The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-03

duties which are picturesque in their eff
feet and ancient in their significance. It
is delegated to young woman, who,
with a coterie Of assistants chosen by
herself, heads the royal procession as it
enters Westminster Abbey, strewing
herbs and flowers in the path of the
sovereign.
The form of the invitation to be present
at the coronation sent by Queen Victor a
to all dukes, read: Fright trusted and
right entirely beloved cousin-We greet
you well and command you to appear"
etc. "All excuses apart
The wording of the homage paid by all
spiritual peers on coming to the throne
is as follows: 81, Bishop Of -, will be
faithful and true, and faith and truth
will bear unto you, our sovereign king,
and your heirs, kings and queens of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, and 1 will and do acknowledge
the service of the lands which I hold Of
you as in right Of the church" The
sovereign's hand is kissed and the crown
is touched in token of loyal devotion as
this oath is repeated: 81, of - do be-
come your liegeman of life and limb, and
of earthly worship, and faith and truth
l VIII bear unto you, to live and die
age . all manner of folks So help me
Coo
IVY ILllSB WIlCA Is DldCeu on LH6
fourth finger Of the sovereign's hand Is
among the crown jewels. Legend has It
that the coronation ring worn by Edward
the ConfesSor was one which, years be-
fore, he had given to an old man who had
asked aims of him. Two EngIishmen
who were in the Holy Land years after
ward inquired their way of an old man,
who, after giving them the directions
they wanted. and having learned that
fbpyr rcrIfc
them ruby ring to be returned to the
King Of England. The recipient and re-
turner of the ring, according to the le-
gend, was st. John the Evangelist The
ring used IL the coronations is newly
made for each sovereign, and is called the
wedding ring Of England Commonly
it has been a plain gold band in which is
set large table ruby with the cross Of
st. George engraved on it; but tie one
made for Victoria was set with rubies,
surrounded by diamonds. The Offering
made by Victoria on the occasion of her
coronation was pail composed of ten
yards of gold barred. gold frosted flower
cd brocade. lined with rich sarsenet and
with deep gold fringe. The queen pre-
scented this offering kneeling at the altar
steps. the Lord Chamberlain having car
ried it until then.
These are some of the ceremonials and
features OF the coronation which were ex-
tant at the succession Of Queen Victoria,
and many. IL not most of them are like
ly to be introduced at the coronation Of
her son, unless King Edward VII. I'M
dertakes to fly in the face of tradition. It
is not to be supposed, of course, that
tradition is as strong today in Eng
land as 1t was two centuries ago.
Speaking of the strength of custom as
expressed III certain forms of court eti-
qUette, recalls a story of Queen Cath
arine. the wife Of Charles II According
to this story, on certain public occasion
Catharine had the misfortune TO fall from
her horse. Her foot caught in the stirrup,
and the result was that she was sus-
pended in an inverted position for sew
eral minutes, and, in the presence Of
forty-three attendants, not one Of whom
dared TO come to her relief, because that
was the business Of the grand equerry,
who happened to be elsewhere at thu
moment. How long her royal highness
might have remained suspended no one
can tell, but an uninstructed passerby
saw her predicaTnent and took 1t upon
himself to release her. He was given
several doubloons for his kindness. and
then condemned to Punishment for his
indiscreton.