Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-08-11
EDWARD CROWNED.
Impressive Ceremony in West
minister Abbey, Saturday.
Aged Archbishop Of Canterbury Nearly
Collapsed During Exercises.
The King Stood Strain Well and Is In
Excellent Health.

London. Aug. 9.-Edward VII, r. T..
by the Grace of God, of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
and of the British Dominions Beyond
the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith.
Emperor of India, was, today, crowned
without hitch or harm, and, tonight,
London is noisily celebrating the event
for which the world has awaited as.
perhaps, it never awaited any other
coronation.
lr all respects the celebration was
impressive and it was carried out with
perfection of detail and lack of acci-
Gent that has rarely characterized sim
llar displays. That pride of empire
which marked Queen Victoria's Jubilee
was lacking, and in its stead there per-
Vaded all classes a keen recollection
that only six weeks ago their King lay
IN danger fodeath, and this, today,
produced thankfulness and genuine
sympathy for the man rather than adu-
lation of the King. This feeling was
voiced by the Archbishop of Canter-
Dury, when he inserted in one of the
coronation prayers the words, For
whose recovery we now give Thee
heartfelt thanks" Yet this did not pre-
vent the public from voicing apprecia-
ticn of each military display as the
short procession gave them a chance to
see.
Earl Roberts, commander-in-chiefo Of
the forces. was once more the hero of
the hour, and next to the King himself
received the heartiest welcome of the
assembled crowds. Here comes good
Old Bobs" was invariably the signal for
all the reserve power of British lungs
TO be brought into play. Lord Roberts
rode alone and constantly bowed and
smiled acknowledgements of his greet
ing. Lord Kitchener was not so easily
recognized but he was seen as he rode
with Gen. Sir Alfred Gaselee and Ad-
miral Sir Edward Hobart Seymour.
and was the crowds next favorite.
At the various points along the route
of the procession Lord Kitchener re-
ceived thunderous ovations, which he
acknowledged neither by look nor bow.
but as English crowds are used to this
treatment from Lord Kitchener of
khartoum. it quite failed to suppress
the enthusiasm.
But it was for the King and Queen
themselves that the people really let
themselves loose. Throughout the day
ties We're seen the cheers were loud,
and especially was this seen on the re-
turn journey of the King and Queen
to buckingham palace.
Until the booming of guns announced
that the crowning of King Edward and
Queen Alexandra had been achieved,
there fingered in thousands of minds a
nervous apprehension that even at the
In a,I
might once more plunge the nation into
When this was passed
the unrestrained jubilation was as
much a tribute to the Kings personal
popularity as it was an evidence of re-
lief from the tension of the last few
weeks. So. while the scenes on the
streets We're robbed of many Of those
elements that usually accompany
great pageant, they will long be re-
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.
In Westminster Abbey the scene was
nothing less than marvellous. Nearly
1000 members of the nobility, the clergy
and the gentry had gathered, with for
eign princes, ambassadors, colonial rul-
ers. Indian potentates and leaders from
the fllrtherest quarter of the globe
where the Union Jack flies, to do honor
to the King.
Two incidents in the service in the
Abbey will live in the memory Of all
who witnessed them. The first OF
these which almost developed into a
dramatic contretemps, centered around
the aged Archbishop of Canterbury.
From the commencement of the service
the archbishop had the greatest diff
Guilty in reading or remembering the
prayers. The book from which his al
most blind eyes endeavored to read
shook in his hands, and when he came
to place the crown upon King Edwards
head his huge frame, towering above
the seated King, swayed SO violently
that the Bishop of Winchester has TO
support him, while the Dean OF West
minister put guarding hand under the
crown. 1t was evident that the arch
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