Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-03-16
Queen Victoria Opening the British Parliament
From the New York World

LONDON, Feb. S.-And now all is ready
The house is densely packed above stairs and
below. Through the open doors ou each
side of the dazzling throne figures fitted oc-
caslonally across the scene-general officers
IN their uniforms, heralds with their tabards,
the out-of-date but striking dress of the yeo-
men OF the Guard. Through one of these
doors l catch a glimpse OF the Prince OF
Wales, and in a few minutes he enters with
the Princess--a fat and rather clumsy look
ing man by the side OF delicate but beautiful
woman. All the crowd present rise to their feet,
and the Prince and Princess incline their
heads slightly toward them. Then the Prince
ascends the throne and takes his seat in the
smaller chair at the right hand of his moth
er's, pulling the end of his moustache the
while with nervous movement. His bulky
form completely fills up the chair. l notice
that he is well nigh as bald as robin. The
Princess, pale and very thin, remained be-
low, leaning against that big red box or table
called the '.woolsack," alone and looking
rather "lost" and forlorn. The Prince beck
oned some officer to him Il think Lord Ave-
land the Lord Great Chamberlin), and whis-
pered some few words 10 him. The officer
went down the steps and whispered to the
Princess, who presently afterward sat down
on the edge of this most awkward, though
perhaps dignifed perch, the woolsack.
The distant sound of trumpets found its
way into the House, and soon there slowly
entered long and, to my eyes, q stately pro-
cession-pursuivants and heralds in the
magnificent costumes of their craft, bright
with gold and scarlet, dresses most quaint
and picturesque, but impossible to describe.
Then followed great officers of state-the
Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Norfolk
(Earl Marshall), and many more, all bowing
low to the throne as they passed, and toward
the House. Then came lady IN o very long
dress. dark in color but with lace plentifully
scattered over it, and with ribbons and or
ders and diamonds innumerable upon it.
This was the Queen. She advanced in dead
silence, took up her position in the chair,
and sat perfectly still while one could have
counted ten. Her face, if truth must be
spoken, has become very red. She wore the
ar-famed koh-i-noor as q brooch, a crown OF
diamonds on her head, and necklaces and
other adornments of matchless beauty and
priceless value.
Then the noise of the approaching Com
mons WAS heard, and the Queen handed
folded paper to the Lord Chancellor, who
unfolded it. saying that Her Majesty, had
commanded him to read her speech in .'her
own words" and thereupon he read it. Vic
bol III sil WIN AtI tb Dtul upon Tue HIpuud,
stolid and Indifferent, nor did she once raise
her eyes until the LordsChancellor had finish
ed reading the speech. Then she waited
minute or two, two Lords stepped forward
and lifted up her robes, and she descended
the steps OF the throne and went straight to
the Princess of Wales, kissed her slightly,
and turned her own cheek to be kissed. She
scarcely smiled. Then she offered her hand |
to the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of |
Teek, who stood close by, and both bent low |
and kissed it. Lastly she held her hand to |
the Prince OF Wales, who came down step |
Or two from his chair rather hurriedly, and |
look his mothers hand and kissed it. Her |
Majesty bowed very slightly to the House, |
md some one clad in the long scarlet robe of |
Peer. with three ermine bars sgnifying |
hat he was an Earl, and bearing in his |
lsnds a huge sword-the sword of state
moved in front of her, and the procession
lied out and the Prince and Princess follow
ID, and the buzz of conversation began
gain.
There was no one in that vast throng whose
life presented SO many wondrous contrasts.
whose career was half SO fraught with ro-
nance, as that of the statue-like figure which
tood close beside the Queen, the greatest de-
1ater left in Parliament, the present Prime
"a iSnbihiiu. n lew |
ook his seat on one of the red benches and
addressed himself to the work of the mo-
nent with the calm dignitied and supreme
act which have never failed him at any try
ng moment The Duke of Argyll delivered
me OF his lmpetuous and hot-headed attacks
ipon the Ministry, and the Earl of Beacons-
leld answered him by recalling the House to
sense of the gravity of the question at
ssue 1t was not long reply, but it was
ufhcient. The feeling OF the House was
trongly with its new member, and he sat
lown amid general cheers. Thus ended
)israeli's first day in the House of Lords.
As left the house the royal carriages
we're Just passing along Parliament street
he bells were ringing, the people cheering,
he rays of the sun shining brightly on the
helmets and breast-plates OF the troops Not
or years has the Queen been so;well received,
nd the "hurrahs" of the people did not
eem to be wholly without effect upon her,
or overlook the cavalcade in St. Jamess
lark, and l observed that she smiled as she
lightly inclined her head to the throng on
ach side of her. The image. however, that
find most clearly stamped on my mind,
iter all is over, is not that of somewhat
ross-looklng and red-iaced lady, or of big,
'urly, bald gentleman called the Prince Of
Wales, but of n bent figure half hidden in
obes OF state white lace in which the fire
nd gleam of intellect efface the traces of
are and anxiety and age, a keen and thought
Al eye surveying the Peers and Commons of
.n5iand from the side of royalty itself In
iy recollections of the day the picture of
enjamin Disraei will survive longer than
ne forms of Queens or Princes. L. J. J.