Worcestershires Troop the Colour: Admiral Sir Frederic Dreyer on British Character Empire Day was thoroughly celebrated in Shanghai on Thursday, in weather "which Kept fine and. Ber~ mitied the full programme to be carried through, and to prove one of the best celebrations of the Day ever held locally. "Ships in harbour were "dressed" and their bunting was gay inthe sunshine.
Boy Scout organisations opened the proceedings with flag-raising at H. Int. Consulate-General, while soon after this a special service was held at the Cathedral.
"At noon the usual Shanghai Club reception was held, with the Royal Marine Band of H.MS. Suffolk in attendance, to play popular and in the evening a fine ceremonial was carried out by the 2nd Bu. The Worcestershire Regt, who Trooped the Colour at @ parade held on the polo ground and attended by a Tremendous crowd.
Following the Consulate ceremony, the Empire Day service under the fausplees of the United Services Association was held at the Cathedral at 9 am, conducted by Dean Trivett, assisted by the Rev. H. G. Newsham and the Rev. E. K. Quick.
in this service the address, principally to British children was, Gelivered by Brig-Gen. E. B. Machaghten, C.M.G, D.S.O. president of the Association, while the lesson wa: read by Major Hugh Martin, D.S.0. two heads, namely the security against attack. and the feeling of] security you get when you are deal-{ing with' an honest -man Tt was the French "Abbe Provost who "said—"There "is no country where one finds such integrity, such humanity and such sound notions of honour as amongst the English:
Like the old Romans, the British have respect for the law. A very, ancient English law reads—"For, smiting a man on the nose so as to draw' blood... 34."
It was Galsworthy who spoke of the level-headedness of the British character, and said that the British] man makes constant small blunders, and few, almost no, great mistake he is slow starter, but there is no stronger finisher. "They are at their best in adversity or in crisis, and rather than depressed They find it dificult to entertain the idea of final defeat, Goethe's Tribute was Goethe who said—"The deportment of the English in_ society' here is full of confidence. They behave as though they were lords! everywhere and the whole world) belonged to them." He added—This which pleases our women, that) by which they make such havoc in the hearts of our young ladies."
Shanghat Club Reception the Shanghai Club at noon British members were "at home" to follow members of other nationalities and their' friends. "The band of HMS, Suffolk played selections during the ceremonies "which were opened by Dr. Hf. Chatley, chairman, Who proposed the toast of His Majesty the King. The National Anthem was then played and after~ wards Dr. Chatley proposed the toast of "The Empire."
In his brief speech Dr. Chatley stated that the word. "Empire" was thought by some people to have sinister sound nowadays, but that this was not applicable to! the British Empire. A free association of free peoples, li offers the widest possible hospitality to the peoples of other nations.
Eekerman, to whom Goethe was speaking, replied that the "young Englishmen in Weimar were not, more clever, more intelligent, better Informed or more excellent in heart than their own people.
Goethe replied—"The secret does not lie in these things my friend, either does it lie in birth and Fiehes, It lies in the courage they have to be that for which nature has. made them, Such as they are, they fare complete-men. That they are also. sometimes complete fools, 1 allow with all my heart, but that stilt something and has still always some weight in the scale of nature.
was Congreve who annoyed a celebrated dramatist by preferring bbe considered a gentleman rather! than a dramatist!
There were many links between the various parts of "the British Empire, Dr. Chatley continued, these being economic, sentimental ind so forth, but the most vital was found in the three services, especially the Senior Service.
Dr. Chatley. then called on the gathering to drink the toast of the British Empire, coupling it with the name of the Commander-in-Chief of the China" Station, Admiral Sir Frederic Dreyer.
Aamiral's Reply Replying to the toast, Sir Frederic said in parts The late Lord Balfour in 1017 wa asked by an American what his planation was of the fact. th Though it was obvious that the Brit Empire was putting forth a tremendous contribution to the allied cause, yet the British people spoke in depreciatory way of their efforts Mr. Balfour, as he then was, replied "England will no doubt win. the war, and then spend years in trying fo prove she lost it"
'A nation, Renan argues, is the outcome of' a long. past, of" common effort and achievement, upon the foundation of a rich heritage of memories. 'That long past has given the standards and traditions on which the national character is built, with loyally, courage and honesty, as the main' characteristics.
in some of the quotations which 1am going to lead to you the word English" recurs, it must be realised that this refers in fact to the English race throughout the world, whether of English, Scottish, Trish or Welsh extraction—-in fact it refers to the British People.
Volee of Englan is heard in the accents not elsewhere $0. clearly heard. The world is a listen~ tr to Shakespeare unconscious that it 4s England of the English that charms them.
Shakespeare was borne in War.
ickshire of which Drayton wrote "That shire which we the heart of England well may ca Language is not the invention of fan individual; it reveals the soul of the people, and in' Shakespeare all England blossoms and flowers in the words Tt was a member of the Académie Frangaise who said—"To. those of other races it. may be said that if they really wish to understand the British Empire and the British, they should read Shakespeare."
His parrotism is reflected in the tences "This dear dear land" and hig precious stone set in the suiver While those characteristics are maintained, the British Empire will 1go, when Captain of the battle cruiser Repulse, I visited Brazil, which is some 3,000, tinent of South America the strongest asservation that a man can make support of a statement is to say "On the word of an. Englishean." That is the key to the character of the British people. People know that they can tyist British people, that is why in the midst of all the trading chaos of the world "the British Empire is making steady progress in the direction of restored prosperity, Trade, in order to flourish, demands security, which falls under
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.