Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-08-13
EDWARD VII AND ALEXANDRA.
They Were Crowned Last Saturday
AZ King and Queen.

They Were Crowned Last Saturday
! as King and Queen.
Until the booming Of guns announced
that the crowning Of King Edward and
Queen Alexandra had been accom-
plished, says a London cable Of Satur-
day night, there fingered in thousands
of minds nervous apprehension that
even at the last moment some unto
ward event might once more plunge
the nation into CONSERVATION. When
this was passed the unrestrained jubi-
lation was as much tribute to the
kings personal popularity as 1t was an
evidence Of relief from the tension of the
last few weeks. So, while the scenes
on the streets were robbed Of many Of
those elements that usually accompany
IA great pageant, they will be long re-
membered, perhaps somewhat tenderly
by those who stood on the stands, at
windows and on the sidewalks to see
King Edward after he had won. almost
from the jaws Of death, his crown.
| Two incidents in service in the Abbey
will live in the memory Of all who wit
messed them. The first Of these, which
developed into dramatic contretemps,
centered around the aged archbishop Of
Canterbury. From the commencement
Of the service the archbishop had the
greatest difficulty in reading or remem-
bering the prayers. The book from
which his almost blind eyes endeavored
to read, shook in his hands, and when
he came to place the crown upon King
Edwards head, his huge frame tower y
ing above the seated king, swayed so
violently that the Bishop Of Winches-
ter had to support him, while the Dean
Of Westminster put guarding hand
under the crown. 1t was evident that
the Archbishop of Canterbury could
not see his kings head, and after CROP
ing around, he was just about to COM
plete the most important part Of the
ceremony when it was discovered that
he had the crown with the back to the
front.
| Slowly he raised it, but too late to
prevent the choir from prematurely
bursting out with a loud "God Save the
King" Amid tension that had grown
to hitch Of painful nervousness. the
archbishop finally managed to place
THE crown correctly upon the kings
head.
A few minutes later came the climax
Of his feebleness. He was kneeling to
do the first homage of all the subjects
Of the king, when suddenly he almost
tainted and would have fallen upon his
sovereign's knees had not King Edward
tenderly, but firmly, grasped both the
prelate's hands and lifted him to his
feet. The bishops Of London, Winches-
ter and Durham clasped their arms
around the Archbishop Of Canterbury,
the king kissed his wrinkled hand, the
archbishop's head fell back, his feet
moved slowly and mechanically, and
thus he was more carried than led from
the throne to King Edwards chapel,
where he was revived.
The tremor which this event caused
had scarcely subsided when another
exquisitely human touch varied the
proceedings, and the king was forgot
ten in the father. Instead Of merely
accepting the homage Of the Prince of
Wales. King Edward put his arms
around the prince and kissed him, and
then recalled him and wrung his hand
with a manliness Of paternal affection
that brought tears to many eyes. To
those who were able to see clearly these
two episodes. the magnifcence Of the
bejeweled women, the splendor Of uni
formed men and even the historic
grandeur Of the coronation offices itself
sank almost into secondary interest.
Tonight the Associated Press learns
that King Edward was greatly un-
nerved by the condition Of the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury, and that his ma
jesty sat in constant dread Of contre-
temps, though outwardly calm. as
could be judged from the steadiness
with which he held his sceptre rod
erect during the ordeal. This brave
show, however, did not deceive the
queen. Throughout the service, and
especially as the Archbishop of Can
|
GUS, her majesty palpably dreaded that
the king would break down. With
keen anxiety she constantly turned to-
ward her husband watching him In
tently throughout the ceremony. Her
graceful dignity and solicitude for King
Edward was one Of the most charming
features Of the proceedings in the Abb
bey. Her majesty's appearance won
extravagant encomiums, especially
from the women, many Of whom de-
clared that Queen Alexandra did not
look day over IS.
No stage effect could have equalled
the scene when the crown was placed
upon King Edwards head, the sudden
illumination by hundreds Of electric
lights making the thousands Of price
less jewels, including those in the
crown itself, to sparkle with dazzling
brilliancy. The instantaneous move
ment of the peers, the placing of their
coronets upon their heads, the choir's
loud God Save the King" with Its un-
harmonious yet genuine refrain from
thousands of male and female throats,
constituted such an outburst of pentup
| thankfulness and rejoicing as even
Westminster Abbey, with all its histor-
ic traditions, never before witnessed.
Until very late hour dense crowds
paraded the main streets Of London,
through which vehicular traffic was for
hidden and watched the illuminations.
The royal residences, the clubs, the Ca
madam arch, the Mansion house and
the Bank Of England, the electric and