PAGEANT OF LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 325, 12 June 1911, Page 5

PAGEANT OF LONDON.

OPENED AT THE CRYSTAL PALAC* By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Loudon, June U. Prince Arthur of Connaught opened tin Pageant of London at the Crystal Palace,

NATURAL LOVELLNESS. Wrote the Dunedin Star's London correspondent last month:— The beauty of that part of the Palace grounds where the Pageant is to ba enacted will delight the spectators, and make a peculiarly picturesque back' ground for the tableaux. There is tt natural amphitheatre in one of the green valleys, and this has been turned into an. immense arena, with greajt ter* rtces o* seats, which command a perfect view of what is going on on the "stage." Trees, dressed now in the delicate hun of spring, form a background, graceful paths lead to a long, winding sheet or' water—to be utilised as the Thames—flowing under an old bridge, and over the treetops can be seen m magnificent panorama—the plains and woods of Kent and Surrey. It will be: sad indeed if the gigantic effort dote not save the dear old Palace from the auctioneer's hammer, for certainly its grounds and many other beauties should look at their loveliest when the Festive] of Empire is in full swing. The scene on Monday, when some 300 or 40ft people went through their paces in th«? first four sceneg, wag perhaps, to aO onlooker, more amusing than anythtojf else, though a good deal of good worf was got through. The Master gives hit instructions and criticisms through #' megaphone, and communicates through* a lieutenant with the distant parts of the grounds—where the performers waW to come on—by telephone. One of the prettiest scenes in tie early part of the pajjeaßt will undoubt* edly he the arrival of Carcausius, the victorious general, to sacrifice a stag, in thanksgiving upon the altar of Diana. Double lines of priestesses advance down the wide steps of the temple on to the green sward, swinging censers and chanting sweetly: •»

Oil. lady of the silver bow, Whose shafts fly straight and far, Guide thou the shafts of Britain's fate, In these hard days of war,

then return to the temple to watcfc for the arrival of the triumphant Em« peror. His galley, a large open boat, painted red and white, is seen at last, coming down the river, and lute players, men with torches, dancers, trumpeters, the Emperor's wife and children, advance to meec and greet him. The Emperor turned on on close inspection to be an overcoated Englishman in ft bowler hat, and with a silver-topped walking stick; the Empress, a tall woman in a dark coat and skirt and fashionable cerise hat, who, after being wildly hallo'd for and found, had to be bidden: "Dear lady, be in time!"; the oarsmen—probably to be later clad in scant respectability—now wore soft hats, hard hats, blue or black suits of modern cut, and handled their oars witbi a somewhat delicate timidity. "Cheer, ladies, cheer!" the MasteK beseeched, and tie air was rent with musical "hurrahs" of varying , intensity.

"No, no, not hurrah," protested Mr. Lascelles. "Didn't have hurrahs ill those days, probably. 'Carcausiusll Carcausius!'" "Keep it going—keep it going!" he begged, running round the advancing procession like a football referee, and miiny a maiden must have been truly -thankful to see the stately Careausias alight from his chariot, with his lady and olive branches, the signal for them to cease their cries of welcome.

As a matter of fact, on Monday the triumphal chariot was found £o have been mislaid, and only came to light in its ivory and golden dignity after the scene had come to an end, so the black moustached and rather portly potentate had, with his spouse and suite, to walk up the red, gravelled path behind two bored-looking white .horses, their yellowtrappings dragging as they walked. ' ANCIENT AND MODERN, Down flocked the "priestesses," in eoats and skirts, princess gowns, cloaks, in black, white, heliotrope, red, Wue, and green, with large hate and toques of all descriptions, with and without gloves, and some with umbrellas and parasols: the "priests" carrying torcbea in one hand, sticks in the other, to meet the victors, who looked, in their city rigonfcs, rather like mourners at a funeral. ;

The next scene was "The Restoration of London." by Alfred, in the year 885. It takes place at Ludgatc Hill. Alfred,' who rides in state, is accompanied by his Queen borne in a litter, is attended by prelates and monies, crosses the Bridge, and is presented with the keya of the City by the Sheriff. Such is the scene as it will be. King Alfred, at the first rehearsal, tumbled ungracefully off its back, and started to roll down the red path with such velocity that a man( who should have known better)' shouted delightedly, from behind me on the cjrand stand: "Don't stop him! Don't stop him, and he'll rolil into the Thames!" The kimrlv one, however, was caught and put aboard onee more, and the rehearsal proceeded. Anions- the nrincioal plnvers will be the DnVe of Westminster as Henry V., Ladv Plymouth as Queen Elizabeth, Lord Howard De Walden as the Bltck Prince, Sir Melville qn d Ladv Beachcroft as the Priest and Priestess oif Lnd, Sir Thomas Robinson I Awnt-Oenml' for Ouenslandl n« Captain Conk, Miss Dorothy Smith (daughter of the Mayor of Cane Town} es Pence in the Masone of Fmnirc. Lord Fiji. t.r.lv Donceall, S>r Ro?nr Curtis, nn.l T,idv Ttowri nro fhn nnnnoriim; al«o T,<idv ,T»n» TTe-b»rt 7/>d.- Tvicti rvsoi. n.„i $,-, \vit|.-<. m «m T..1.- p.,,,,,1, lnf y„„, will irobablv appear in the.New Zealaid scene. '