The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-14
ENGLAND's NEXT KING.

new klnS Oh EnSldlu ulle OOhcSc
of Arms will proclaim him just
as they have proclaimed every
monarch for hundreds of years
past. Times change and dynas-
ties. We are less like the Eng
lishmen of Edward [, than we are
like the modern Japs. We talk
different tongue, we eat differ
ent foods, we wear different
clothes, we think different
thoughts. Nothing is the same
except the columns on Stone
henge and the College of Arms.
The college abides, varying by
not so much as a detail of proceed
ure or button on a uniform.
What is, is good and cannot be
improved. Therefore, the busi-
ness of proclamation will be the
same in the twentieth century as
it was in the fifteenth.
When the time unhappily
comes for new king to reign the
privy council will meet and de-
clare the throne to have devolved
on the Prince of Wales. Orders
will at once be given to the earl
marshal and the officers of the
College of Arms to proclaim him.
The first proclamation will be
made in the courtyard of st.
James palace where the guard is
changed. Garter King, the chief
officer of the college, will make
the proclamation in solemn form,
with the earl marsal, the knights,
the herald and the pursuivants in
full uniform and mounted hard
by. AT this proclamation the
monarch is present, sitting at the
window where all his predecess-
ors have sat.
This is the chiefest of the proc
lamations, but the news has to
be carried far and wide to the dis
tant cities, the rank of the pro
claiming officer descending as the
business proceeds. The second
pronouncement is made at Char
ing Cross, and the third at the
corner of Chancery lane.
AT this proclamation there will
be Il modification of the ancient
form, owing to the disappearance
of Temple Bar. Within the city
of London the lord mayor and
sheriffs preserve their ancient
sovereignty, and allow no ruler
within their gates except after
permission has been asked and
granted. The old form was for
the junior pursuivant to rap at
the gate and show his warrant
for proclamation Then the lord
mayor ordered the gates to be
opened, and joined in the stately
procession. The ceremony will
doubtless remain, barring the
knock at the gate, which does not
exist. In the provinces the proc
lamations are made by the local
mayors.
Being proclaimed and crowned
the king has to offer to fight for
his throne. In the olden times,
when king reigned by the power
of his right arm, this was a nee
essary formality, and because it
was necessary once it is done
still. But the king no longer
does his own fighting, He has a
champion the hereditary cham
pion of England, whose duty it is
to do battle with all comers for
the crown. The champion is al
ways member of the Dymoke
family. When the king is crown
ed this champion rides into West
minister hall, mounted and in full
armor, just as the champion was
800 years ago. He is accompani-
ed by the earl marshal and the
lord great chamberlain, also on
horseback. The hall is crowded
with ticketed sight-seers. A
proclamation is read by one of the
heralds, challenging anybody who
disputes the right of the sover-
eign to combat in an open space.
The champion throws down his
gauntlet as a guarantee of good
faith, and then the hearts of all
the ladies hutter in anticipation
of a fight. But it is all a disap-