The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-26
ANOTHER CORONATION.

This Essay, by Oliver Cc.G ziai.h, or the Cor
onation of George Ill, Old hrply 20 the
Forthcoming Coronation = 1t Shows Few
Littls this Times Change.
1.-THE coronation Of King George took
place SEPT - 1761. The front seats in
the gallery of Westminster Abbey were
let III 10 guineas each. and those IL the
houses along the procession 1T the same
price. Some of them cleared upwards OF
t1.GU0.-Scc Ann. Reg, Vol. IE..'p. DIS.
Essay No. XIN-By Oliver Goldsmith,
on the approaching coronation.
That time Of war is time of par
simony is Il maxim which patriots and
senators have had often in their mouths,
and which | do not remember even to
have been denied. | know not whether
10y the acute enquiries Of the present age
this opinion has been discovered TO be
grouEdless, and is therefore thrown aside
among obsolete folliCs; or whether il hap
Itned on this, As on other occasions. mat
conviction is on one side and practice on
the other: but so il is. that this war,
whatever it has taken from the wealth.
hes added nothing 10 our frugality. Every
pace of splendid pleasure is filed with
assemblies. every sale of expensive super
fiufics is crowded with buyers: and war
has no other effect than that of enabling
ms 10 show that we can be at once mill
1ary and luxurious. and Pay soldiers and
hddcrs at the same time.
Among other changes which time has
effected, 4 new species of profusion has
been produced. We are now. with an
emulation never known before. outbidding
one another for sight of the CoronatioE
the annual rent OF palaces is offered for
q single room for a single day.
| am far from desiring 10 rcpresS curl
OSity, TO which we owe great Il part of
orr intellectual pleasures; rior am | hardy
enough 10 oppose the general practice Of
mankind. so much as To think all pomp or
maEn!fcence useless ridiculous. But
all passions have their limits. which they
cannot exceed without putting our happi-
ness in danger; and although 4 fine show
he 4 fine thing. yet. ike other fine things.
il may be purchased too dear. All pleas
nres are valuable in proportion 10 their
greatness and duration: that the pleasure
Of Il show is not OF any long continuance.
all know, who are now striving for places:
for if !: show was long. if would not be
here This is not the worst, the pleasure
while it lasts will be less than is ex-
rectcd. No human performance can rise
up 10 human ideas. Grandeur is less
grand and tinery less fine than il is
painted by the fancy; and such is the
difference between hope and possession,
that 10 n great part of the spectators the
show will cease rs soon as il appears.
Let me not deceive my readers to their
disadvantage, or represent the little pleas
ures of life as less than they are. Those
who come 10 see come likewise TO he seen.
and VIII, for many hours before the pro-
ccSsion, enjoy the eyes of innUmerahle
razers. Nor will this be the last or the
longest qualification; those who have seen
the Coronation will have whole years Of
triumph over those who saw it not. They
win have an opportunity of amusing their
humble friends and rustic acquaintance
with narratives, often heard with envy.
and often with wonder; and when they
hear the youth of the next generation
boasting the splendor Of any future pro.
ccssicn. they will talk with contemptuous
superiority of the Coronation of George
the Third