The Cruise of the Branwen

THE OLYMPIC GAMES our most treasured possessions-the little Union Jack on our left arms and the white international cap with the Tudor rose that commemorates the first royal recognition of English swordsman– ship by Henry VIII. Early in March the British Minister, who had a relation in the English Fencing Team, was good enough to advise me that Phalerum would be a better anchorage for the yacht than the Piraeus, and we found he was entirely correct. From the Foreign Office I was also informed that "those members of the British team who have uniforms would be well advised to take them, but that court dress is not likely to be required. Top hats and frock-coats are almost certain to be wanted. There are likely to be official festivities both in the daytime and evening, connected with the Games, to which the British competitors will be invited." Our baggage was therefore rather heavier and more extensive than I had at first imagined necessary, and after many experi– ments I found that a cricket-bag, rather longer and deeper than usual, was the best thing in which to carry duelling swords, masks, and other fencing paraphernalia. It was interesting too to discover on my return home that a driver, being exactly the same length as an epee, would go into this same bag with my other golf-clubs, and that a lawn tennis racquet with its wooden press lay quite comfortably along the bottom of this accommodating receptacle, which needed heavy straps all round it at each end to complete its charms. 26