Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-05-13
IONDON's GALA DAY.
The Queen 0 ems the colonial Exhibition.

i
! Queen Victoria opened the colonial exhibit
ton in London on the 4th inst. Her majesty's
appearance when she went In state from
Buckingham palace to.the colonial exhibition
for the purpose Of formally opening that
marvellous show, brought together an assem-
blage more notable for size and quality than
any gathered In London since the memorable
throng collected by the ceremonies attending
the opening of the exhibition In 1851. Every
care was taken to give the widest possible
publicity TO the fact that the queen would go
In royal state to open the show. The result
was the streets forming the route taken by the
royal procession were crowded with people,
and she was everywhere along the way greeted
with enthusiastic cheers.
The opening ceremonies were conducted In
Albert hall. When the queens carriage ar
rived the entrance was surrounded by throngs,
composed for the most part OF distinguished
persons. The royal guard Of honor lined the
corridors when her majesty alighted and pass
ed into the building Flowers, flags, bunting,
and noticed decorations were everywhere dis
played. When the queen appeared in her
place In the hall she was greeted with cheers.
The spectacle presented was magnificent. The
ladies were gorgeously attired. The queen at
| tracted much attention by toilet which was
a CONSPICUOUS departure from the solid sombre
| black In which the public has been SO long ac-
customed TO see her. She wore a
black silk dress trimmed with beads aud
lace, and black bonnet relieved by a
| Alexandra, wife of the Prince of Wales, was
attired in a striped blue silk, Crown Princess
| Victoria OF Germany wore a moonlight satin
dress, Princess Louise, wife of the Marquis of
Lorne, wore grand sang-de-boeuf robe. The
ceremonies were simple, but grandly impress
sive. They consisted of II carefully prepared
program of music, presentation addresses to
! the queen by the colonies participating in the
! exhibition, and the formal declaration by her
majesty that the show was open. The music
| xuac nd nd oh Of dos cripfiOn
Among the numbers was "Home Sweet Home"
sung by Albani, which thrilled the vast con-
course beyond expression.
/ The chief feature of the opening ceremonies,
however, was the singing of the new British
| ode composed by Tennyson for the occasion.
| 1t Is considered remarkable in many re-
! spects, as a national hymn and for the vigor
OF its lines. The text of the ode is as fol-
lows
Welcome welcome, with one voice,
In your welfare we rejoice;
| Sons ard brothers that have sent
From isle and cape and continent
Product of your field and flood,
Mount and mine and primal wood,
Works OF subtle brain and hand
And splendors Of the morningiland,
Gifts from every British zone,
Britons, hold your own!
May we find as ages run,
The mother featured in the son,
And may yours forever be
That old strength and constancy,
Which has made your fathers great
In our ancient island state,
And whereer her flag may fly,
! Glorying between sea and sky,
Make the might of Britain known,
Britons, holds your own!
Britain fought her sons of yore,
Britain failed and nevermore,
Careless of our growing kin,
Shall we sin our fathers sin.
Men that In a narrower day,
Unprophetic rulers they,
Drove from out the mothers pest.
That young eagle OF the west,
To forage for herself alone,
Britons hold yorktown;
Sharers OF our glores past,
Brothers, must we part at last!
Shall not we through good and Ill
| Cleave to one another stilli
Brtain's myriad voices call
Sons, be welded, each and all,
Into one imperial whole,
One with Britain, heart and soul.
One life, one flag, one fleet, one throne.
Britons, hold your own, and God guard all.
At the conclusion of..the ode the queen pro-
nounced the exhibition opened and passed
out, the choir singing Rule Britannia Mr..
| Gladstone was not present.