The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
SAW VICTORIA CRoWNED.
a Bnitimorean's Recollections OF tho Accession
sixty Years AGO.
From the Baltimore american.

From the Baltimore american.
Mr.. John Carpenter, who has lived hero since
1S45. was present at the browning of Victoria
Mt Westminster. lie talked about tho event
without hcsitating:
Victoria, !" he said, was declared tho lawful
heir on June &C. 1897, but, on account of her
agc-she was not yet 1S-the public coronation
did not take place until June %. 1888. 1t is a
long while ago. The pageant was a magnificent
one. How long my memory does not serve mo,
but it was gorgeous. ] saw the Queen. She was
a fresh-looking young thing, with a happy,
smiling face, as innocent-looking as sho was.
There was not a care upon her brow. 1t seemed
MS II no thought Of the stupondous responsible
ties which she was assuming had come to her.
She appeared utterly unconscious Of solf or the
part she was playing in that notable event.
"She did not appear frightened, but to the
plaudits of the multitude she turned to the left
and right, bowling and smiling most graciously.
l had a good position on one of the thorough
fares through which the pageant passed, and
got n good look at her. or course. the trappings
of her horses and tho chariot and everything
else were most gorgeous. And such chcering!
Such crowds! Peoplei There were people
everywhere. Strange as it may seem, though
the Queen should have been the central figure, 1
think what impressed me most on that occa.
sion was the superb appearance OF Mar
shall Soult, the French Ambassador. and his
staff. Everything was gorgeous in the pageant.
but Soult was more than gorgeous. l can see
his trappings in my minds eye at this minute.
To attempt TO describe them would be beyond
my powers. Gorgeous Is all i can say for them.
And he knew they were gorgeous. While there
was no circumstances about the Queen,
there was plenty Of It about the French Ambas.
sador, and the people fed his vanity, for cheer
after cheer rent the air as he passed by. There
were long lines OF Respondent %soldiery; the
brilliant uniforms. the glittering gold lace, the
the trumpets, the caralcades OF horsemen, car
riagcs OF statc-crerything went to make up
such n pageant as is seldom seen. and can hardly
be cclipscd by anything at the present time.
that, l obtained any such impression Of her. I
think she was pretty. Yes, l know she was.
But it was her youth and her freshness that
impressed me most. She had clear cut features,
the slender young girl with the graceful car
riage | remember seeing that summer day 30
long ago."
Mr.. Carpenter has in his possession a COPY of
the SIN, a paper published in London, and prob
ably the only one TO he found in this city OF the
date of the coronation. 1t was printed at the
time in gilt, all of which has nearly worn away,
but the paper is in an excellent state Of preser-
walton. On the front page Is a %yignette profile
was an excellent likeness at the time. and an
editorial note pronounces It n triumph OF art.
The paper was printed on June 20, 1888, and
the number in the possession OF Mr.. Carpenter
Is the twentieth edition. 1t contains u history
OF former coronations, the makeup OF the paE-
cant. and the positions OF the various troops, SC.
in the coronation parade, n sketch OF the young
Queen. and every matter pertaining TO the event.
There is also a description OF the crown which
ter OF the Duke OF Kent. This crown was esti-
mated TO be worth over ELL 900.