The nineteenth Royal Military Tournament was opened at the Agricultural Hall yesterday by the Duke of Cambridge. It is always an interesting spectacle, and though this year we miss the colonial contingent, who added so much clat to last year's proceedings, still the present function is not altogether without distinction as Piper Findlater, who has just been discharged from Neticy hospital, where last Saturday he had the honour of receivit the Victoria Cross from Her Majesty in recognition of his bravery at Dargai, is quite the hero of the hour. When' ho came on among the Pipers of the Gordon Highlanders in the pageant 'Shoulder to Shoulder" he received quite an ovation. He is a short, sturdy-looking man and plays his pipes (he' has just been presented with a new set in honour of his valour) with evident enjoyment. Iam sorry to sco that he is "billed" to appear at the Alhambra for the first time to-morrow night, as it seems rather a demoralising use to make of popularity gained under such different conditions, but I suppose the pay will be good and the temptation strong. "It is amusing to read that hardly a week passes in which the Piper docs not receive at least one offer of marriage from some fair dame who admires his bravery and valour. "Shoulder to Shoulder" is in reality akind of object lesson in the costuming of the British army and navy from the days of Drake to the present day. Four periods are represented—1596, when under various Elizabethan heroes our soldiers and sailors
when we took Gibraltar from the Spaniards—1801, made memorable by the battle of Aloxandria—and 1884, when we gained a victory over the Madhists at El Teb. The costumes in all cases are said to be absolurely correct, though for the two former periods the assistance of Mr. Clarkson, of theatrical fame, had to be obtained. We are told that all the regiments chosen to take part in the pageant are those, or representatives of those, who actually fought on the various occasions, which naturally adds considerable interest to the display, a8 one feels one is assisting at historical spectaclesand not merely witnessing a theatrical show. A great feature is the introduction of four camels among the El Teb contingent. That they played an important part in the war against the Madhists is a matter of history, and they certainly form a most artistic addition to the pageant.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.