The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-06-23

mon was Victoria. our Beloved Ruler
Of Great Britain's Realms"
The prevailing color in Fleet street wGs
white and gold. and light arch spshsed
the street. unlike the majority Of arches.
suggesting the Indian empire a. decora-
tive use was made Of the elephant,
Ascending Ludgate bili. the sight w1s
most attractive. High walls Of color
and immense seas Of faces sloping up to
the greet grey walls OF CHRISTOPHER
wren's masterpiece. st. Paurs cathedral.
which really seemed to rise out Of the
hearts Of the people, was sight tremen-
dously impressive. Round the caths1ral
The roadway has not been decorated, but
the abuiting premises were clothed from
corner-stons with decorations reheciIng
and emphasizing the whole genius Of
people represented here in syubol or sub.
stance.
At the turning into cheapside there
wos plenty Of color. plenty Of money
spent. but no effect that WAS noteworthy
untfi passing out Of II. whea the mansion
stood revealed. perhaps the most gorge
GUS and artistic bit OF decoration on the
was flown the royal standard. surrounded
by twenty-five national banners mounted
on flower wreathsd poles. In the center
OF the pediment stood the shield OF the
London heraldicIty, colored. backed by
a handsome trophy OF national 1ags aid
fanked on either side by large Sornu-
coplas. on the central cornlce was the
Inscription. "God Bless Our Queen" In
gold letters, and on either side the dates
lss7-Isg7 The windows were decorated
with crimson plush draperies. gold orna-
mcnis and emblems typical Of the nation.
a number OF heraldic shields. backed by
errnlne manties and trophies Of national
flags. adorned the front OF the building
In front Of the balcony there was a pro-
cesslon OF blue plush drapery ornamenred
in gold with imperial crowns and mono
grams and finished with bullion fringe
rosettes and tassels. The colImn a the
building were entwined with wreaths. ard
here and there between depended rich
baskets OF flowers
Passing onward through King william
street to London bridge. Venluan masts
were again noticeable bearing golden
banners entwined with floral garlands and
fesioons OF lanterns carried TO the sur
rounding buildings
London bridge was quite effectively dec
GRATED. both sides supporting ;all masts
topped with royal crowns in gold and
bearing banners. The first and each al
ternate mast carried a floral wreath tied
with gold silk and the inevitable letters
" r." The second and each alternate
mast was entwined with evergreen fas-
toOning bearing a shield backed by a
trophy OF five national flags. Each mast
or lamppost bore suspended two fioral
baskets. At each end OF the bridge was
81 graceful floral arch. the supporting
Hehts Of which displayed the symbolieal
Up. L." while ihe festoons between car
ried 'lSS7-lS5" and an imepriai ,rown
South Of the Thames the decorations
were less effective. though by no means
scanty.
The Westminster bridge road was en-
iivened by two lines Of high Venetian
masts with entwined evergreens. sur
mounted by golden crowns and adorned
with trophies OF national colors. shields
and baskets OF flowers alternately. The
masts were garlanded together with
double lines OF artificial flowers.
Parliament street had somewhat similar
masts, with bannerettes. crowns ana or
bate holdings. The lines taken by the
festoons were varied and preseatsd a
pretty succession OF curves
In streets off the route the decorations
were as lavish as Commensurate with the
prosperity OF the inhabitants. Tlags, ban
ners and imperial devices of every sort,
generally scarlet and gold, or red, white
and blue, and many others added ilowers.
In short. by decorations, as by everything
else. London was transformed into a vast
court at which an empire rendered fealty
TO its sovereign.