The Portland daily press., 1901-02-15
King Edward Officiatts For The
First Time.
His Speech To Parlia-
ment Read.
The Guerilla Warfare OF The
Beers Regretted.

London, Feb. IA The opening OF the
first parliament Of the new reign wit
messed the usual competition on the part
OF membe of tns House Of Commons to
secure ssats. Despite the Arctic weather
the members stols mp to the doors OF Par
lament House shortly after midnight.
j. II. Jonnstone, Conservative, member
for the northwest or Horsham division OF
Susssx, having the place of honor at the
head Of the line. BY daybreAk SCORE OF
members had Assem- bled, and after that
time the arrivals were In rapid succession
At 10. 30 O'Clock detachment of yeo-
men OF the guard from the tower In their
quaint uniforms and carrying halberds,
arrived ana conducted the customary
search of the vaults for imaginary con-
spirators, with the usual result.
shortly nfterward troops marched up
and lined the entire route. Traffic was
stopped, and the GRO 1ds were driven be-
hin1 the lines OF soldiers and police.
The first Parliament of the reign Of
King Edward VII. was opsned this after
noon by the King in person. His Majesty
was accompanied by Queen Alexandra.
the Duke Of York and Cornwall, the Duke
of Connaught and many others Of the
royal fami Iy.
Tne last state ceremony OF the kind oc-
CURED In 1851, when Queen Victoria
opaned Parliament, accompanied by the
Prince Consort. Since the death OF the
Priuoe Consort nothing equal to today's
romp has been witnessed In London In
connsotIon with tbs opening of the legis-
latuIe.
Not since ths wedding OF this then
Prince OF Wales and Princess Alexandra
OF Denmark has the gorgeous state coach
used Today been seen In the streets OF the
capital. In this coach today the King
aud Queen rode from Buckingham pal
ace to the paIane OF Westminster.
The route OF the royal party, which lay
through the Mall, the Horse Guards Pa
rads, whitehall and Parliament street.
was guarded by s0O0 soldiers. Thousands
of Londonsrs packed So. james park,
bcrdered the route of the procession and
filled windows, stands and roofs. The
cortege was short, but spectacular. The
royal onaoh drawn by eight famous cream
colored Hanoverians. with position in red
and gold nvsrles and fOotmen leading
the horses, which were covered with
trappings of morocco and gilt, was p'eoed-
ed and followed by lifsguards in full uni
form, with silver breast plates and plumed
helmets. ana a small escort of gentlemen
at arms, In historic costumes, immedi-
ateIy surrounded ths vehicle.
Five carriages OF state containing uni
formed officials and ladies' of the house.
hold, each drawn by six horses, with pos
tilions and outriuers, led the procession.
Next came the massive state chariot,
the occupants of which oonld be plninly
seen through the plate glass windows.
the King, who was In full uniform salut-
ing constantly and the Queen bowling on
all sides.
st. James park was densely pack ed.
the long steps below Carlton house ter
race were solid mass of people. The
procession moved through a sea OF heads
and q continuous glitter OF red and gilt.
In the meantime. the horse guards.
with two mounted hands, armed and
to the principal gate. The members of
the royal family drove out In plain two
horse coaches with two footmen In scarlet
oloaks on the box, half and hour he fore
the procession formed. When the six
horse coaches, carrying the household
appeared, the horse guards mounted
bands struck up"God Save the King, 1.-THE
people uncovered, the state coach rolled
out of the arohway in the centre OF the
palace and was greeted with a roar of
cheering,
The heroes OF the crowd were the mem
bers OF Strathcona's horse Canadian
volunteers, just returned from South
Africa. They aiighted in front of the
palace and marched down the line to a
position short distance from the palace
y here they wers drawn mp while the pro-
oession passed. The King saluted them
most cordially and the people cheered
them repeatedly.
From Buckingham palace to the House
Of Lords, the procession proceeded with
out o hitch at a walking pace.
The approaches to the houses of parlia-
ment were black with people who were
kept IN their places by Irish ana SCOTS
guards.
The King and Queen quickly got out
OF the state carriage, which came to a
stand still at the royal entrance beneath
the Victoria tower and went up the
marble stairway into the robing room
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