The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22

EN one sense Of the term, accepting
the definition of the word curl
osity" as something rare and
strange" the coronation itself is
the greatest curiosity Of the times; but
from any standpoint there are certain
minor features Of this great function
that are entitled to its full meaning.
Ia the first place. there was a great
scramble for "honors' at the coronation,
and the king felt called upon to create
a court 70 adjudicate the various
claims of his highborn subjects. In his
proclamation of a year ago he says:
And We do hereby signify and de-
clare that it is Our Royal VIII and
Pleasure thar such part only Of the
Solemnity and Ceremony Of the Royal
Coronation Of Ourself and Our dearly
beloved Consort, the Queen, as is usual
upon the Coronation Of the Kings and
Queens OF this Realm solemnized in
Westminster Abbey shall take place.
And We do further by this Our Roy
al Proclamation signify and declare
that We do for Oursels and for Our
dearly beloved ConsOrt the Queen, dls-
pense upon the occasion of this Our
Coronation with the services and at
tendance of all persons who do claim
and are bound TO do and perform any
services which, according to ancient
custom Of usage, are 10 be performed
IN Westminster Hall or in the Process
sion.
And We do hereby further gracious
" declare that the same shall not in
terfere with the rights and privileges Of
any Of orr loving Subjects to claim the
performances Of such several services
or any Of them at any future Corona
ton"
But Notwithstanding the fact that
all the Kings loving subjects" had
been so graciously absolved from pre-
senting their claims, there has been
most unseemly rivalry to present and
insist upon them. The court Of claims,
composed of the highest dignitaries Of
the realm, has had the hardest kind Of
a hard time. Its members modified some
claims. recognized others and threw
some out entirely. but in the main they
have lodged the issue and left things
in about the same sort Of a muddle as
they were at the outset. The question
that has agitated the court most deep
~ and caused it to sit up nights, as il
were. is, Who shall be the lord great
chamberlain? Next TO the earl mar
shal, who is recognized by all as the
Duke Of Norfolk and who has already
worked like a Turk at adjusting the
numerous differences arising, the points
OF etiquette, etc, the lord great cham
berlain is q most important function
airy. He may by hereditary right lay
claim to the bed upon which the king
sleeps the night before the coronation. |
The kings nishtrobe and other wearing
apparel as well as the bedroom furni- |
ture. So also the person who may be
appointed the queens chamberlain may
claim similar perquisites. Now, it can
not for a moment be thought that any
OF the noble lords surrounding the
throne are in dire need Of the articles
mentioned; but, all the same, they have
been hercely lighting for the position
of lord great chamberlain. The king
has put his foot in it." by appointing
70 the position the Marquis of Cholmon- /
deley pronounced Chumley, by the
way). and the Earls of Ancaster and
Darlington and the Duke of Athon as a
consequence are feeling very bad.