The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-31
OLD FATHER THAMES
Bore His Part in Every Eng
Iish Function.
HE is IGNORED THIS TIME
Will Have No Part in the
Coming Ceremonies

In the muttering hush of defeat and
regret which fell over a sunlit London
just before coronation day, it seemed
that the whole great city bore its part.
Yet. amid the scattering OF royal guests
the dismantling of expectant thorough
fares, is it too fantastic ito remember
one unnoted, historic witness and one
highway unfurrowed of pageantry? Does
not Father Thames, as he draws his
slow tides past Northumberland wait
ing it's latest hour of splendor-murmur
a sardonic comment on the thwarted
festival which would have foregone him.
1t is to be feared that, even when the
interrupted rite is consummated, Lon
don's mighty river viii be left to a sui
len reverie and a resentful recollection
Of vanished pomp. For none can ques-
ton. none who knows his moods of
brooding shadow and steel edged light,
that he does not remember and resent
In the old days Father Thames bore his
part right nobly in every scene OF ma
tional rejoicing. but today he flows I'M
regarded, except indeed by here and
there a poet who sees
Our river and all his dreams
His dreams that never save in our
deaths can die
Far and far away indeed seems Spen-
GERS "silver streaming Thames of
peaceful memory, far away the stream
where swans could float undefiled. In
the reign of King Henry VII. an act OF
parliament was passed that mo person,
of what condition or degree he be, shall
take any swans egg out of the nest
along the banks and in Elizabeth's
time we hear of swans before Whitehall.
1t is only TO wistful fancy now that one
of their white feathers can drift down
the turbid current. But what of other
freightage of the river, passed as sure
~ as the swans feather of three CEN
turtles ago? Peace is being celebrated.
and the returning army welcomed in
London now, but Father Thames has no
barges and no pageants to show his
share of the rejoicings, and the civic and
sovereign splendors will cast but scant
reflection on the waters which have mir
rored the triumph and downfall of roy
atty. 1t is a pity, surely, that the old
stream should be unhonored. A great
water procession would have been +,
more significant and effective spectacle
than any which the streets can furnish
and would have linked the ceremonies
of theday with the dramas OF the past
For brick and stone offer but transitory
landmarks, houses unbuild themselves,
streets are obliterated, and their very
sites come TO be matters of doubt. But
the Thames draws its unbroken current
of memories from the times when the
Roman legionaries passed up the water
and when Dane and Saxon
fought on it's banks.
What has come to Merrie England and
its instinct for symbolic splendors. Did
the Puritan domination change its mood?
Scarcely that, since it was followed by
the reactionary brilliance of the restora-
ton; possibly it was the coming of the
Hanoverian dynasty. which. whatever
its solid advantages. brought no gain Of
romance. England can still be magnifi-
cent as suits with her imperial destinies,
but she has forgotten the fanciful CON-
ceits and graceful imagery of earlier fes-
rivals of the triumphal arches and float
ing palaces as fun OF involved allegory
as a canto of the "Faerie Queen" OF the
Mosques in the production Of which
Ben Jonson We'd with Francis Bacon. A
great war is just ended and a new SOW
areigr comes to his own in the hour or
restored peace, but we seek in vain any
II. on his progress, when an arch figured !
Crown of fire on her head, a bloody !
sword In one hand; Confusion IN gar
nent Of III matched colors. on her head I
'uins of castles" Another was erected /
rear Cornhill. IMPLYING England's naval (
power. Among other symbolic figures !
vas a Person representing the River 1
Thames; his garment loose and flowing. |
Colour blew and white. waved like water. /
mantle over like A sail. His head |
.rowned with London Bridge. Flags and I
)zier like long hair falling over his /
houlders. his beard long. sea-green and /
White, curied: an Oar in his Right Hand, I
he Model or a Ship in his Left"
The Thames again. the honor and 1
'eauty OF this whole island" as old Stow
ais il. There are worse fashions Of
Wasting an hour than by leaning on the
larapet of one Of its bridges O.ondon
Bridge for choice, even though IL be a
modern substitute for the historic struct-
re). trying 10 summon up something Of
he phantom procession II has known
here is so little that can be gathered
y by such random musing. the merest
Of memory where all the ar
osies OF the past have sailed. ROYAL
Z
names was not always neglected b MS
overeigns. There. for ore. IS Richard
l., the hapless DO king. who was net or
he river by the poet Cover. as that old
niger tells:
IN the Thames when twas bowing
As boat came rowing.
So as Fortune her time set
Ny Hege lord perchance 1 met
A friendly memory for the river. that
reeting Of sovereign and poet Cover
Ieeps now within sound of the flowing
tresun. IN the beautiful church 81 s.
aviours. where his quaint efsey repos-
s. the head or a Pile q books. There
-ere less kindly encounters in store for
Ing Richard. when Fortune her time
e." and his rule was but fugitive. de-
1ite the unsurpassed ponp % MS coro-
alton. the stately details % Which may
e read II length IN the Ms Libsr Pc
ais. preserved a. Westminster
In truth. the river has as many trage-
les as pageaEts 70 record. Yet 4 hz6
Jerry moments enough a. Ther Eliza
9th e York vas welcomed s-nozr
,her brave shows. by a Bachelor /
'raEon. spouti1z flames q fyer.~ or
ss.-ge~ O. which vas q ..K-4ztreds