Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-03-03

4 PAGEANT IS TIE BAcEwolu.--orzSI
OF TIE C.yDIsv PAR1AvaSr.-Pa- lament
opened Yesterday afternoon. The forms sid GER
emonies, handel down from time remote, were
duly observed. and Sd far as Black Rods, bag
wigs, court-sworis, maces aul fuss aui feathers
generally csu assure the salvation Of monarchy
in the New World, monarchy IS safe. = PSI
geant in the backvo5is'' have called f. aul
No other phrase better describes The scene 4
blue American sky overhead, white snow under
foot. the music Of sleigh bells ant an occasional
wait from the roar OF smoky Chaliiere. E,iupses
of saysge hills yet black with prmevsl pinCs, sui
distant huts, scarce larger than the s,umps, sz-
ser;ing themselves in the scauiy cleiriu-s-a
strange framing all these maize for the para Be
OF the forms and ponps Of Westminster. S1Lc
Of these bright days there viii be no more ramp
ing lions and posJuring ushers, and the British
crown viii be sssimiAtei with the gre5utacE, So
that few lines Of the journal may Dc ieso;oi
20 the description Of the opening Of Parliament
in Canada.
The speech Of the Governor General is pre-
pared by his Cabinet, and speaks th,ir s-ul-
meuts sni policy-not his osu. It is De-
liyered in the Senale Chsmber. a Eue though
not large hall in the left wing o, the Parma
ment buildings. Ic is all 10 a blaze -t
crimson, carpets, cushions and csnopiss.
whereon, above the Throne, the " lion AMI tle
un'coru arc fighting for the crown tSee >i1
Their Goose Light from the stained windows
high up in the roof add to the rich coluriug.
Yesterday we had a most brilliant lispAy-i1r
Canada. 4 range Of stsrlet-coverei benches
was placed On the floor 70 accommodate The
ladies', while the bishops, Judges, minister's, cii-
GERS and male bipeis Of distinction we're Aud-
died in the centre below the Clerks table.
There was the usual ' gloss Of safiu and g.im-
mer Of pearls % reproduction on q smaller
scale Of a reception at the White House. LAZY
Young, or, rather. Lady Lisgar, since Sir John
has adoptei his new title. Was on one side Of
the Throne, accompanied by some o. the "lsiit>
av the coort, " IS the small fashionable papers
call them-on the other were the ministers, those
of them who have been decorated for serving
or selling thei- country, in the uest " indsor
uniform Of blue and goll, with the insignia Of
their orders Sir John l0uug was received by
volunteer guard Of boGor, snl a salute was
fired, its volume resembling the explosion Of
dozen Of demuraized soda. His Excelency
was accompanied by his SECRETARY, and proceei-
Ell to the Senate Chamber. every one rising as
he entered Before him went the Usher Of
the Black Rod, dressed in orthodox pumps,
silk hose, knee breeches, bagEig, cooked hat,
grit about with sword and bearing his trun-
eheon u0der one arm. He walks backward,
bowling to the ground at every stride, and es-
capes the Scyla Of his sword and the Charybdis
of desks and chairs in a manner which progokes
the sympathy and admiration of the most frigii
behoder. His Ezcellency having taken his
plsce, commands the attendance Of the Commons,
whereupon the Usher bows three times to the
ground, retlres to the Clerks table, bows thrice
again backs to the brszen bar Of the House,
bows again three, and, just as every ear is
strained to catch the explosion CT his suspender
buttons, RECEIVERS himself and flies away to call
the Commons. They tumble in like so many
school boys. The Usher bows nine times and
stands - like St. John Nepomuc in stoue,'' while
the Governor reads his speech in French and
English. No one lis ems to it, and there is a
buzz Of relief when the Governor departs, pre-
ceded by the agile Usher, threading the most
intricate mazes Of furniture, withoutonce looking
over his shoulder. These bows and blsckslidings
cost Canada between $1,000 and $1,000 a year,
but the Usher gives his whole time to practice
So much for this mumming. -COr. Boston Jour