San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-17


"The mayor of Southampton bids
you welcome TO England in the name
of our city and of our council" A
fine looking gentleman, who, later
learned, was Mr.. Mouland, deputy
mayor of Southampton, and who car.
ried a message from the mayor, cx-
tended his hand in firm grasp. Any
little speech ] might have prepared
for such an emergency slipped. entire
ly away from me.
"Howdy," / answered. And then
two other gentlemen appeared from
the crowd.
"Thc mnyorsof Brighton and Cove"
someone said by way of introduction.
Again i clasped two outstretched
hands.
"The city of Brighton sends you its
affectionate regard and welcome" said
the mayor of that well-known Eng
lish center,
"As the mayor of Cove i extend you
the kindest consideration from the
people of our city," said the other
gentleman.
And again / stumbled in my speech.
1t was so breath.taking and unexpect-
ed. "Howdy; I'm certainly happy to
see you,' lamely answered their
greeting.
TOM AT EASE
We had few more words, less for
NAL, which put me at my ease, and j
was about ready to frame really
appropriate reply to their kind greet
ings when bunch of newspaper re-
porters and photographers-just as in
sistent and smart as the boys / had
known in the States - half-carried,
half-urged me forward to Tony's
stall.
/ looked over the railing to the
docks where hundreds of persons had
gathered to see me ride Tony down
the gangway. / had so planned, but
because the Aquitania locked at the
crest of high tide, making the angle
of the gangway about As degrees. there
were many who believed | would not
take the risk with my horse.
1t was a steep angle and there was
danger in doing the trick. But be-
cause l had said / would arrive on
English soil astride my pony, and be.
cause there were some doubters among
those who had come to see me, l de-
cided to take the chance.
CAMERAS CLICK
N While the newspaper and camera
men looked on, the latter continual
ly shooting" me, saddled Tony and
swung up into my seat. There was q
scurry of those on the deck to run
down the gangway to the dock to get
a better view of the stunt. A mo-
ment's silence. Tony put one foot for
ward and hesitated until l gave him a |
reassuring pressure with my knees.
Then. bodily, without a moments |
hesitation, he stepped forward. The |
descent was half slide, half walk, but |
we made it, and as the crowd let out |
a bursting cheer, / arrived, astride
my horse. on England's historic shore. |
There were several minutes of con- |
and further welcome from |
hundreds of my hitherto unseen
friends and a number of members Of
the Southampton city council. But |
soon, Tony safely put away in his
special car, we were on our way to
luncheon at the Southwestern Hotel.
where, l learned suddenly, an official
welcome would be given me by the
mayors ] mentioned and other Off
Gals Of that part of England.
Luncheon l realized, not pleasant
Iy, that already had had more lunch
eon than l needed. But what could
| do? Certainly not tell such hos
pitable people l already had eaten.
ENJOYS FOOD
1t was several minutes from the
locks to the hotel and had my first
glimpse Of an English city. 1t was
raining-which l was told was not
the buildings we passed
oomed gray and old through the mist.
saw that England, like Rome, Ger.
tainly was not built in a day.
Two huge and welcome fires were
turning in our reception room when
We arrived at the hotel. Then, after
NJ. had warmed ourselves and relaxed
rom the strain of the morning, we
went downstairs to luncheon. The
oOd that was brought before us Hors
L oeuvres, fish, meat, vegetables, salad,
sweets. And there / sat, my stomach
ong previously having shouted
STOP" eating and eating.
"HOw are you enjoying our food?"
said the mayor Of Southampton at my
right.
Fine" / lied. 1t was good food
md l might have enjoyed it, but too
much is too much. l knew then that
The worlds greatest evil is overeating.
Finally we reached coffee and
speeches. Everyone was at his ease.
There was much laughing and joking,
Ind considerably more eulogizing of me
han / had any right to expect. My
life, apparently, was an open book
% the officials who spoke and well
,omed me to England. The little bit
II help had been to the British in
breaking horses for them in the Boer
incident which / seldom re-
cheers and applause.
vas nonplussed. Why it was so long
lgo / couldn't remember the details
myself. But the deputy mayor OF
Southampton did.
thanked them briefly for their
welcome, outlined my plans,
my pleasure at finally full
filing an ambition of my life and
assured them / always would appreci.
tie their courtesy. The luncheon con-
luded hurriedly, for it was time for
is to catch the special train which was
o take us to Waterloo station in Lon.
lon.
KIDDIES GREET HIM
When we reached the door of the
Iotel the biggest surprise of the trip
hus far greeted me. There, on the
treet in front of the entrance, were