THE CORONATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1185, 21 July 1911, Page 2

THE CORONATION.

THE FIRST NEWS BY MAIL. WONDERFUL SCENES. i KING, QUEEN, AND PEOPLE. VIVID DESCRIPTIONS. The American papers which arrived by yesterday's mail contain graphic description of the King's Coronation. The following description of the scene in London is taken.from the Now York "Evening Tost" of June 22:— King George V, eighth of the House of Hanover, was consecrated to-day to the service of the British Empire, and, in turn, received the public homage of his world-wide subjects. With his consort, Queen Mary, his Majesty was' crowned in tho Abbey of Westminster with all the wealth of religious rites aud royal ceremonies prescribed by historic custom. The crown was placed on the King's head at 12.33 p.m. Tho picture within the gray-walled fabric was ono of medieval splendour. The Coronation services, solemn and imposing, were those handed down from the centuries, and the actors in the principal secondary roles of to-day's great function were dressed in reproductions of the multi-coloured gold embroidered trappings worn by their ancestors in bygone generations. They made up a wonderfully effective setting around the central figures. Outside, tho usually dull streets had been transformed into a mass of colour. Tho King and Queen's progress to the Abbey and the return to .Buckingham Palaco were ono unbroken triumphal procession. The route was hedged with a vast polyglot host, with a background of bravely decorated viewing stands and windows and roofs, all of which were crammed to their capacity. Hundreds of thousands of spectators shouted themselves hoarse at central points like the I Mall and the entrance to the Admiralty archway, where the Government stands held a score of thousands. Trafalgar Squaro was so densely packed with humanity that it seemed possible to traverse the square walking on the heads of the people. Parliament Square, Club Land, and Constitution Hill hold their countless hordes. Deafening Welcome to Sovereigns. Tho tumult of thundeious welcome, was almost deafening as tho King and Queen passed on the outward and homeward journeys, preceded in the first instauco and followed on the return by a stately superb cavalcade of eminent princes, many themselves heirs to thrones, statesmen, diplomats, courtiers, soldiers, sailors, and men of all hues, races, and creeds, from the four quarters of the globe. The great ceremonial passed off unmarred by an untoward incident. It was a proud day for the British Empire, but of all its millions, the ono who perhaps had the most reason to be proud was denied by Court etiquette the joy of witnessing the triumphal event. At Sandringham Palace, the Queen Mother, Alexandra, awaited tho news that her son had taken his place in the long line of British monarehs. A drab sky and smart showers early this morning, though they, dimmed the freshness of the lavish decorations, could not dull tho enthusiasm of the multitude who for months had been planning to make the twenty-second of. June a redletter day in their lives. Those who think the Britisher too coldblooded to get enthusiastic should have seen him "coronate" to-day. Ho is fit to stand beside tho most rampant American "Fourth of Jnlyer" or French celebrator of the anniversary of the proclamation of the republic. Hundreds of thousands, Americans. Germans, Frenchmen, arid natives' of all lands from China to Peru, joined the hustling throng and vielded themselves up with magnificent enthusiasm to the Coronation glamour. Weather was Threatening. Tho weather was about the only thing that had not been prearranged with exactness, and it was tho ono thing likely to mar or' make supremely glorious the. day ot the coronation ot the King and Queen. Fair weather had been promised, and when John Bull looked from his window upon leaden skies this morning he experienced a pang ol disappointment, but this did not dampen his spirits to a noticeable effect. Later his stolid optimism was rewarded, for as the royal coach bearing King George and Queen Mary to Westminster Abbey for their crowning emerged from tho yard of Buckingham Palace, the clouds gave way'and the sun shono in full glory, turning what might havo been a bedraggled procession into a spectacle of splendour. Alter tho early morning rush of enthusiasts, mainly of the humbler classes, and great numbers of ticket-holders eager to secure places of vantage from which to witness the royal procession before the expected crowds arrived on tho scene, there was some falling off observed, and as lato as five o'clock when the front gates at Buckingham Palace were closed there was little difficulty in moving freely at any point between tho palace and Westminster Abbey. Thenceforward the crowds rapidly increased, and by the time the troops began to take up their positions along the line of the processional route at 7.15 o'clock, thero were dense.masses of spectators at every point. Tho pressure became so intense at Charing Cross and at Whitehall that the police cordon was broken by the surging people. With the aid ot tho troops, however, tho authorities soon regained control. . ■ , Tho military bands wore now playing in the Mali, Waterloo Place, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Hyde Park Corner, Parliament Square, and other central places. Gaily attired people taking their places on the stands formed \ brilliant and lively scene, somewhat marred, to be sure, by showers which wero just beginning to fall. General Lord Kitchener, who is in command of the troops and 12,000 police, hurried hero and there, and was everywhere cheered. It was a great day for "Tommy Atkins." Sixty thousand of tho Empire's picked men lined tho processional route, and as they swung along to their assigned places with a cock-sure strido they were cheered vociferously. There were mounted men from the Life Guards and Blues, with their glistening breastplates and waving plumes; mounted and unmounted artillery, infantrymen in every uniform known to the British Army; here and there a group of the ever-popu-lar blue-jackets, and scattered along tho route colonial troops in their workmanlike khaki, white, and coloured troops from north, south, east, and west, along with veterans from .Chelsea Hospital and other homes for men who havo fought Britain's wars, but tho latter were not required to stand. Interesting Incidents. Long after tho Coronation of King George aud Queen Mary had passed into history, interesting incidents that escaped the great throng of spectators will bo recalled by those privileged to observe more closely tho imposing ceremonial. Tho Queen was a magnificent figure, and most attractive in her gorgeous apparel. She wore, quantities af diamonds about her neck and bodice, but none on her head. She was noticeably nervous as she entered the Abbey, and tho boys from Westminister School, high in tho west triforium, filled the Abbey with sliouts of "Vivat Kegina Maria." During the anointing and crowning of the King, the Queen wept, and afterwards she frequently placed her handkerchief to her eyes. Nevertheless she appeared every hit the Queen, and niado n splendid picture as, after her own coronation, with the crownon her head and tho sceptre in her hand, and her dress of cloth of gold, its train of purple velvet strt'.(chiiig_ twenty feel; behind, she knelt before King George's Throne, and then, rising, took her seat beside, but below, that of her husband. Meanwhile the choir chanted exquisitely. The King, in red velvet, the Cap of State, and other headgear, recalled the old pictures of Tudor scenes. When lie passed the Princo of Wales and tho Duke of Connaught he exchanged bows with them, but when he passed the Queen, husband and wife made deep obeisance one to the other. After the crowning of his Majesty by the Archbishoß of Canterbury, the Prince

of Wales paid homage, kneeling and kissing his father on (ho left cheek. Following the example of the late Kind Edward, the King leaned forward, draw his son towards him, and, grasping his hand, kissed the hoy affectionately. An All-Night Vigil. Thousands anxious for a sight of tho processions kept an nll-nieht vigil. At uawn they presented a tired and bedraggled appearance, surrounded by papi-r bags in wliieli they had brought their late suppers, and early breakfasts. Some, worn out, liad retired "to tho parks to sleep, and a few required tho attendance, of the ambulance corps. Those remaining on the lino kept up (heir good nature, and no incident was too trivial to start them waving flags, cheering, and Miiging music-hall songs, the most popular of which was "Every Girl Loves a Soldier," sung wirn much gusto when a body of troops marched past, and varied to suit the occasion if tho marchers happened to bo sailors. The constant procession of carriages to the Abbey preceding the Coronation lost soma of its attractiveness because of tho threatening weather, which caused most of the equipages to be ciosed. The Australian contingent was out in forco at Whitehall, and gave tho Australian yell, "Coo-ce." whenever an Australian passed. Sir Wilfrid Laurior, Premier of Canada, and others of the Canadian party wero recognised by the crowds, and greeted with familiar calls as they drove from their hotel to the Abbey. A company of naval cadets crossing Parliament Square, smart in their natty uniforms, called forth a liearty cheer which was immediately followed by a roar of laughter when the Westminster School lxiys lounged by with their affected slouch, ono hand in tho pocket, and the other entwined in the arm of a companion. The Duko of Norfolk, as grand master of ceremonies, was licrc, there, and every■where, and so eager to see that every dotail was carried out according to precedent that he gave orders personally to every one concerned. Lords Morley and Strathcotia. Lord Morley, witn his robe dragging in the dust, made a hurried dash from one door of tho Abbey to another, much to the amusement of the onlookers, and tho aged Lord Strathcona was an object of admiration as, becoming impatient waiting in tho long line of carriages, he alighted and walked briskly to the abbey entrance, still a tall and stately figure, despite his ninety years. Tho musical part of the service in the Abbey was enchanting, and in the whole ceremony there was nothing tawdry, nothing common. It was intensely dramatic, but not theatrical. The actors filled (heir role's with dignity. Altogether it was a noble picture in a superb setting. It had been expected that the actual crowning of the King..would take place not much before two o'clock, but the preliminaries were carried out with such precision as to permit tho rapid progress of tho programme. The crown was placed on the King's head at 12.33 o'clock. Two thousand ambulance men wero on duty, but comparatively few calls wero made for their services. Those members of tho staff of the American Embassy, who did not have scats in the Abbey, saw the return of the procession from Stratton House, the for-, mer home of Baroness Burdett-Contts, which has been leased by John Hays Hammond. The officers of the American battleship Delaware were guests of tho Admiralty in a stand from which they witnessed tho processions to tho Abbey. Later they were enter tained «? the Admiralty. Rejoicings in the Provinces. Not only London and tho other large cities of the Empire, but every village and hamlet in the English provinces, par> ticipakd in tho national rejoicing. Wherever a British garrison or warship was stationed, royal salutes were fired at the moment of the crow'ning at Westminster. The great fleet gathered at Spithead crashed forth a welcome to tho "Sailor King," and. the foreign war vessels and merchant 'Bhips"in tho "harbour joined in tho salute. The Union Jack was hoisted on tho public buildings as soon as it was known that the ■ crown had been placed on. the King's head. Locomotives whistle.! Ed, steamships "sirened," and church bells broke out into merry peals. All over the country the people made a holiday with picnics, sports, patriotic parades, and fireworks. At the special request of tho Queen, the children of every district of. the city wero provided with some sort of festivity, and aged pcoplo wero lavishly entertained. Edinburgh and Dublin were brilliantly decorated, but to-day's celebrations there were almost entirely religious. State services wero held at St. Giles's and St. Patrick's, whers the King ,was proclaimed at tho same time as he was proclaimed at Westminster. Boston Does Honour to King. Flags of all nations fluttered over Boston to-day in honour of tho coronation of King George V. Every foreign consul on •State Street hoisted his national colours, while bankers and brokers displnyed tho American and British colours over their front doors. There was another collection of colours in tho harbour, whilo at the navy yard all the vessels dressed ship and several sent up in code signal flags "God save the King." All British patriotic societies held meetings, and special services were, conducted in somo of tho churches, with coronation music as a feature. BANQUET AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE. SCENE OF UNRIVALLED. SPLENDOUR. A cablegram in the San Francisco "Chroniclo" gives- the following account of the great banquet at Buckingham Palace:— The most regal palace of King or Emperor ever witnessed, and a gorgeous Shakespearean ball under tho auspices of noted society leaders, stand forth as shining features of the second day of Coronalion week. The banquet in Buckingham Palace on June 20 was a scene of imperial grandeur, so far as tho assemblage of royal and eminent personages and tho setting of costly magnificence and beautiful decoration could niako it. The King and Queen entertained tho visiting and English royalties, all the special foreign delegations, tho foreign ambassadors and ministers, the officers of State, and tho Household, tho members of the Cabinet and former Cabinet members, the heads of the Church and judiciary,- and of tho Army and Navy. The two largest apartmeuts in tho palace, the ballroom and tho picturo gallery which adjoin, were utilised as a banqueting hall. On tho tables were displayed the royal gold plate, us»d only on historic occasions. This plate for tho most part was obtained in the reigns of the four Georges, and the principal picco is a massive peacock captured in ono of tho Indian wars, whose tail is studded with diamonds. Cut glass worth n fortune, ivory decanters hundreds of years old, and old. wines dating back more than a century wero on the board. Decorations Superb. Tho gallery holds mora llinn 800 pictures. Tho decorations in both rooms arc largely gilt, and the background was embellished with banks of palms and giant lilies, while orchids, roses, and ferns woro stacked on tho table*. Yeomen of the Guard ranged about the walls, and all (he diners wore their richest uniforms, decorations, gowns, and jewels. The Shakespearean ball was held in Albert Hall, which was elaborately decorated. Tho dancers numbered thousands, whilo 400 boxes wero occupied by the representatives of foreign nations, and the most prominent officiate. A3 many as twenty-nine quadrilles wero danced simultaneously, the narticipants represent'' groups of characters from Shakespeare's plavs. Leading actors and actresses' took part in these quadrilles along with the leaders of tho smart set. Tho Duke and Duchess of Connaught, l'rinco Louis and Princess Victoria of Baltonborg, Prince Alexander of Teck, Prince Henry of Prussia and the Princess, the German Crown Prince Frederick William, and tho Crown Princess, the 'Turkish, Russian, Austrian, Jnpanese, Greek, Danish, and American representatives wero present. Other Events of tho Day. Tho other important events of the day included luncheons to tho Dominion Premiers and Mayors, a party by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and a review of tho colonial troops by Lord Haldane. The populace has been transformed as'

nearly to tho carnival spirit as Englishmen ever could be. Countless electric, globes, arranged uite various designs, illuminated the streets, which from kerb to kerb aro filled with hundreds of thousands of people. Through tho masses navigates every sort of vehicle imaginable— motors, buses, drays, and carls filled with sightseers, and donkey wagons driven by costers. St. James's Park and iiic West End region worn jammed to Mii...:cutii)ii. Enormous crowds gathered early in tho vicinity of Westminster Abbey, where tho peers and peeresses furnished a free show, many arrayed for the coronation rehearsal wearing their robes and carrying their coronets uncovered, whilo there were great throngs near Buckingham Palace do watch tho coming and going of the uniformed envoys' attending their Majesties' reception. There was nothing else to bo seen in tho vicinity of the palace, which is bare of decorations, but thousands stood throughout tho day peering through the railings and satisfied to watch the sentry during the intervals between functions when the Court was resting. Tho foreign naval officers came ashore in largo numbers and attended a reception given by Admiral Sir Arthur W. Moore, Commander-in-Chief of tho British naval .station at Portsmouth at Admiralty House. A garden party given at Admiralty House this afternoon attracted a brilliant international throng.