THE ANGLO-DANISH EXHIBITION.
May 14th, 1888.
The Anglo-Danish Exhibition at South Kensington had not the official origin of some other similar displays, but the nationality of the scheme, and the promise of its proceeds being applied to a charitable object, secured the patronage of the Prince and Princess of Wales at its opening. This ceremony took place in the Albert Hall, on the 14th of May, 1888.
Their Royal Highnesses were accompanied by the Princesses Louise, Maud, and Victoria of Wales, the Princess Mary of Cambridge and her daughter the Princess Victoria, Prince Karl of Denmark, Prince George of Greece, the Danish Minister, and many distinguished persons. They were received by Lord Amherst, Chairman of the Committee, who presented an address, to which—after the musical and other ceremonies, and the formal opening of the Exhibition by the Princess of Wales—the Prince replied:—
"Lord Amherst, Ladies, and Gentlemen,—In your address you have expressed the hope that the Exhibition will be a success. We most sincerely hope it will be a success in every sense of the word. The objects, as you are well aware, are, first, to pay a compliment to us in respect of the twenty-fifth anniversary of our wedding-day; and, secondly, to aid an institution which is much in need of funds, and one which is most meritorious and useful. You are anxious that money should be obtained in order to build a new Home for Incurables. Very appropriately this Exhibition has been connected with the institution which was the first with which the Princess became connected when she came to this country. I sincerely hope that the endeavours you have made will be successful, and that the Exhibition will be instructive, agreeable, and useful. It must be gratifying to you to see that the King of Denmark has sent over one of his war ships, manned by all those fine young men who are around us, and it is gratifying to all of us, I am sure, to welcome these ladies whose costumes lend such picturesqueness to the scene. We thank you for your very kind reception of us, and I can only assure you that it has given us the greatest pleasure to take part in this very interesting ceremony, and that we wish the Exhibition the most thorough success."
In the evening, the Duke of Cambridge presided at a special festival, in aid of rebuilding the British Home for Incurables at Clapham, which was held in the Conservatory of the Anglo-Danish Exhibition. There was a numerous attendance, and the donations to the building fund amounted to nearly £5000. This Institution, founded in 1861, provides home with every comfort for hopelessly incurable sufferers (except the idiotic, insane, and the blind, for whom there are other asylums), and also gives pensions to out-patients of £20 per annum.
GREAT NORTHERN HOSPITAL, HOLLOWAY ROAD.
July 17th, 1888.