Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-11
EDWARD CROWNED.
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bishop 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 DIS
covered that he had the crown with
the back to the front. Slowly he raised
| it. but two late to prevent the choir
from prematurely bursting cut with
| loud God Save the King Amid
tension that had grown to a pitch OF
painful nervousness the archbishop fin
ally managed to place the crown cor
rectly upon the Kings head.
! A few minutes later came the climax
to 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
fleet. 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 subsidized 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 manliness of parental affection
| that brought tears to many eyes. 10
those who were able to see clearly
these two episodes, the magnificence of
| the beieweled women, the splendor of
the uniformed men and even the his
| toric grandeur of the coronation office
itself sank into secondary interest.
Tonight The Associated Press learns
| nat King Edward was greatly un-
nerved by the condition of the Arch
bishop Of Canterbury, and that His
| Majesty sat in constant dread Of Il
contretemps, though outwardly calrc,
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
| terbury became more and more nerV-
ous Her Majesty palpably dreaded
that the King would break down. With
keen anxiety she constantly turned
toward her husband, watching him
intently thrt ughout the ceremony. Her
graceful dignity and solicitude for
| King Edward was one of the most
c charming features of the proceedings
in the Abbey. Her Majesty's appear
ance won eytravagant encomiums, es-
pecially from the women. many Of
whom declared that Queen Alexandra
Gld not look Il day over 80.
The Queens own crowning was brief
and simple. When the four duchesses
went to hold a canopy over Her
Majesty's head, the Duchess of MARI
borough and the Duchess of Portland
led the way. They performed their
lduties excellently. At the critical mo-
mcnt for which they had long prac-
ticed. namely. the putting on of their
coronets at the moment the Queen was
crowned, approached, a flutter Of ner-
vousncss ran through their ranks and
coronets We're pulled out and patted
ard pinched into shape, their faces
hardened with anxiety and then all
their arms suddenly went up and coro-
nets. large ard small, were put in
place, some crooked and some straight.
For the next Five minutes the peeresses
disregaTded what passed before them
first one and then another turned
alound for advice ard help and then
ensueC q mutual pushing of each
others coronets into place. Among the
philosOphic peeresSes was the Amer:-
can, Cora, Countess of STAFFORD, who
piacidly allowed her coronet to remain
quite sideways, neither asking or re-
ceiving help. Among the curious feat
ures connected with the American
peeresses was the wearing by Lady
Craven of cid family robes once worn
b. the Queen OF Bohemia, who married
a former Earl of Craven.
Another incident relating to royalty
was the presence Of the Duchess OF
Mecklenburg- Strelitz. who. at the ex-
| press desire Of Queen Alexandra. SAT
at exactly the same spot as she occu-
Tied at the coronation of Queen Vic
toria.
) No stage effect could have equalled
the climax that ensued the moment the
crown was placed upon King Edwards
head, the sudden illumination by hun
dreds of electric lights making the
thousands of priceless jewels, includine;
those in the crown itself sparkle with
dazzling brilliancy.
The instantaneous move of the peer
csses, the placing Of the coronets on
their heads. the choir's loud God Save
he King" with unharmonious. yet gem
uine refrain from thousands of male
and female throats. constituted such
an outburst of pentup thankfulness and
rejoicing rs even Westminster Abbey.
with all its historic traditions, never
before witnessed.
Nearly 100 Americans must have wit
messed the ceremony in the Abbey.
| Among them We're Mrs. Cushman,
Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Willard of Wash