| Transcript |
- 162 REMINISCENCES OF OLD VICTORIA
Mary can sit by Ellen. Oh, of course, you'll lunch with us! There, we are all ready now, so fall to !" This is a sample of the good-heartedness of the old-timers. Everyone knew everybody, and all were as one family.
The navy was represented by bluejackets and marines by the hundreds. Bands of music, Aunt Sally, and the usual side shows were there. Aunt Sally was usually run by a lot of sailors, or soldiers, with faces painted like circus clowns, and dressed in motley garments. " Now, ladies and gents, walk up and 'ave a shy at Aunt Sally; the dear old girl don't mind being 'it a bit; she is so good-natured; that's a right h'excellent shot that, 'ave another try." The same scene was likely being enacted some distance off with " Punch and Judy," and you may be sure that " Jack " was principal in this show as well, for where there is fun there Jack is. I must not forget the music. Outside the local band there was always a naval band, of a flagship usually, such as the Ganges or Sutlej, which were "three-deckers," lineo'-battleships which would have put an ordinary battleship to blush. It was supposed that the officers subscribed to the band fund, and as there were many officers on a large ship, and well-to-do at that, they had good music. The Ganges band was some-thing worth hearing, about twenty-four strong. It was often heard in Victoria, either at a naval funeral or at some public function. The navy was the mainspring of Victoria in more ways than one. They took part in all public functions, furnishing music, help and flags, and by their presence in uniform brightened up and lent grace to the affair. Do we realize how great a loss their absence to the city is ? We ought to have found out the difference by now. The races are over, the day's celebration is near its end.
QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY FORTY YEARS AGO 163
Some of those who came early with children are tired out and have gone home, others will soon follow, as a general packing up of baskets is going on. " Jack " no longer calls on the passerby to have a shy at Old Aunt Sally, Punch has killed his wife and baby for the last time. Parties of bluejackets are moving off with one playing a tin whistle, to which some are singing. The day draws to a close, and in the words of the immortal Gray, " Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight," and I close this recital of echoes of a past?Queen's Birthday forty odd years ago.
Through the kindness of Mr. Albert H. Maynard I am enabled to produce an old picture of Beacon Hill during a celebration.
The following account of the regatta during the celebration of the Queen's Birthday appears in the British Colonist of May 25th, 1868:
" The first of the festivities forming a part of the celebration of the forty-ninth celebration of Queen Victoria's Birthday took place on Saturday, and was in every respect a great success. The day, although warmer than usual, was well suited for the picnic par-ties which occupied the banks of our beautiful Arm, all the way from the bridge to the Gorge. It is estimated that there were' one thousand persons assembled altogether. Early in the morning the town bore a most lively appearance, flags were flying from all the principal buildings and the shipping, and by half-past ten the streets were full of well-dressed persons wending their way to the Hudson's Bay Company's wharf, where the steam launch and barges of the Zealous were placed at the disposal of the Committee by the Admiral to convey them up the Arm. The managing committee were here represented by Messrs. Stuart and Franklin,
|
|---|
