The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-01-24
THE ANCIENT FORMS AND CEREMONIES
AGAIN OBSERVED.
THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
After Robing, the King and Queen
Enter the House of Lords and are
Seated Upon the hrone-The
~'Black Rod summons the Com
m~oners-The King Reads His
Speech which Contains No Matter
of Importance-An Unusual Incl
dent.

opened parliament TODAY with a cere-
monial In all essential respects similar
to that of February last. The procession
to the house of lords was of the same
character as that witnessed on the occa-l
sion of the opening Of the first pHriia-l
ment of King Edwards reign, while
within the upper house were seen theI
same state pageant, the same historic
dresses and the same revival Of ancient
forms.
After robing. King Edward and Queen
Alexandra entered the house of peers
and occupied their thrones, beneath al
canopy. with the prince and princess of
Wales on either side of them. The
other members of the royal family were
seated on chairs at the foot of the steps
~lsading to the throne.
1.-THE gentleman usher Of the black rod,
Sir Michael Biddulph, having sum-
moned the speaker and the members of
the house of commons. his majesty read
the speech from the throne.
The speech was not an important ut
erance. His majesty referred in terms
of qualification to the world tour of the
prince and princess of Wales.
Contrary to expectations. the kings
reference TO the war was just as indef-
mite as the statements on the subject
made in the last half dozen messages
from the throne.
II regret" aid his majesty, that the
war in South Africa is not vet conclud-I
ed. though the course Of the operations
has been favorable to our arms. the
area of war largely reduced n indus-I
tries are being resumed in my new Colo
MES. In spite of the tedious character
of the campaign, my soldiers through
out have displayed a cheerfulness in theI
endurance of the hardships incident to-
guerilla warfare. n a humanity, event
to their own detriment, in their treat
ment of the enemy. which are deserving
OF the highest praise. The necessity for
relieving those of nv troops who have
most felt the strain of war has afford
ed me the opportunity of again awaiting
myself of the loyal and patriotic offers
OF my olonies and further contingentsl
will shortly reach South Africa from
the Dominion of Canada n the Conn.,
monwealth of Australia and New Zea-l
land"
In regard to the sugar conference. the
speech says: II trust its decision may
lead to the abandonment Of the system
by which the sugar producing colonie:
dLlu III VI SNcOA A~'
been Unfairly weighted in the prosecu-I
ton of this important industry.
Then came the following clause: Il
have concluded with the president or the
United States. a treaty. the provisions
OF which will facilitate the construction
of an i-nter-oceanic canal under guaran-
tees that it's neutrality will be main
tanned and that it will be open to the
and shipping of all nations.
After announcing that the estimates
have "been framed as economically as
due regard for their efficiency rendeiSI
possible in the special circumstances OF
the present exigency," the speech con-
cluded with mentioning proposed legis-I
iation. of solely domestic interest. with
the exception of a bill to facilitate Inc
sale and purchase Of land in Ireland.
Their maiesties then retired amid a
fanfare of trumpets. n attended BY
the same regal ceremony as accompa-
MED their entry into the house
The crowds which ned the route
from buckingham palace to Westmr1e
ter. to view the procession. were not
nearly so large as on the occasion OF tne
last opening of parliament. For once
royalty was late. and when the KING
and Queen drove out from the court
yard in front Of Buckingham palace
they were twenty minutes behind time
and King Edward was still struggling
with an unruly glove.
Their majesties were greeted enthust-
astically. AS they sat in the great state
coach. whose gilded pinnacle brushed
the boughs of the trees in the Green
park, King Edward and Queen AleNan-
dra looked for all the world like a hat
tering painting of Henry VIII. and one
of his better looking spouses. They
bowed somewhat wildly from their huge
gold and glass frame which shook and
reeled on its ancient springs, Xix a snip
in a storm.
The only departure from the extreme
ly decorous character of the proceed
ings occurred when the king referred to
the humanity of the British troops IN
South Africa. This led to an unprece-
dented scene in the house OF lords.
Peers and peeresses and high OFF,
GERS of state broke out into a prolong-
ed cheer. which was repeated again and
again. to the evident satisfaction OF his
majesty, but to the apparent dismay OF
the officials of the house whose signal
ed deprecations of this departure from
ancient traditions were Intellectual to
stop the outburst OF enthusiasm.