The sun., 1919-08-16

4
up In hollow square under command OF
Ldeut.-Col. Walter r. Brown, ID. 8. o..
the commander who led them IN France.
The Prince presented the Kings color
to one and the regimental color to the
! second Of the two kneeiing subsltern
officers. Then as The regiment stood at
| attention young Wales made his first
impromptu speech on Canadian soil, and
in the manner Of les delivery and what
he said he once more won the affection
ate admiration OF the 1000 persons who
heard him. Clearly and distinctly. in a
manner that would have done credit to
any experienced person SO privileged,
civil or military, he began:
"Col. Brown. officers and other ranks
Of the Twenty-sixth Battalion. It is a
great privilege and pleasure for me to
hand these colors to you for safekeep-
ing In the name of His Majesty the
King.
The last time inspected you was on
the Rhine. and am very glad to have
this opportunity to see you again. You
were the first battalion to be formed
In this province for overseas service in
the war. You went overseas in June,
1915, and you are the only battalion
which maintained It's identity through
out as a New Brunswick organization.
You acquitted yourselves with credit.
for need only mention Paschandaele.
the Somme. Ypres and Vimy Ridge.
where you fought and where you won,
to prove that you have justly earned the
title OF The Fighting Twenty-sixth.'
Col Brown briefly expressed on be-
half Of his fellow officers and the men
OF all ranks in his command, the regi-
ments appreciation Of the honor be-
slowed upon II by the Prince. in the
case of some high British officials
this might have ended the ceremony.
but Wales In a truly princely display
OF courtesy requested that Mrs s.
Anterior Smith. regent of the Chapter
Of the Daughters of the Empire, be pre-
scented to him. To Mrs. Smith, who
came forward at the Princes request,
then fell the honor of being the first
woman to be presented to the Prince in
Canada.
From Barrack Square the Priace was
| taken to the military hospital over
! looking the St John River. There he
| made a brief inspection of the wards and
chGtted with several OF the bedridden
| and convalescent soldiersl Private Dom
| aldson, q wounded bombadier. scarcely
was able to shake the visitors sympa-
thetic hand.
How are you coming alongT asked
L, the Prince after glancing over the
wounded mans record card.
Fine, SIR" stammered the patient.
How long have you been in hospital?'
Don't just remember, sir; several
months"
''well. good luck and God bless YOU"
| said the Prince as he moved along the
row Of beds.
Red Letter Day for Him.
From the hospital the Prince was
L Notr g. ~. - y-tA CNl,,N
all the local and visiting officials were
present in distinguished gathering, and
| for the third successive time in as many
hours the Prince made what American
lvernacular describes as a big hit Re-
plying to the toast to his health he asked
| to be regarded as a brother Canadian.
The request was made simply. but with
such evident sincerity that the applause
which greeted the suggestion must have
assured the royal visitor that to ask of
the people OF St John at least was tan
| tamount to acquiescence. This was the
Princes first after dinner speech in Can
ada.
This IN a red letter day for me-" he
| said. "as ! have just set foot for the
| FIRST time on Canadian soil. It Is a day
to which have eagerly looked forward
| and which I can never forget. At the
| same time do not feel that come to
/
| I have been SO closely associated with
Dominion troops throughout the war
and have made so many friends among
| them. I look forward to seeing them
one and all again during my compre-
| hensive tour through the Dominion.
II hope this feeling OF mine will be
| shared by all of you. want Canada to
| look on me as a Canadian. II not actu-
| ally by birth, yet certainly in mind and
| spirit-for this. as the eldest son OF the
| ruler of the great British Empire, / can
| assure you that am. value my Cana
dian. friendships deeply, hope to make
| moro and It will always be my earnest
| endeavor to prove myself true to those
friendships and worthy 81 your trust"
Displays Tact mt Dance.
Tho last Official function Of the day
! and what to many was the most inter
| esting came after lunch. when the Prince
| was taken by motog car to Rothesay. a
village nine miles outside st. John city.
| where Lieut.. Gov. Pugsley has his home.
1t is a noteworthy coincidence that
among his other titles the Prince OF
Wales Is hereditary Duke of Rothesay,
an ancient Scottish dukedom. The little
village here was founded about the time
| of the visit OF the Princes grandfather
in 1850 and was SO named In honor of
! that event
The Lieutenant Governor and Mrs.
Pugsley were hosts at tho FIRST formal
| reception this afternoon In honor Of the
Prince. who received the guests on one
Of the wide verandas Of the Pugsley
| homo. shaking hands and frequently
passing @ word or two with one or
other of the guests as they were pre-
scented to him.
! There was much interest and no little
polite rivalry among the debutantes of
this city over whom his Highness might
select as partner in the dance which
| followed. But once more the Windsor
tact displayed itself. He danced once
with tho wife of the Lieutenant Gov
ernor and once with Mrs. william Pugs-
ley, Jr. Then the announcement was
made that the time had come for the
| return to the St John and the ship.