El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-17
THE QUEEN
is CROWNED
WITH THE MOST ELABORATE
CEREMONIES AT THE OPERA
HOUSE LAST NIGHT.
The Work of the Chorus Showed
Careful Drill, and the Music Was
Excellent-The Columbia Drill By
School Girls Was Especially Fine.

Ef PaSO, the queen city Oh the Soutn-
west. outdid herself last night in the
coronation of the lovely Miss Claire
Kelly. queen of the Midwinter Carni-
val
Never was a spectacle more gorgeous
or brilliant beheld in this part of the
United States than was witnessed by
the eager throng that filled the opera
house from pit to dome. to see the jew
eIled crown pressed upon the fair
brows of a beautiful young Ell Paso
maiden by the distinguished chief exec
utiye of the state of Chihuahua, Mex
leo, who came here as the guest of the
Carnival committee to have new honors
thrust upon him.
Long before the hour appointed for
the commencement of the coronation
ceremonies people began f1ocking to the
opera house and many had to be turned
away. as it had been decided to admit
only the seating capacity of the house
for reasons best known to Uncle John
Julian, the chief of police and others,
whose duty it is to guard the welfare
of the inhabitants.
The preliminary entertainment pre-
ceding the coronation won the APPROX
al of the vast audience. and individuals
who participated were encored time
and again. Impatience. however, was
manifested to witness the actual fea-
ture of the evening, the coronation,
which came last on the program.
1t is doubted if ever in the history of
such events a more unique spectacle
was presented to the populace than last
night when a ruler from foreign land
was given the distinguished honor of
crowning a charming American girl as
queen.
The coronation ceremonial came last.
The curtain rose on high throne sur
rounded by fierce looking armed guards
and many little girls each dressed as
Columbia forming a semi-circle about
the stage. The members of the grand
chorus surrounded these.
While the air vibrated with song, |
her pathway strewn with flowers, the |
stately queen in her rich white robes |
and crimson mantle came in and |
mounted the steps to the throne. The |
royal crown bearer preceded her. She |
sat and her robes fell back, disclosing
snowy bosom and shoulders, a dazzling
array of jewels, and gown that would
have been a credit to the Empress JOS
ephine.
Next came the learned prime minis |
ter with his long black cloak, buttoned
to his chin. He took seat near the |
throne. Then came the maids of honor, |
the prettiest girls of Ell Paso and Juar-
ez. gowned like princesses and with the |
carriage of queens. They bowed low
before her majesty and ranged them
selves before the throne.
The master of ceremonies next made |
his appearance; freed by the Gods he
was permitted to look upon the face of |
his ideal. He delivered an address,
teeming with ideas familiar to those
who dwell on the Rio Grande border
and ended by designating Governor
Miguel Ahumada, of the state of Chi
huahua, Mexico, the friend of Ell Paso
and Juarez as having been chosen for
the rare distinction of browning the
sovereign.
Governor Ahumada accepted the
honor gracefully. He made brief
speech, and mounting the stairway to
the throne pressed the glittering crown
upon the head of the queen. He re-
tired and the prime minister read the
first message from the throne
The first edict issued by her majesty
was read by the same high courtier.
She ordered that Governor Ahumada
be made knight of her kingdom and
conferred upon him badge of Office
in the shape of a silver mounted Car
nival souvenir button.
The governor arose and bowed his
acknowledgment of the graceful COM
pliment.
Another song; the queen arose in all
her splendor; the dazzlingly beautiful
maids of honor resplendent in glitter
ing jewels and gowns of richest fab
ris. turned themselves about; the little
Columbias sang and sang and the
at attention.
Then the curtain fell
The Program
The curtain went up for the first
part with the large chorus represent
ing scene from the comic opera Eel .
Captain" the music being rendered by {
Milton Speer and the splendidIy drilled /,
chorus. II
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