New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
TOTTERS AT GROWING
sRCHBLSHOP Of CANTERBURY
UISPLACES DLADEM
on KING.
xr,RTY FALLS WHEN HE KNEELS TO
PAY HOMAGE AND Is LIFTED TO
FEET BY EDWARD VII.

Of God. Of the | nllSQ hlnSOOn VI 0tedl
T-;taia and ireland. and Of the the British
T,s-a:nions beyond the Seas. King. Defender Of
70 Faith. Emperor Of India, was to-day
crowned without hitch or harm, and tonight
rc-dcn is neisiIy celebrating the event for
which the world has waited as perhaps it
rever awaited any other coronation
In au respects the celebration impress
sive and it WAS carried out with a perfection
~ detail and lack OF accidents that have pre-
,-iously marked such displays. The pride Of
.roTire which marked Queen Victoria's jubi-
lee. was lacking. and II its stead there per-
vaded au classes a keen recollection that
only siN weeks ago the King lay in danger of
death This fact to-day produced thankfulness
a1d genuine sympathy for the man. rather
than adulation OF the King. and this feeling
was voiced by the Archbishop OF Canterbury.
when he inserted in one of the coronation
prayers and words For whose recovery now
give Thee heartfelt thanks" This did not pre-
vent the public from voicing its appreciation
Of such military display as the short process
sion gave them a chance TO see.
GREETINGS PAID TO .'BOBS"
Earl Roberts, commander in chief Of the
forces was once more the hero of the hour.
and next 10 the King himself received the
heartiest welcome of the assembled crowds.
Here comes good old 'Bobs'." 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 greeting Lord hitch-
ener was not so easily recognized. but he was
seen as he rode with General Sir Alfred Gaselee
and Admiral Sir Edward Hobart Seymour. and
was the crowds next favorite
At various points along the route Of the pro-
cession Lord Kitchener received thunderous
cvations. which he acknowledged neither by
look nor bow but as English crowds are used
to this treatment from Lord Kitchener OF
khartoum it failed TO suppress the enthusiasm
Il was for the King and Queen themselves
that the people really let themselves loose
Through the day. wherever and whenever their
majesties were seen. the cheers were loud and
long and especially was this noticeable on the
return journey Of the King and Queen TO Buck
ingham 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 nervous apprehension that even at
The last moment some untoward event might
once more plunge the nation into CONSERVATION
When this time was passed. the unrestrained
jublation was as much q tribute Sd the Kings
personal popularity as it was an evidence Of
relief from the tension of the last few weeks.
and So while the scenes the streets were
robbed Of MANY Of those elements that usually
accompany a great pageant, they will long be
remembered-perhaps somewhat tenderly-oy
those who stood the stands, at windows and
on the sidewalks to see King Edward after he
had Won almost from The jaws Of death his
crown.
SEVEN THOUSAND PERSONS IN ABBEY
In Westminster Abbey the scene was nothing
less than marvellous. Nearly seven thousand
members OF the nobility. the clergy and the
gentry had gathered, with foreign princes. am
bassadors. colonial rulers. Indian potentates
and leaders from the furthest 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, centred around the
aged Archbishop of Canterbury From the
opening OF the service the Archbishop had the
greatest difficulty in reading or remembering
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, tow
ering above the seated King, swayed so violently
that the Bishop of Winchester had TO support
him while the Dean of Westminster put q
guarding hand under the crown. II was evil
dent that the Archbishop of Canterbury could
not see his Kings head, and, after cropping
around. he was just about to complete 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 prematureiy
bursting out with a loud God Save the King
Amid tension which had grown to a pitch OF
painful nervousness. the Archbishop hnally
managed TO place the crown correctly upon the
Kings head
THE KING AIDS ARCHBISHOP.
few minutes later came the climax to feeble
ness. 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
MS sovereign's knees had not King Edward
ienderly. but firmly grasped both the prelate $
hands and lifted him to his feet. The bishops
Of London Winchester and Durham clasped
their arms around the Archbishop Of Canter-
bury. 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 st Ed
wards Chapel. where he was revived
The tremor which this event caused han
scarcely subsidized when another human touch
varied the proceedings. and the King was iof-
gotten in the father Instead Of merely ac-
cepting the homage of the Prince OF Males'
King Edward put his arms around the prince
and kissed him and then recalled him ana
wrung his hand with manliness OF parehIai
affection that brought tears to many eyes 10
those who were able 10 see clearly these TWO
episodes, the magnificence of the beJe"e4ieo
women. the splendor of the uniformed men ana
even the historic grandeur of the coronation ONCE
itself sank almost into secondary interest
Tonight it is learned that King Edward was
greatly unnerved by the condition of The Arch-
bishop Of Canterbury. and that his majesty sat
in consfa m dread Of failure in the proceedings.