THE CORONATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 36, 5 August 1911, Page 9

THE CORONATION

GREAT CEREMONY AT WESTMINSTER. SCENE OF MAJESTIC SPLENDOR. A GRAPHIC STORY. London, June 23. There was a general grievance about early rising on Coronation morning. Overnight it seemed a hardship that we should be taken from our beds at five o'clock. London slept little that night. Crowds were in the streets of London after midnight, and still larger crowds when we came three or four hours later on Thursday morning. As you left your house you forgot that it was six o'clock. For London was crowning England's King, and went betimes about her Royal task. By seven the old city—no longer grey, but wonderfully decked and brilliant—had the atmosphere of high noon. But i 7 was not a London show. All nations sent their people to the crowning of King George. The thousands who moved towards the route and Abbey after six o'clock were largely strangers to London. They came in legions from places in the United Kingdom beyond the metropolis. All tho way you heard foreign tongues, all the way you recognised distinctive characteristics of the men and women of the Empire abroad. The ceremony in the Abbey bewildered the senses with its'splendor and deep solemnity. But still stronger, perhaps, was its appeal to the imagination. One's mind flashed beyond that gorgeous scene to the lands and lives of all the world.

VETERANS AND UNTRIED

RECRUITS.

The troops who lined the streets were old and young. They contained many faces of mere boys—raw young soldiers, with pink and white English complexions; soft-looking fellows, as yet untried in the serious work of their' soldiering. These boys do not impress you. They compare indifferently, you think,' with our weather-beaten, harder-looking citizen soldiery in Australasia. The standard of intelligence appears lower. But this line of thought is scarcely begun before the ranks of raw young material are bjoken by a man with service medals, and then another, and another. The breast of an officer of high rank is a blaze of distinction—won in climates hot and cold, in lands far away from this Whitehall, with its gay colors and peaceful people.

Then, you look with more sympathetic and confident eyes upon the ranks of youngsters whom first you doubted. They are of the right stock and the light stuffy They, too, will win and wear this distinctions, and you pass Ion» speculating where and when the Em° pile would put their breeding on his monument. Turning, you see Nelson on his monument, clear and high against the clouded sky. Across the street is the building from which King Charles stepped to his execution* upon this very Whitehall ground. We drift along reluctantly, for one is in good company with these veteran soldiers and these untried recruits. xiie vast stands, all scarlet and empty yesterday, are now thronged with crowds of people. The breeze makes play with the thousand flags. Strangers are in the stands, and they are chiefly strangers in the streets about you still hurrying towards their seats. Londoners who took up their positions many hours before have now to wait patient masses behind lines of soldiers! lhey came up during the night and stood and suflered, and now, with four hours still to wait, are cheerful and happy. London loves a pageant, and this is the greatest pageant of all, and its like is, happily, rare. Men, women and children stand behind the soldiers, cut off by the broad backs and helmets and busbies from the view they have suffered sleeplessness and fatigue to obtain. EMPIRE'S BEAUTY AND CHIVALRY.

We pass on to the entrance to the Abbey. A great congregation is thickly arriving. Unfortunately, much of it is lost upon the unschooled Australians. It is not the colonial eye which can distinguish at once the dress and orders of a duke or a marquis or an carl, nor know at a glance a duchess or countess by the length of her sweeping train, and pick at sight the various generals and admirals. The Australian is nowhere v»th the Londoner when it comes to a game of that sort. But you recognise General Nogi and Admiral Togo, as they step from their carriage, and are directed on their way—two spare, small figures, with the typical impassive Japanese features, expressive of everything or nothing. The keen experienced eyes of Fleet street men about you name a hundred other notabilities as they alight.

Anxious looks are directed again and again to the clouded skies, for a slight drizzle is menacing. But thoughts of rain do not affect the high spirits. There is at present about the entrances to the Abbey that complete ease of manner and apparent indifference to scrutiny which is always so interesting a feature of London's greatest functions. These great gatherings of England's quality are like huge family affairs. Strangers, apt to forget that these peo- j pie meet a hundred times during the season, are surprised at the recognition of acquaintances' nods and the handshaking and chatting, carried so far as sometimes to cause considerable delay about the entrance. There is no attempt to minimise the greatness of the occasion. Many wondrous old State coaches -and superb motor cars, which bring along peer and peeress, contain also members of their families who have come down to Westminster for a ride in state through the crowded streets, and who east envious eyes at the Abbey, as they are driven away. The great gilt coaches, with their horses of a quality in keeping with their owners, and an ancestry sometimes easier to. establish, were not nearly so numerous as at the Coronation of King Edward. The motor is not altogether a Coronation success. 1 1 seems much more fitting that a peer, in all the glory of his robes, and bearing his coronet in his hand, should step out of an antiquated bid coach. One's mind went for a moment across the road to St. Stephen's, where the Parliament Bill lies waiting its committee stage' in the House of Lords, and there came the thought that the old coach on the London streets is symbolic of the present power of its owner. It has lingered too long. It excites the multitude o to a little ridicule, and frequently obstructs more important traffic. UNSATISFACTORY VIEW FOR PRESSMEN.

Perched high in the Abbey, we watch the great picture in the making. Xot five in each hundred of the SOQO guests saw or heard anything of the actual crowning of the King. For despite the ingenuity and enterprise of the architects who carried out the special interior arrangements, only a small proportion of the seats commanded any view of the Theatre 011 which the King received his crown. Aloft, in the South Triforium, in a badly lighted space, filthy with the dust of centuries, the journalists of Great Britain and others who were to give the story of the Coronation to the worM placed their trust in slender,

rusted, iron bars, and swung out, taking risks, and suffering pain and cramp in order that their work might be done. The arrangements were a disgrace to those in control, but still we would gladly have endured much more than be denied a full sight of an assembly so magnificent, and- a ceremony so suggestive of 1 England's history, so eloquent of her present greatness and so prophetic of her Imperial future.

SCENE OP TRANSCENDENT BEAUTY. When the seats 011 either side of the great Nave were filled with guests, when peers and peeresses faced each other from the north and south transepts, when the choristers and bishops were in their places, and all were ready for the Royal procession, the scene was transcendency beautiful and appealing. It delighted and dazzled me. It made a tumult in my brain. The greatness of England was there in grand array, waiting to crown and proclaim in ancient fasfiion the King of a realm wider, and fairer, and richer than ancient or even mediaeval England dreamed about. A detailed survey was impossible. The eye leaped from quarter to quarter. Each great arch and hallowed stone appeared to enclose a picture more superb than the other. Everywhere you saw greatness and loveliness. Perhaps most glasses wore directed to the swarm of peeresses who filled up the North Transept. As they passed down the great, Nave their trains, sweeping far behind, gave enhanced carriage and grace to their figures. They were as some monster birds of exceeding beauty and dignity. These aristocratic dames stood,, you thought, for England's pride. To none would they do homage. Peers may fall, but peeresses never. Reaching their seats in the transcept, they folded their trains in a manner mysterious and sat close together, making a wonderful massed effect of crimson and ermine and white satin, aglow with the myriads of precious stones flashing fire away up to us in the shadowed arches. They seemed supreme, above duty to any who might come. But later, when the Princesses Royal appeared, they fell to second place, and at the great moment when Queen Mary approached, they did the humblest 1 curtsey. England's aristocracy com- i mands the homage of the middle and lower classes because of its complete obeisance to the Monarch. Peers and peeresses play that side of their game much better than the political side.

FAREWELL TO HEREDITARY

PEERS.

The coronation of kings should be above party politics. But one' could not look upon the peers without a thought of that had happened during the last few years, and what is expected to happen during the next few weeks. In a pnse the Coronation fell in opportune moments. It caught England amidst the

din of a political battle of almost unexampled fierceness and importance. We all knew that the sword sheathed to-day would be drawn again to-morrow. But tlie fact that the Coronation came at this particular time gave a rare opportunity to those who love a strong dramatic situation. Never* perhaps,, have England's peers made a braver show than in the Abbey of this day. Never have they stood for more wealth, for more soeial influence, in these islands. Never have they had power to do greater good or greater evil. And yet, although in a sense we saw them, or appeared to see tlieni, at the height of their renown, we knew, and they knew—as they passed solemnly down the Abbey to-day with their coronets borne at their sides, and paid service and homage to their Kiflg—that they were on the eve of being shorn of' their traditional strength. ' As a. direct political force the hereditary peer ot[ England was oil this day present at tile last Coronation . When England's next King' is crowned, the peer will no linger be a lawmaker by right of t heredity, but, like the Commons, will be subject to the election of the people. The pfier, with his'robes of glory, walked tins day in the. shadow of the darkest clouds. We regarded him wit|j new and strange interest—our minds busy ill speculation.

A GALAXY OF LEARNING AND. RENOWN. But the peers and peeresses, although so dazzling and interesting, were only the beginning of this splendid picture. In every other part of the Abbey were men and women whose interest to the spectators was scarcely secondary. Here, In brilliant uniforms and robes of Court dress, were men who had won fame in every field of Empire—England's first soldiers, and sailors, and statesmen; grave Judges in scarlet and grey, accompanied by their ladies; Prime Ministers and members of Parliament of the five oversea dominions; leaders of learning' from the Universities; great men from the professions; masters of industry and trade—everywhere we had pointed out to us men whose names were familiar at Home and abroad. And splashed all through, and giving lightness and elegance to the picture, were women superb- ■ jy dressed and richly jewelled.

KINGS OF THE EARTH REPRE SENTED.

A fanfare of trumpets, and down the nave came the grand procession of foreign royalties. Etiquette forbade that 'crowned heads should be present, but most of the Kings of the world sent their eldest sons. The dashing young Crown Prince of Germany led the way, and walking behind him, with ample attendance, came the Royal blood of every race and color; princes representative of all religions—followers of Mahomet and Christ; worshippers of the sun —a glittering array, which carried the mind back to the dusky Empires of Asia and Africa, which knew civilisation and arts and splendor when the Briton lived in caves; and the site of London was swamp and thicket. In the Royal pews sat the Princes of Turkey and Austria, of Japan and Roumania, of Sweden and Siam and China. Even Ethiopia sent its Prince in the person of Dejasmach Kassa, who appeared in a dress most extraordinary, topped by a headgear of lion's mane. In the great Arch they diad a panel. Above the children of world's monarch* sat distinguished oflicers of the various armies and navies. Few of them were known to us all. Conspicuous were Nogi and Togo, and the war correspondents pointed out the leaders of the armies from all over the world, glittering with distinctions, heroically won.

OVERSEAS DELEGATES,

And the eye travelled, always leading ami stirring the imagination. Australian delegates and other oversea representatives, with the exception of the Prime Ministers, were seated far down the main nave, and saw, I fear, little more than the procession of Royalty. Their disappointment, however,' was shared by thousands of others. It was, primarily, the crowning of the King bv England's lords. The Prime Minister. Mr. Asquith, occupied a seat by himself, close to where the service was conducted. But. otherwise, the House of Commons and the people whom they represented had nothing to do with the great ceremonial. The only seats which commanded an uninterrupted view of the theatre and altar were occupied by peers and peeresses. The only hand's which played a part in the service were those of the aristocracy and Church.

A BRILLIANT SCINTILLATION. English Princes and Princesses aI . Royal blood arrived an hour before th« King. The Prince of Wales drove down in a partly-open carriage, with the Princess Mary and his three little brothers. He is small for his years, and although plainly nervous and conscious of hig big part, he went through with fine courage and dignity. As he entered the Abbey „ -! and the music sounded, the whole assemblage rose, and the effect of the general movement of color and jewels and glittering arms cannot be suggested by words. The Prince of Wales was followed by the Princess Mary, and afterwards came a number of princesses ' of the Royal Family, their coronets carried by military officers of distinction, k: and their long trains by ladies of the court. They passed slowly, with many halts. Then, and all through, the stagemanagement was perfection. The cere- ' ,monv went with slow, stately stride, emphasising its deep religious character, but never for a moment did it drag.

THE STANDARD-BEARERS.

Soon Big Ben boomed at St. Ste- ' i phen's. The King had come—a pause, , j and expectation was high. First advances the Abbey beadle, then the chap-lains-in-ordinary, and domestic chaplains, ; and the .Cross of Westminster, and aseemingly endless procession, slowly mov- 5 ing, of Church dignitaries, and peers with names of great renown, and military officers. Then came the standards of the various dominions dnd of India, Scotland, Ireland and England: Lord Curzon bearing for India, the Duke of Wellington bearing the Standard of the Union,

the Marquis of Lansdovvrie the Royal Standard; and Lord Northcote the

Standard of the Commonwealth of Aug'- ' '» tvalia. Then cama, the Earls of Minto, Crewe, Rosebery and Cadogan, the four Knights of the Order of the Garter, chosen to hold the canopy for the King's anointing, and, beside each, a little page, bearing a cofonet to be put on as the King was crowned. Pretty little pages in white and yellow, green and red, twinkled through the old Abbey all ' through the early stages of the* ceremony.

THE ROYAL APPROACH. - . | The stately procession continued for a long time as the glorious music rose ' and fell. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who throughout acted liis great part with fine precision, and an air of downright vigor, which won everybody's admiration, appeared iii.advance of the " King and Queen. The Queen came first, very striking in her Royal robes, andV great collar of flashing diamonds about her throat, her train borne by the Duchess of Devonshire and six ladies 6f the Court, and attended by ten Gentlfi-men-at-Arms. The anthem, "I was glfcd when they said unto me wc will go intfo the House of the Lord," was. ptayinj. High. in. the tri forium the . Wtstmihster , hoys ' shouted ?yivat, ■ vivat»' Retina Maria." . ; . .• ; • And then, preceded by his crown and ; J the rest of the regalia (in itself ( 'p procession), the King advances, and tlte <"4 boys sliput, "Vivat, vivat Rex'Georgius'f*' with great heartiness. But one could -i have wished that then, as soon afterwards, when the Archbishop of CanteVr "i bury presented his Majesty to each pot- 'Jj tion of the congregation, the answeriiig $ cry ha,d been taken up, by the people, aM ,'i'i not left to these boys. The shout $ ;.'jj the boys was vigorous and ringiife 'I enough, but still it was theatrical aija '} cold.- "Here I present," cried the Arcfii . H bishop, "unto you King George, the ufl- ■ doubted King of the Realm; whercfotyi \ you who are come this day to do yo» homage and service, are you willing to to ' i thcf Same!"" ' Arid each time the bo/s H thundered, "God save King George," bit the congregation was silent. if. FORMS AND SYMBOLS. * The actual Coronation service was not iinpressive to the Australian mind, uur new country provides no education in these great ceremonials. It' is difficult for us to feel fche.'significance.of all tlie old, traditional fqrms and of all the - ' ancient symbols presented to his Majesty „■* with so much state and solemnity. I N recalled Lord Curzon's appeal, a few nights before,'that those present in the Abbey should remember above all eise -j that the Coronation was a religious cere-

mony; but even then one wished for a simpler service. I venture to doubt very much if the loyalty of the people overseas would be increased if it were possible—which it is not—for the major- 1 ity to see ttieir Sovereign crowned.' Too 1 much of tbiis old ceremonial borders on

the burlesque, but'they have been crowning Kings at Westminster since Harold fell at Hastings, and the view of an Australian suggests sacrilege. " You are familiar with the service. A ' departure was made on this occasion in •

providing tjte sermon preached by the Archbishop of York. We .were promised that the Archbishop would be brief. He spoke for just seven minutes, preaching from the text: "I am among you as « lie that serveth."