Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-05

A-<~,ra Biuuder ne Made 1t George
Tvs Coronation.
Sir William Fraser's ''Words on
Wellington is still q book talked
about in England. The following in
teresting story refers to the corona
ton of George ":
Two great officers are appointed
for special occasions only, the Lord
High Constable and Lord High Stew
ard of the Kingdom The Duke was
nominated Lord High Constable
When the Champion enters Westmin-
ster Hall during the banquet he ride
between these two great officers
AFTER the customary challenge the
Ming drinks to the health of thelCham-
plon In goblet of gold, which he then
and there presents to him. This be-
ing done. 1t Is the duty of the Cham
pion, the Lord High Constable and
| the Earl Marshal to rein their horses
backward until their exit at the door
by which they entered from Palace
Yard.
The Duke. with his practical good
sense, anticipating the scene of .tu-
multuous enthusiasm which was GER
| tain to occur, took care to obtain for
| the occasion a well-trained steed from
the establishment across the river
| since known as Astley's. According
~, an animal of handsome appearance
and dignified demeanor was selected.
and, backward movement being I'M
| usual to horses. the steed upon whom
SO much honor was conferred was
carefully drilled day after day for
some weeks to move in an inverse d.
rection round the circus. In time he
became quite perfect. and equally in
sensible to the efforts made by per-
sons employed to disturb his eguan-
| unity. No amount of cheering nor
throwing up of hats nor noises of any
kind induced the animal to swerve
from his backward path.
The great day arrived. The King
was in his seat; the peers and peer
esses. and every thing that was great
in the kingdom had found tn cir proper
locality in Westminster Hall. the no.
BILE building raised by William Rufus
Qor his bedroom). The great doors
were thrown open, and a sight which
eclipsed all other sights enchanted
| the spectators. The Champion of
England in brilliant armor entered be-
tween his supporters. Nothing could
be more imposing. The hero of
Waterloo. wearing his coronation
robes. his ducal coronet placed rather
| forward on his brow, and bearing in
his right hand the baton of a Field
Marshal. bestrode with great dignity
his noble steed. duly caparisoned for
the occasion. The sight was irresisti-
bic. The peers. peeresses and COM
moners rose to their feet; a wild burst
of cheering echoed through the vast
| and picturesque roof. What was the
horror of the spectators, what was the
dismay of the sovereign. and what
must have been the feelings even of
| that iron soul, that had confronted
death in every shape unmoved. when
| the intelligent animal which he rode
assuming that the noise was the pre-
| liminary to his turning around. as he
had been trained to do, instantly did
| this. and advanced toward the sove-
reign with his head pointing to the
| door by which he had entered West
| minister Hall. As children say at the
| end of good story. What did they
| do thenS Some OF those in attend
ance with great difficulty succeeded.
| to use sailors expression, in slew
ing the animal round, and. possibly.
by dint of holding the bride and
caresses. enabled the great Duke to
approach George the Magnificent in a
decorous and dignified manner"