, 1886-05-05

QUEEN VICTORIA
At the Opening of the Colonial
Exhibition.
A Brilliant A~ssemblage in
Attendance.
An Ode by TennysOn, the Poet
Laureate.
The Queen in Public.

lubhN appearance ~ HlNllB Il great Htlluu-
lus to social life and business Of trades.
which depend upon society movements.
Her majesty appearance to-day, when
she went from Buckingham palace to the
colonial exhibition for the purpose of for
mally opening hat marvellous show. drew
together an assemblage more notable for
size aud quality than any gathered il
London since the memorable throng col
lected by the ceremonies attending the
opening Of the exhibition of 1851. Every
care was taken to give the widest ossible
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 blythe royal procession were crowded
with people anxious to see the queen, and
she was everywhere along the way greeted
with enthusiastic cheers. The weather
was perfect, the air clear and warm with
a brilliant sunshine. So great was the
rush to witness the royal progress that it
required beside the strong force of cavalry
upward of 1000 policemen to keep a pass.
age way for the royal carriages through
the streets.
The opening ceremonies we're conducted
in Albert hall. When the queens car
riage arrived the entrance was surrounded
by a throng composed for the most part of
distinguished persons. including noble.
men. nonular actors addresses men emf.
nent in city affairs. In the throng were
many orientals. wearing full national
costumes. A ROYAL guard Of honor
lined the corridors when her majesty
arrived Flags. notices and bunting were
everywhere. When the queen appeared
in her place in the hall she was greeted
with a cheer which was intensely enthusi
astic and lasted several seconds. The
scene was one Of extraordinary impress
%iyeness. The vast interior was packed
with an assemblage numbering thousands,
composed Of the very elite OF London.
The scene presented was magnificent.
Scores of foreign princes, diplomats in
court dress, hundreds of British officers
in full uniform, rosplendent with gold lace
and bright buttons. Chinese and Japan.
ese officials IN rich. picturesque silk num-
berless men proudly wearing decorations.
The display Of gold lace, medals and col
OTIS on the part of the men was phenom-
email, while the ladies were gorgeously at
tired.
The queen attracted much attention by
her toilet, which contained a conspicuous
departure from the solid, sombcr black in
which the public has so long been accus-
toned to see her. She wore a black silk
dress, trimmed with beads and lace, and a
black bonnet relieved by a fine, large
white ostrich feather. The Princess Al
exandn. wife of the Prince of Wales, was
attired in a striped blue silk, the Crown
Princess Victoria of Germany wore a
light satin dress, the Princess Louise,
wife of the Marquis of Loruc, wore a
grand SANG re- Jauf robe. The royal pro-
cession to and from Albert hall comprised
beside her majesty and the princesses
named, the Prince of Wales, Duke of
Edinburgh. Prince Henry Of Battenberg
and wife. Princess Beatrice, Lord Har
%tington. Lord Salisbury, the Earl of
Derby and scores of other noblemen fol
lowed the royal party as an escort
throughout the building before aud after
the opening ceremonies. These ceremo.
mics were simply but grandly impress.
i've. They consisted of a carefully pre-
pared programme Of music. presentation
addresses to the queen by the colonies
participating in the exhibition aud the
formal declaration by her majesty that the
show was open.
The music was grand. above the power
of description. Among the numbers was
CLONE, Sweet Home, " sung by Albani
and thrilled the vast %concourseo beyond
expression. An immense choir Of care
full picked and drilled voices accompanied
by the great organ and orchestra, rendered
the "Halleluiah' chorus with powerful
effect. The chief feature of the opening
ceremonies however. was the singing oil
the new British ode composed by Tenny.
son for the occasion. The poem sin four
parts, one of welcome to the exhibitors
one of a PRAYER for inheritance by the
colonies If Enelnnd's attributes. the tbird
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appeal lor .he up''y Of Tue empire. Inc