Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/293

 representative men not only of all parts of the Empire, but also of many foreign countries.

The Presentation took place on Tuesday, June 11, 1912, and the following account appeared the next day:

The City of London has a manner and a splendour all its own, and both of these last night were at the service of Sir Henniker Heaton. The City does not receive its chosen heroes as its neighbour Paris welcomed General Boulanger.

The atmosphere of the Masque has never been the atmosphere of London's Civic welcomes. We do not throw confetti and shake out fairy-lamps and spangles on to the dark mantle of our midnight greetings. We prefer to take our chosen heroes quietly, as befits a quiet and sober folk, into that great old-world "parlour" of our City, the Guildhall, and, sitting together in the homely fashion of people who have earned a rightful repose through work and labour, talk to our guest of honour of his triumphs and his achievements, wish him the brightest of futures, toast him among ourselves, and depart on our several ways with a fervent hope that the serenest stars will illuminate the evening of his days.

It was so with Sir Henniker Heaton last night. He was welcomed at the Guildhall by the Lord Mayor, Lord Curzon, Lord Blyth, and at least a thousand members of the executive and general committees formed at the invitation of the Duke of Devonshire to do honour to a great benefactor of humanity on the occasion of his return to England.

The historic wealth of our old city hall, the greyness of its walls, its breathing sense of slowly established traditions and history lent an atmosphere of stateliness and dignity to the proceedings which brought out the cause rather than the brilliance of the assemblage.