New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-09
CORONATION STAGING.
POPULAR RATHER THAN PICTURESQUE
FEATURES OF THE MEDIEVAL FUNC-
TON TO BE REPRODUCED
IN JUNE.
London, March -.
IN JUNE.

Hume are l5DAIS ny -~--6--1A- 1890
The earliest forecasts Of the coronation De-
.,-a,a= = well ordered consecratio service in
The Abbey and a street pageant Of unrlvaAed
--sIi,sss and raagnifcence The details OF
,os+urning have indicated already gorgeous
f,nr1ior in the Abbey. with a color scherne OF
c-i-oson and white. with touches OF black anu
gold. There is an organized movement for pro-
-isinr an artistic and symmetrical decorative
environment for the coronation PROFESSIONS
--i-b Acadenlicians TO devise the ornamental
.ion Of the streets and with the borough nlunlcl-
ralities 10 charge the costs TO rate payers
-,e-e are also many suggestions for the revival
- ANTIQUE customs and the Introduction OF
picturesque features. The City Guilds are plan
;,z coronation balls and banquets in the spirit
= the oleen time: the bankers Of Lombard
e-reet are talking Of restoring for week the
ancient goldsmiths' and tavern signs and IL
Illuminating them in the evenings; and the ring
hospitality in offering dinners for haIt Illi4on
London subjects has been the signal Tor COM
nrebensive schemes Of public feasting and re-
iocing throughout England. Wales. ocotIanu
and Ulster The last coronation was esSehl1aIIS
9 romance. since the central figure was young
girl. uraccustoned 10 the pomp and glory OF
euopire and to the responsibilities OF power, and
saneaIing at once TO the home loving instincts
ava 10 the irnasinat3ons Of the nation The Ce-
tails az stage management and scenic enneeliisn-
-nent were less important then than they VIII De
next June.
IN the Middle Ages the coronation PROFESSIONS
from the Tower 10 the Abbey we're picturesque
pageants which delighted the masses. Nhen
Henry " habited il cloth OF gold and mounted
upon a white charger. rode in state to the Ao-
bev he was escorted by a cavaloade Of six thou
SAID horse-princes. MOBILES. knights and iVerled
guilds: and the streets through which he passed
harebead ed were hung with splendid tapestries.
and the fountains of Cheapside and the Strand
asre trimming with red white wine Nhen
Henry VII was crowned, his Queen, with yel-
low hair and a gorgeous mantle OF clotn OF goIo
Of dauask furred with ermine, reclneG on
litter under a magnificent canopy oorne oy
knights. while four peeresses rode oehlnd heI
On gray palfreys; and the streets were oeckeo
with costly hangings, and children nlasqueraol1l5
as winged angels sang as she passed. Some
times there were magnificent river carnlFaIs'
with long professions Of royal barges with silken
st-ear1ers and trumpeters and heralds gor-
eeousiv appareIIed: and not infreQuenuy the
symbolic features of the coronation service OF
royal conservation were portrayed in the streeIs'
as when virgins in white carried wax tapers
before royalty. or priests with silver crosses
censed the King, or Elizabeth received from
Truth, the daughter OF Time the open blole-
A modern coronation may be stately and mag
rlECelt, but the picturesque lSdAA1SS - 49,
medieval function cannot be effectively rivalleo-
When George III and Queen Charlotte were
crowned in September 1871, the ceremonial be-
gar and ended at the historic hall Of William
Rufus They were carried in their chairs across
ST Jarness Park from the palace 10 Nestrnln-
ster Hall, which had been transformed by the
construction Of three tiers Of galleries on each
side where spectators could survey the lorna
ton Of the procession and refresh themselves
from sideboard and cellar when the soverelgns
6ines in state after the coronation. The top
gallery was close TO the roof, and was support
ed by beams decorated at the ends with cheru-
him: and between the lowest gallery and the
central inclined floor were pantries and serving
rooms and tables for guests at the coronation
banquet Il was at the upper END OF the nan
that the King and Queen were seated in state
when the procession was ready 10 start, atler
delay Of two hours. puuctUality not being
royal virtue then II is now; and II was 10
the same raised platform that they returned
late in the afternoon. when the conservation ser
vice n the Abbey had ended. The hall was illu-
minated by ffty-two large chandeliers Tor the
feast, and opposite the royal table there vas
large balcony for organ. trumpets and Kettle
drums Between the first and second courses
the Kings champion, supported by two esqulres
and sergeants-at-arns, appeared 70 co battle 1or
him and the royal style was proclaimed three
times in Latin, French and English. al top II
the middle and at the bottom OF the hall. Be
tween other courses various functions were car
ried out with ceremonial dignity, and at the end
Of the banquet the honor Of knighthcod was con-
fe-red UPON courtiers and officials. When the
royal family and the nobility had retired from
the hall at 10 o'clock the doors were opened
and the mob in waiting rushed IN to pillage
what remained and 10 carry off souvenirs OF
tie coronation The ravages Of souvenir hunt
ers in America during Prince Henrys visit
merely marked the revival OF an old English
custom After the coronation banquet OF George
II a young blood who was brtmming over with
enthusiasm. fought his way 10 the royal TAME
and carried of the Queens claret glass and
the mob took away cloths, plates glass spoons
and anything that could stick 70 the fingers
A series Of dinners for half a million OF the
Kings poor subjects II London VIII take the
place Of this traditional revel at Westminster
Hall; and in like manner what was once short
circuit Of royal progress from Westminster Han
10 the Abbey is enlarged into route OF many
miles the day after the coronation Win
million spectators. On the coronation day OF
George III and Queen Charlotte platform hao
been constructed from the upper end OF west
minister Hall through New Palace yard, briose-
ST, Parliament-st- and King-st- TO the west en-
trance Of the gallery. This was the coronation
route before and after the Abbey service anu
along il the King and Queen passed IN slaCe
Win The court officials, pursuivants, heraios
ministers and ladies in waiting The buildings
and open spaces along the route were Aneo Win
searching and platforms. and the roao"dSs
We're occupied for hours by an uncontro44aoie
mob, which had been fighting over night loF
standing room. The procession as II maze Inc
Snort circuit Of platforms covered VIII piue
cloth and shaded by awnings was constantly
blocked in going and returning; ana the lo"h
show Was Witnessed nv rerhans thousano