A STATE BANQUET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 75, 10 January 1936, Page 8

A STATE BANQUET.

FAMOUS SOLDIER’S ACCOUNT. Sir John Monash, who was in command of the Australian Forces during the Great War, wrote some remarkable letters to his wife and daughter. Many are of profound interest as throwing light on important events, but we think his account of a State banquet at the end of the war at Buckingham Palace, held in honour of ex-President Wilson, which he sent to his people at home, has an appeal which a newspaper report of the same event could not give. It appears in “War Letters of General Monash,” edited by F. M. Cutlack. _ “After a. wait of some ten minutes, during which the remainder of the guests assembled, we were conducted singly, each by an officer of the Household., with his wand of office, into the White drawing-room where the Royal Household were assembled. “There was no formal announcement of names. Each guest was first welcomed by the King, and by him presented to President Wilson, who stood on his right; then welcomed by the Queen and presented to Mrs Wilson. When each guest had passed he was ushered along a brilliantly-lighted coiridor, full of beautiful paintings, into the Banquet Hall, which was a blaze of splendour. “In size it was about as wide and half as long as the Ball Room of our Government House in Melbourne, richly decorated in white and gold, with six great crystal electroliers spreading a magnificent illumination. At one end was the dais aiul Throne (which remained unoccupied throughout the evening) and at the other end an organ gallery, accommodating the band of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. “The whole corridor and the whole of the Banquet Hall were lined on all sides with bearded Yeomen of the Guard in their traditional Tudor, black, gold and crimson, standing at attention, with their pikes and halbeids, throughout the whole banquet. In addition, all the table attendants were in the Royal livery, scarlet and gold, there being one to each guest, standing stiffly at attention behind his chair. The chairs were crimson damask with white and gold frames. “The Royal gold plate had keen brought from Windsor Castle and made a most amazingly magnificent display. The table appointments, including plates, knife-handles, forks, spoons, salt-cellars, flower bowls, vases and dishes were all of solid gold, highlypolished and brilliantly scintillating. , “Each flower-bowl was a beautiful specimen of delicate modelling, and most of them were large and imposing The flowers throughout were scarlet and crimson, comprising chiefly azaleas and ranunculi. Around three 'sides of the hall were displayed great hirdi trophies of the remainder of the Royal gold plate, trays, dishes, vases, and salvers, each most exquisitely modelled and chased and each specially illuminated by concealed electric globes so that their polished surfaces reflected a blaze of golden light m all directions. On the walls were also three of the famous Royal tapestries “Except the small handful or naval and military officers, the guests were in evening dress (not Court dress) all wearing the stars and ribbons of then orders and miniatures of their badges. The ladies were in full evening toillette with diamond coronets and necklaces. “As soon as all the guests lmd taken their appointed places at tlie table, which was arranged in one erreat horseshoe, the Royal party entered, ushered in by the Officeis o the Household, walking backwards and waving their hands. The President led in the Queen, and the King followed with Mrs Wilson, and then came the rest of the Royal family. As the small procession entered the * band played a fanfare, lolloped by ‘The Star-Spangled Banner and God Save the King.’ , . • “I had on my right Rudyard Kipling and beyond him Sir Joseph IhomSO i7 (President of the Royal Society), and on my, left Lord u ‘" ial "’ and beyond him Sir Henry Wilson. Opposite to me were Louis l otha, - ■ S; Sargent (the painter), and Winston Churchill. The meat passed amid a loud buzz of conversation and hiugiter and without restraint of any kind. Contrary to custom, the two toasts came on before and not alter the dessert. When the King rose to speat the whole company, including the ladies, rose also, and remained standing while the King delivered bis oration, and until President Wilson bad completed bis reply. J l'° speeches were brief, but dignified in tone and lofty in sentiment.”