New-York tribune., 1901-02-15
KING OPENS PARLIAMENT
HE AND QUEEN ALEXANDRA
RIDE IN CHARIOT OF STATE.
SPEECH FROM THRONE IN HOUSE OF
IORDS-MANY SPECTATORS OF
STREET PAGEANT.
Copyright. 1901. BY The New-York Tribune
Inv 4 All Y 10 LIE TRrPr-,-r

rondon Feb. 15 ] a. rn-The chariot Of George
III and the Kings robe We're the chief features
n, Yesterdays pageant and tabeau, and each
lent color 10 what would otherwise have been a
sombre spectacle The gorgeous car Of state
had been regilded without and refined with red
silk and the braces held by gilt buckles had been
stiTened that the occupants were protected
against tie swaying motion, and the spectators
were not reminded of the fate of DR.. Oliver Wen
dell Holiness ''One Horse Shay" Towering high
above the bearskins Of the soldiers lining the
route from Buckingham Palace 10 Westminster.
II could he from the outer edge OF the
crowis on the Mall and Whitehall. and there
was hoarse roar Of applause from thousands
Of throats il passed. The symbolism Of the
huge palm trees branching out to support the
roof was not well suited 10 time, but the
lions heads at the corners and the crown upheld
BY three gilded youths. armed with sceptre and
sword and insignia OF knighthood and four
Tritons underneath blowing conches with puffed
cheeks and representing Britannia, Ruler OF the
Waves. more appropriate.
The royal chariot was well horsed With cream
colored Hanoverians with purple and gold har-
ness trappings. The scarlet lveries of the pos
tliors. footmen and driver We're more gorgeous
than anything ever seen in Drury Lane under
the limelight. The in scarlet. holding the
reins from a seat covered with a hAnmercloth
onamented with gold bullion, impress
sive that the glory Of royalty within the coach
was well nigh eclipsed. The cavalcade
headed by an escort OF Life Guards riding slowly
through thA- line of FIVE thousand Foot Guards.
-Four royal carriages drawn by bay horses and
one behind splendid blacks followed the escort.
with score OF court functionaries. The King
and Queen came next i'm the heavily gilded
chariot and the file Of the Yeomen Guard, in
qE int medieval uniform. was behind, with
San A hol mas Cd in
the passage from the Palace TO Victoria Tower
and the King and Queen were cheered all along
the line with great hesrtness. There were few
decorations. the immense American flag screen
ing the terrace Of the American Ambassadors
residence being more conspicuous than anything
else There few episodes. the arrival Of a
detachment Of Strathcona's Horse from the
ship in three wagons at Buckingham Palace
while the hands playing Marching 10 Pre-
toris." being the most interesting one
The King was received al Victoria To yer by
the great officers OF state. and conducted 10 the
robing room. where his gorgeous Parliamentary
robe OF crimson velvet. lined with ermine was
put on. The Queen was also srrayed in a rich
robe. lined with ermine and looked pale. but
handsome. The processiol headed by pur-
suvants. heralds. equerries and srooms. passed
through the long corridor under the eyes Of the
privileged spectators and with all the properties
sword Of state and cap Of maintenance. swept
into the House OF Lords. where three hundred
peeresses awaited it.
The tableaa had not been rehearsed and the
Earl Marshal was fidgeting lest somebody should
get into the wrong corner. and violate the ira
ditions OF the College OF Heralds but the King
and Queen took their throne chairs naturally
as though they had always beer in them. and
the Lord Privy Seal and the Lord Chancellor
stood az the right and left. and the group Of
thirty or forty Court officials. in uniforms and
full dress, was formed. A dozen or more mem
bers OF the royal family We're already in their
places on either side Of the throne and the house
YVES filed with peeresses in black evening dress
peers in scarlet robes, Ambassadors in fun uni
forms. judges In wigs and gowns and few
privileged spectators.
The scene was stately. but sombre. owing 10
the prevailing tone Of black, and IL not until
the royal robes were seen and the tahleau of
Court functionaries was formed that there was
really a brilliant effect The Black Rod brought
in the Speaker. with fifty or more Commoners.
looking red faced and out Of temper. from the
disorderly scenes in the corridor. and the Kings
speech was read in a clear voice with command
ing dignity.
No forecast ~ Il had been published. but il
contained no surprises. The references 70 the
6eath OF the Queen, the war in South Africa,
the China settlement the Duke OF CT rnwalfs
visit 70 Australia and Canada. the rebellion In
Ashantee and the Indian drouth followed one
another naturally enough, and the expected
declaration placing the he.editsry revenues OF
the Crown at the disposal Of Parliament in re-
turn for the Civil List was made. The legis-
lstive programme outlined for the session was
meagre and without interest.
When the speech had ended. the Commoners
retired The Earl Marshal set his pursuiVahts
heralds yeomanry OF the guard and various per-
formers in notion and the royalties and ofnclals
were conducted in state 10 Victoria Tower for
the second triumphal progress through White
hall and the Mall. The peeresses' matinee had
ended and the gilded pageant in the streets.
with It's glittering splendors and air OF melo-
drama was repeated
The renewed cheering of the vast mulutudes
atfested the popularity of the show. but there
an undertone Of quiet criticism among the
more thoughtful spectators. who considered the
transition from the Queens funeral 20 the King S
spectacular progress too sudden. and would have
preferred seni-state to fun state, and a less
gorgeous chariot than that Of George III
This morning protest is made by the thirty
Catholic peers Including the Duke Of Norfolk,
against the solemn declaration made yesterday
by the King in the House Of Lords OF his dis
belief in the doctrines Of the Roman Catholic
Church. The tone of the oath. which was pre-
scribed by the act passed in the reign Of Charles
II. Is distinctly provocative. The King declares
that ne believes that in the Sacrament Of the
Lords Supper there is not any transubstantia-
ton OF the elements OF the bread and wine into
the body and blood OF Christ AZ or after the
Conservation thereof by any person whatever.
and that the invocation alteration OF the
Virgin Mary any other saint and the sacri-
90 he cad an ~