The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-10-18

nous OLD fortress near D0dl,
once more is the residence
of the Lord Warden OF the
Cinque Ports. Since the
death of Lady Curzon, whose fatal Ill
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
it was taken over by the present king
then Prince of Wales-Wa lmer
ceased to be residence and became
show place.
1t has been visited every summer
since by hundreds OF American and
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 Walmer, 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
job 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
ship has shown no disposition to inter
fere with the status quo" so far as
Walmar Castle is concerned. AS Lord
Warden, apart from appearing at great
state functions in the picturesque
robes Of his office, he has nothing to
do except preside occasionally over
the old courts of Shepway and Guest
ling, which have been shorn of nearly
all their ancient powers, and to ap-
point justices Of the peace within the
Jurisdiction Of the Cirque Ports. In
cidentally the only return he gets for
doing these things is the right to oc-
cupy Walmer Castle, SO little time
back he decided to exercise it. He
and Lady Brassey, who evidently Is
willing to risk injury to her health,
went down and inspected the old cas-
tie, and as a result they have had 1t
almost entirely refurnished and have
now taken up their abode there. The
castle has been closed to the public
for some time past, and this seasons
American travellers have not been able
to see the Iron Dukes bedroom nor
the other historical relics of which
the place is full.
No doubt Lord Brassey is just as
glad that he is Lord Warden Of the
Cirque Ports now, instead of, say, 500
years ago. To do him Justice. how
ever, he probably would be capable of
organizing If not lighting a bigger
fleet than Britain could muster at that
time, which things we're the chief du-
ties OF the Lord Wardens or Lord Ad-
mirals, as they were called at first.
"Cinque Ports" Of course, means Five
Ports In plain English, and in olden
times it was up to the ports Of Hast
ings, Sandwich. Dover, Romney and
Hythe to defend the rest OF the king
dom from attack by sea. They are all
situated on the southeastern coast Of
England, which faces France, the
traditional enemy of Britain before
the entente cordiale came into being.
and even IN the days Of Edward the
Confessor these five towns, as the
watchdogs Of the kingdom, enjoyed q
special charter Of privileges. Their
history, In this capacity. covers nearly
a thousand years. Here it was that
the white cliffs Of Albion shone bright
above the waters within view Of her
Continental enemies, and here that
Caesar, Hengist, Canute and William
the Conqueror landed and hundred
less successful invaders we're igncmt
niously driven back or destroyed
Brltaln's AWooden Wallis"
It was the Norman Conqueror who,
after humbling Romney to the dust for
its resistance to himself. really or
ranixed the scinque Ports. In his
time there was no British navy, nor
4 single port capable Of furnishing =
harbor for d big neet, and 80 the
Cinoue points divided the RESPONSE
bility Of furnishing the Wooden