Gilpin observer., 1902-08-14
WITH IMPOSING CEREMONIES
KING EDWARD VII. is CROWNED

| Queen was crowned, a fiutter Of ner-
vousness ran through their ranks and
coronets were pulled out and patted
and pinched into shape, their faces
hardened with anxiety and then all
their arms suddenly went up, and corO>
nets, large and small, were put in
place, some crooked and some straight.
| For the next five minutes the peer
esses disregarded what passed before
them; first one and then another turned
around for advice and help, and then
ensued q mutual pushing of each 9TH
er's coronets into place.
! No stage effect could have equaled
the climax that ensued the moment the
crown was placed upon King Edwards
head, the sudden illumination by hum
dreds Of electric lights making the
thousands of priceless Jewels, Including
those in the crown itself, to sparkle
with dazzling brilllancy.
| The instantaneous movement of the
peeresses, the placing Of their corOnets
upon their heads the choir's loud
God Save the King" with It's unhar-
monious yet genuine refrain from thou
sands Of male and female throats, con-
stituted such an outburst Of pent-up
thankfulness and rejoicing as even
Westminster abbey. with all its his
toric traditions, never before witnessed.
| Nearly 100 Americans must have wit
messed the ceremony in the abbey.
Among them were Mrs. Cushman Il.
Davis and Mrs Willard of Washington,
( Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Willard accom-
panying Sir John Agnew; Madame
| Waddington, who was Queen Alexan-
! dra's especially invited guest; Mrs.
, Battles, Mrs. Hartman Mrs. Post, Mrs.
Dudley Leigh, Miss Astor, Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Yerkes. Lady Barrymore
and Lady Michael Herbert.
| From s o'clock In the morning the
scenes outside the abbey grew gradu-
I, ally insplendor and color. The gorge
GUS preparations for the crowning GER
| emony reached their climax there, The
troops present were picked regiments
of the army, and the bands of music
| were the best the English barracks
could send out. In the background Of
this pageant was Westminster ABBEY.
SO transformed by decorations and
| stands that 1t was scarcely recogniZ-
able, and serried rows of gaily dressed
people rose In tiers of seats from the
roadway on each side to a great height
Near the west door of the abbey stood
double line of sailors In blue uni
| forms with white straw hats, making
block of color In the line Of troops.
Behind them, in a blaze of gold. the
band of the Royal Horse guards wait
ed for the King. Suddenly, in the
| midst Of this old-world pageantry, oc-
Cured an absolutely modern, unpre-
cedented incident
For the first time In any English cor
| onation, the troops saluted a motor
car. 1t was that Of the Duke of Con-
-r.k to- 80 80
London, making his final round Of in
spection to see that all was well. He
was recognized and loudly cheered.
While the King and Queen were in
St. Edwards chapel many of the peers
broke ranks and lined up along the ap-
proaches to the altar. The younger
members OF the nobility. some of them
being scarcely ten years of age, who
had previously been kept in the back
ground, then Joined their older rela-
tives. General Kitchener, with his
hands on the shoulders Of a little page,
was conspicuous among these.
The first to appear from the chapel
was the Queen. As she passed between
the ranks all the mobiles bowed low,
the Queen acknowledging their salu-
tatiOns. When her majesty reached
the nave some one shouted, Three
cheers for the Queen" and the old abb
hey rang with cheers as the Queen
slowly passed into the annex. men and
women rising from their seats and
shouting with as much good will as
any Of the crowd in the streets.
Nearly ten minutes later the King
entered from the chapel. still wearing
the crown and carrying the scepter and
rod. As the King passed the chancel
arch those in the body of the abbey
commenced to cheer. The sound grew
in volume. and bishops and priests,
peers and peeresses. generals, admir-
ais and diplomats. the whole vast
throng. rose and lurrahed at the top
of their voices. Until the last man
in the procession had disappeared In
the annex the cheering was continued
The King bowed and smiled. evidently
delighted with his reception and then
the organ and orchestra played God
Save the King"
The departure OF the King and
Queen from the abbey was signaled by
another salute. the massed bands play
ing God Save the King" The entire
route of their majesties' return to the
palace was marked by scenes OF en-
thusiasm similar TO those which greet
ed their progress to the abbey. the
more clrcuitous route through Club
land and Constitution Hill giving the
hundreds of thousands of persons oc-
cupying stands. windows and roofs an
opportunity of greeting the new
crowned King and his consort before
they re-entered Buckingham palace,
which they did In the midst of remark
able scenes of enthusiasm, the entire
crowd from Constitution Hill down.
wards Joining In the singing Of the
national anthem.
Shortly after the return of the King
and Queen TO the palace 1t was off,
cially announced from there that the
King had borne the ceremony well and
that he had suffered In no way from
fatigue. and this was confirmed by the