SCOTLAND’S LOYALTY

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 July 1937, Page 5

SCOTLAND’S LOYALTY

CHILDREN CHEER MONARCHS. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] , RUGBY. July 8. In acknowledging the conferment of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws of Edinburgh University, the Queen made her first public speech since her accession. She said that as a Scotswoman, she knew the high value her fellow-countrymen set upon education and the important part which Edinburgh University had played in the civil and national life of Scotland. Twenty-three thousand children, all members of the Scottish youth movements, gave the King and Queen a great welcome when they attended a youth rally on the international Rugby field at Murrayfield to-day. The children assembled in lines in the arena and cheered continuously for 20 minutes as Their Majesties, accompanied by the two young Princesses, passed among them. During the day the King also held a. levee at which officers of the Scottish regiments, the Navy and Air Force were presented to him. HOLYROOD'S SERVICE. SCOTTISH CRAFTMANSHIP. A full service of silver, linen and glass, provided for Holyrood Palace through the generosity of an Edinburgh citizen, has once more proved that the Scottish craftsmen has not lost his skill. The old Palace has been replenished many times -two notable accounts being still extant of fine stuffs from Flanders brought, by .lames IV. for if is English bride and the other when Mary Queen of Scots brought much fine gear from France. This has long since disappeared and of recent years the Court has had to bring the needed plate and linen for a prolonged stay. Now Their Majesties have no further trouble in this wav — a. new plenishing awaits them.

Scottish craftsmanship was known throughout the world for its simi*Tcity <>i‘ design and the modern Edinburgh silversmiths have upheld the standard. The banqueting service, which is to be known as the Holyrood plate, provides for 100 guests, and contains 4000 pieces weighing 18,000 ounces. The character and design of each piece follow that of the mid-seven-teenth century, the period of the last reconstruction of the Palace. Modern warr. like electic kettles and crumb scroops are patterned to fit in with their seventeenth century counterparts. Soup tureens, salad bowls, coffee pots are all adaptations of the type used ai that time The cutlery is of great beauty. The spoons are of 1652 design and liave a shallow bowl with a fiat nib and shank. The forks are made with thri.e prongs, as was common in Scottish work.

70110 ARTICLES OF LINEN

The sweet dishes are. reproductions of old Quichs found during the recent renovations in the Palace precincts—in the Abbey Strand in the sanctuary which was used by debtors until imprisonment for debt fell into disuse?.. The linen was made at Dunfermline and there is everything needed from fine sheets to pudding cloths. There are more than 7000 articles in the linen section and something like 50,000 miles of earn have been used. The* design on the table linen is one of the finest examples of designers art ever turned out. in Scotland, rhe damask contains flax grown on the Royal estate at Sandringham. The Glassware is also of local de-c-i.-n and make. Edinburgh has been famed for hundreds of years tor its glass.