Mexico Missouri message., 1912-10-03
Y Y 7

INV once more is the residence |
WV OF the Lord Warden ot the
Cinuue Ports. Since the
death of Lady Curzon, whose fatal III
ness began at the castle in her hus-
bands occupancy of the historic but
now largely ornamental post OF LORD
Warden. the Old place has been con
sidered unhealthy, and when Lord
Curzon resigned the wardenship and
1t was taken over by the present king
then Prince of Wales -Walmer
ceased to be residence and became
show place.
It has been visited every summer
since by hundreds OF American ana
other travellers, all eager to explore
the picturesque stronghold whose an
cient occupants had the Job Of defend
ing the whole OF England on their
| shoulders The Duke Of Wellington,
greatest OF Lord Wardens OF the
Cirque Ports. died at Walmcr, where
! his bedroom is to be seen practically
just as he left It, and the long list OF
previous Lord Wardens includes the
names OF William Pitt and that OF
! Lord North, through whose compliance
with the freaks OF his royal master
! George H., the thirteen American col
onies were lost to England.
Shorn Of Powers.
When King George V. came to the
throne he resigned the Lord Warden
ship OF the Cirque Ports, having plen'
ty to worry him without that, and the
lob was passed along to Lord Brassey
the famous naval expert. Civil Lord
of the Admiralty, Ex-Governor OF Vic
toria. and owner OF the yacht Sun
beam, in which he has covered more
than 100000 miles. That was two
years ago. and until recently His Lord
shin has shown no disposition to inter
fere with the status quo" so far al
Walmar Castle is concerned. AS Lore
Warden. apart from appearing at grea
state functions IN the PICTURESQUE
robes of his office, he has nothing Il
do except preside occasionally owe
the old courts of Shepway and Guest
ling, which have been shorn OF nearl,
all their ancient powers. and to ar
point justices OF the peace within tn
Jurisdiction OF the Cirque Ports. In
cidentally the only return he gets 10
doing these things is the right to OF
. cupy Walmer Castle, so a little tim
} back he decided to exercise 1t. ii
J and Lady Brassey, who evidently
} willing to risk injury to her health
went down and inspected the old ca
tie. and as q result they have had
. almost entirely returnished and haV
B. now taken up their abode there. tn
: castle has been closed to the publ
t for some time past, and this season
3 American travellers have not been Alb
: to see the Iron Dukes bedroom NJ
r the other historical relies OF whiC
!. the place is full.
, No doubt Lord Brassey Is just
glad that he is Lord Warden OF u
u Cinaue Ports now, instead OF, say, 8
years ago. To do him justice, no
II ever, he probably would be capable
It organizing II not fighting bigg
10 feet than Britain could muster at tn
}! time, which things were the chief
I ties OF the Lord Wardens or Lord A
0, mirals, as they we're called at fr
Is "Cinaue Ports" OF course, means Fl
Ports In plain English and in old
n times 1t was up to the ports OF Ha
es ings, Sandwich, Dover, Romney a
Hythe to defend the rest OF the XII
n dom from attack by sea They are
I'd situated on the southeastern coast
lie England which faces France,
ry traditional enemy" OF Britain befc
y the entente cordiale came into bell
m and even in the days OF Edward
h Confessor these Ave towns. as
In watchdogs of the kingdom, enjoyed
special charter OF privileges. TIL
lr history, in this capacity, covers nea
Ut a thousand years. Here 1t was Il
y. the white cliffs OF Albion shone brif
ed above the waters within view OF I
II. Continental enemies, and here n
Caesar, Hengist, Canute and WHILE
the Conqueror landed and a hundr
I'D less successful invaders were ignoi
ur niously driven back or destroyed,
BrltaIn's wooden Walls"
Ut II was the Norman Conqueror W
ss after humbling Romney to the dust
rst its resistance to himself, really
ganized the "cinque Ports" In
III time there was no British navy,
ost a single port capable OF furnishing
harbor for a big feet. and so
nc Cirque Points divided the respol
'A' bility OF furnishing the "WoOC
=. Walls" OF England and looked al
llS them. At the time OF Edward !, Il
SO were bound TO provide no less Il
~ fifty-seven ships, fully equipped |
az manned at their own cost, but in
10 turn the Five Ports formed II
Individuality kY themselves VII