New-York tribune., 1901-01-25
LONDON'S ANCIENT SHOW
QUAINT RATHER THAN BRILLIANT
DISAPPOINTED SPECTATORS.
ccoDyrsht; 1901; BY The New-York rriOune.,

several thousand soldiers lining the roadway
from st. James's Palace to the Griffin but It
a quaint ceremonial rather than brilliant and
picturesque spectacle. Either because the plans
of the Earl Marshal were confused because
there was a deliberate desire to prevent the
assembIage of unmanageable crowds. there was
uncertainty respecting the time when the
heralds, pursuivants and trumpeters would
make their pilgrimage to the City. and thousands
Of belated spectators waited for hours for
ceremony which had already been enacted
The small quadrangle which is the scene daily
of guard mounting could be seen from the win
dows and terraces of~Marlborough House. and
the King. if he had chosen to do so. might have
witnessed the spectacle. He did not appear in
the window behind the balcony where the young
Queen stood in 1887 at the corresponding scene
of her own accession. The balcony was filed.
however. with privileged spectators, among
whom were two Americans-Henry White and
Mrs. Harcourt. daughter of Walter Burns The
Duke of Norfolk. Earl Marshal, in a scarlet
uniform, most conspicuous among the Court
functiOnaries on the balcony. and in the quad
rangle below it Earl Roberts was the central
figure of the Headquarters Staff behind tina
guard of honor. The Cfrenadiers big drum major
was more impressive. but the little Field Mar
shall attracted more attention The Kings color
in the middle, with long Grape streamer.
and the drums of the band were muffied with
black covers
The ceremony such as it was. followed the last
stroke of Big Ben at o'clock The mace
bearers. with glitJering uniforms. appeared, and
four heralds in gorgeous hveries sounded
trumpets. The Deputy Garter unrolled pareh-
ment and read the proclamation in a resonant
voice. shouting at the end. God save the King!'
There was a second flourish of trUmpets. the
color was dropped. the Cirenadiers presented
arms Earl Roberts saluted the standard and the
band played the national anthem The crowd
| Of spectators. sObered by the thought that the
| missing word of that anthem had been sup
| Piled cheered hoarsely. and the ceremony was
! closed with a fanfare Of trumpets-
The officials of the College Of HeraIds. with
mace bearers pursuivants and heralds. instead OF
mounting their horses according 10 the time hon
, ored custom. bundled themselves into four car
riages and, with an escort of mounted police and
Horse Guards. started down Pail Mall. The Earl
Marshal was ILL., and needed to spare himself un-
necessary exposure. but the spectators were dis
appointed in not seeing the Rouge Dragon, the
Rouge Croix Blue Mantle and heralds and mace
bearers properly mounted. 1t had been expected
that the cavacade would halt at Charing Cross.
but il went on rapidly over the rough Strand
10 the Griffin. where the Lord Mayor and
Sheriffs were waiting Strangely enough, the
last time when a medieval mummery of this
kind was enacted was in Dublin. when the aged
Queen passed through the picturesque. castel-
lated gateway designed by a clever scene painter
connected with the Irish theatres Challenges
were then made and answered with dramatic
realism by the warders at the gate and the
King-of-Arms. but yesterdays masquerade on
the site of Temple Bar was dull and empty.
There was flourish Of trumpets and a feeble
parley between two fantastic knights. and the
proclamation was read The civic dignitar1es
made loyal answer and the national anthem
was played by the band
The proclamation was read a third time IN
front of the Royal Exchange. where God Save
the King" was heartily sung. and after the
Kings health had been drunk at the Mansion
House the carriages with their military escort
returned TO Pail Mall The streets were lined
with troops and police. but the crowds were no
where large or demonstrative- The show had
come at least an hour before it had been ex-
pected-
Meanwhile the bewiIdered throngs Of specta-
tors who had missed the first proclamation
scene had remained until after IL o'clock around
Marlborough House and in the Mall watching
the files of Horse Guards and Grenadiers at the
approaches to St. James's Palace and the move
ment of carriages up and down Pail Mall 1t
was a decorOus and sOmbre crowd, with nluttied
voices and signs of mourning in hatbands and
on sleeves. Once il found it's voice. when a little
man with a gray mustache walked down the
roadway toward the entrance of Marlborough
House 'Bobs' must have his cheer whether
there was Queen or King on the throne. and il
was a great. hearty shout. caught up from
group 10 group. while the soldiers presented
arms, and it was repeated with renewed vigOr
when he reappeared from the incIosure and
strolled on toward the War Office. other ia
miIiar figures went in and out almost without
observation. Arthur BalfOur passed in with
serious face and detected air. and the Arch
bishop of York who five minutes too late
for the meeting OF the Council on the previous
day and shared the fate of the five foolish vir-
gins. shambled down Pail Mall in humility. with
an alert bishop a his heels.
The military lines were formed and reformed
and mounted messengers gaIloped up and down.
Before IL o'clock there was a brief glimpse OF
Life Guards with their nodding red plumes and
glittering uniforms. and behind them were car
riages with heraIds and mace bearers returning
from the City.
| The days show was apparently over but the
spectators remained with persistent patience.
/ at last a small escort Of fifteen Life Guards
| rode through the gateway of Marlborough
| House and after short interval returned with
| the King seated IN an open carriage, drawn by
/ a pair of bay horses. At once the spectators
took fire. and swinging their hats greeted him
/ with a mighty shout. He was without uniform
and in the deepest mourning, and he seemed
deeply affected by the first popular greeting arter
his proclamation He bowed repeatedly with