The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-16
OPENED BY EDWARD.
Picturesque Beginning of the Par
liamentary Session.
HISTORIC DRESSES AND FORMS
Speech From the Throne Not Marked
by Especially Important ~
Utterances.

.Aohuou, jail. 1o.-hluS LuWdiu opeueo
parliament to-day with ceremonial in
allY,essentia1- respects similar to that of
February last. The procession to the house
OF lords was Of the same character as that
witnessed on the occasion of the opening
of the first parliament Of King Edward S
reign, while within the upper house were
seen the same state pageantry, the same
historic dresses and the same revival Of
ancient FORMS, After robing King Ed
ward and Queen Alexandra entered the
house of peers and occupied their thrones
beneath canopy, with the Prince and
Princess Of Wales on either side of them.
The other members of the royal family
were seated on chaiTs at the foot of the
steps leading to the throne.
The gentleman usher of the Black Rod,
General Sir Michael Biddulph, having sum-
moned the speaker and the members of
the house Of commons, his majesty read
the speech from the throne. = ~, .-- 49,
What the King Said.
The speech was not an important utter
ance. His majesty referred in terms of
qualification to the world tour of the
Prince and Princess of Wales, expressed
regret at the fact that the war in South
Africa was not concluded, said he trusted
the decision Of the sugar conference
would lead to the abandonment of bounties
and noted the conclusion of the isthmian
canal treaty.
Contrary to expectations, the king 8
the statements on the subject made in the
last half dozen messages from the throne!
He said: So
I regret that the war in South Africa is not
yet concluded, though the course of the opera
tons has been favorable to our arms, the area
of war largely reduced and industries are be-
ing resumed in my new colonies. In spite of
the tedious character of the campaign, my
soldiers throughout have displayed a cheer
fulness in the endurance Of the hardships in
cident to Guerrilla warfare and humanity,
even to their own detriment. In their treat
ment of the enemy, which are deserving OF
the highest praise The necessity for reliev-
ing those of my troops who have most felt
the strain Of war has afforded me the oppor-
tunity Of again awaiting myself of the loyal
and patriotic offers of my colonies, and fur
Their contingents will shortly reach South
Africa from the Dominion of Canada and
commonwealth of Australia and New Zealand.
After announcing that the estimates
have ''been framed as economically as
due regard for their efficiency renders
possible in the special circumstances of
the present exigency,' the speech con-
cluded with mentioning proposed legisla-
tion of solely domestic intent with the
exception of a bill to facilitate the sale
and purchase Of land in Ireland.
Their majesties then retired amid a
fanfare of trumpets and attended by the
same regal ceremony as accompanied their
entry into the house.
Little Work for Police.
The crowds which lined the route from
Buckingham palace to Westminster to
view the procession were not nearly SO
large as on the occasion of the last open
ing of parliament. Guardsmen, assisted
by hundreds Of police. kept the spectators
back, but they had little to do. Only a
few attempts at decoration were visible.
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.
asttcally. Ashley sat in the great state
coach whose gilded pinnacle brushed the
boughs of the trees in the green park,
King Edward and Queen Alexandra looked
for all the world like a flattering painting
of Henry VII and one of the better look
ing spouses. They bowed somewhat
wildly from their huge gold and glass
frame, which shook and reeled on its
ancient springs like ship in storm.
The king and queen both looked extremely
we'll, but her majesty appeared to be in
especially good health.
What with, the two central figures so
easily seen and SO gorgeously clad and
the brilliant escort of life guards whose
bands kept constantly playing, the public
were rewarded for the long, cold wait by
spectacle OF considerable interest,
though so far as unrestrained public en-
thusiasm was concerned, it was nothing
to what occurred earlier in the day when
the guards achievements left their bar
racks en- route to South Africa. The
guardsmen tramped through the dark
streets of the metropolis at s O'Clock in
the morning, accompanied by an uproarious
mob Of civilian friends singing songs to
accompaniment Of the band. The songs
and music, however. did not drown the
crying of women, who chung to the necks
and arms of almost every man of the con-
tingent.