The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-23
KING EDWARD VII.

casion on which she met the nobility and
mense popular enthusiasm. Miss Martin
eau's description is in eaustic vein. She
writes: From my high seat command
ed the whole north transept, the area
with the throne. and many portions OF
the galleries. and c the balconies which
were called vauItings. Except a mere
sprinkling of oddities, everybody was in
full dress. In the whole assemblage 1
counted six bonpets. The scarlet of the
military officers mixed IN well, and the
groups of the clergy were dignified. but
to an unaccustomed eye the prevalence OF
court dresses had q curious effect. l was
perpetually taking groups Of gentlemen
for Quakers, till l recollected myself. The
Earl Marshals assistants. called gold
sticks, looked well from above, lightly
fitting about in white Dreeches. silk
stockings, blue-faced frocks. and white
sashes. The throne, an armchair with a
round back, covered. as was its footstool,
with cloth of gold. stood on an elevation
of four steps. in the centre of the area.
The first peeress took her seat in the
north transept, opposite. at quarter
before noon. and three of the Bishops
came next. From that time the peers
and their ladies arrived faster and fast
err Each peeress vas conducted by two
gold-sticks. one of whom handed her to
her seat. and the other bore and arranged
her train on her lap. and saw that her
coronet, footstool, and book were COM
fortably placed.
Il never saw anywhere so remarkable
contrast between youth and age as in those
noble ladies'. None Of the decent differ
ences of dress which, according to middle
class customs. pertain to contrasting pc
RODS of life seem TO be admissible on these
grand court occasions. Old hays, with
their dyed and false hair drawn to the top
of the head, to allow putting on the coro-
net, had their necks and arms bare and
glittering with diamonds; and those necks
ard arms were so brown and wrinlded as
TO make one sick. or were busted over with
white powder. which was worse than what
il disguised. l saw something OF this from
my scat in the transept gallery, but much
more when the ceremonial was over, and
the peeresses were passing to their car
riages, or waiting for them. The younger
were as lovely as the aged were haggard.
One beautiful creature, with transcendent
complexion and form, and coils upon coils
of light hair, was terribly embarrassed
about her coronet. She had apparently
forgot that her hair must be disposed with
a view to it. and the large braids on the
back would in no way permit the coronet
to keep on. She and her neighbor tugged
vehemently at the braids, and at last the
thing was done after manner. but so as
to spoil the wonderful effect of the stimuli
taneous- self-coroneting OF all the peer
esses.ez.s.
About nine. the first glances of the
sun slanted into the Abbey. and present
" Travelled down TO he peeresses. ! had
never before seen tie full effect of dia-
monds. As the likhs travelled each peeress
shone like a rainbow. The brightness,
yastness, ard dream magnificence of the
scene produced { range effect Of ex-
haustion and sleep =ss About nine
o'clock, | felt this so dlsagreeably that
l determined to withdraw my senses from
the scene, in order to reserve my
strength for the ceremonial to come.
had carried book, and | read, and ate
a sandwich, leaning against my friendly
pillar, till felt refreshed The guns
told when the Queen set forth; and there
was unusual animation. The gold Sticks
fitted about; there was tuning In the Or
chestra; and the foreign ambassadors and
their suites arrived in quick succession
Prince Esterhazy crossing a bar OF sun
shine, was the most prodigious rainbow
Of all. Hes was covered with diamonds