customs are to be kept
UP, i, seems. King Edward had u
spaclal crew of watermen under the
command Of William East his barge
pjon scuiler. The Queen had no reg
ular Waterman, 1t being a matter OF
ancient traditio nthat the lords In
waiting should each take an
when the ouaen Consort signifed her
desire to go a-boating.
The recent mobbing of President
Taft in New York. where. wishing to
take quiet stroll along Fifth Avenue.
he was recognized, and trailfd by a
crowd which sweiled to hundreds. and
forced him to take refuge in the house
OF a friend. sets me wondering what
is the popularity III the mental make
up OF an American, English or German
ferent from an equal number of Latins
French or Italians. for instance. But
the Americans are far less given to
this form of rudeness than the Ger
mans or the English.
The late Empress of Austria was
Tor many years prior to her death
however, often subjected to such dis
graceful mobbinE. that she was COM
leIcd TO decline TO t6KS part In any
public ceremony, and had TO devise ex-
traordinary means to secure privacy
while in Vienna. measures which the
people of the city, of course, bitterly
resented
The good-natured. easy going EN-
press OF Germany. whose equanimity
and freedom from hypersensitiveness
are proverbinl. was SO upset by tho
linese people that her husband had
To adopt the extraordinary measure Of
having the street closed to tina pub
nc whenever the kaiserin went into
taking this precaution. the sight Of
the imperial carriage standing out
side n store. had the effect of attract
ing rushing. pushing crowd. who
Cling and jostlinS to get near her and
sec what she was buying. One day
her patience gave way when richly
carriage on the off-side and calmly
scrutinizcd the royal occupant She
lost her temper. to thu extent of
soundly beratins the woman for her
impertincnce, soaring her so thorough
ly that she made n hasty disappear
ancc. The French tho Italians, the
Spanish. and the Portuguese. as we'll
as the Danes. the Swedes, the Norweg-
ians. the Magyars and the Slavs. are
not subject to this reproach of bad
breeding. having, ] suppose. mere per-
sonai pride and 4 better sense of their
own dignity.
When royalty visits France or Den
mark. n degree of freedom OF action
and absence OF insolent curiosity and
mobbing are enjoyed that can be
found In but few spots in the mere
Not all English towns are subject
to this reproach. however. At Windsor
il is n point of etiquette for the peo-
PIE of the village to let the royal fam
lily severely alone when out stroljina
So far from crowding or vulgarly star
ing the object of their respect out oe
countenance. IL is considered the cor