The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-23
KING FEEDS LONDON POOR
Halt a Million Took Dinner in Halls
and Tents.
HOSTS MESSAGE TO THE DINERS

Tho Immense fhrong Sat Down 20 Tables
In Various Quareors, and the Prince OF
Wales, - the Representative OF King
Edward, vislted tho Guests and Made
Speeches-Qusntity OF Fosd Consumed.
London.-Half a million Of London's
slum dwellers were King Edwards
guests. They were scattered In about
400 halls, schools and parks In varying
numbers. the greater number OF the
royal benehciaries being at Stepney.
where no fewer than $4,000 enjoyed
dinner such as they seldom partake OF.
At every gathering was read q message
from the King to the poor.sent through
the Lord Mayor Of London. Sir Joseph
C. Dimsdale. rs follows:
II am commanded by the King to In
form Tour Lordship that His Majesty
and the Queen had intended visiting
some of his coronation dinners to-day.
and he deeply regrets that his Illness
prevents their doing so. The King has
deputed members of his family to rep
resent him ut as many Of these dinners
as possible. am further commanded
by the King to express his hope that
his guests are enjoying themselves and
passing happy day. -
"(SigneG kNOLLfS.
The mornings bulletin announcing
that King Edward Is out Of danger
was also circulated. so that the half
million poor folks drank His Ma5esty's
health In no restrained enjoyment out
Of the coronation cups presented to
each Of them as souvenir Of the occa.
sion. The Prince and Princess Of
Wales traversed the metropolis from
end to end In semi.state, the carriages
being escorted By detachment Of the
Horse Guards. and appeared at central
GATHERINGS In several districts.
TIE principal dinner was at Fulham.
where Sir Thomas Upton. who organ.
lied the feast, did the honors Of the
day to 14.000 Of the poor. aided by q
host of titled and untitled volunteers.
including Timothy L. Woodruff. Lieu.
tenant Governor Of New York State:
Vice-C Commodore Bourne, Of the New
York Yacht Club. and other Ameri.
cans, who handed around plates of
beef and pudding or filed beer mugs
with an enthusiasm emblematic OF the
whole spirit Of the odcasion.
The Prince and Princess Of Wales
paid their first visit to Fulham. They
were received by the Mayor, Of Fulham.
Sir Thomas Upton and others Their
Royal Highnesses were enthusiastical-
ly greeted by an immense band OF
scholars who sang God Save the
King" The Prince and Princess alight-
ed and walked among the marques.
where the guests were assembled
around two and one-half miles OF
tables, evincing the utmost interest In
everything.
At the head Of the table IN the cen.
trail marquee the royal party stopped
and the Prince Of Wales read the morn
ing's bulletin regarding, the Kings
health. This was the signal for tre-
mendous outburst of cheering. Be-
fore leaving the Prince of Wales ex.
pressed to the Bishop Of London. the
Right Rev. Arthur Foley Ingram. and
Sir Thomas Upton his great satisfac'
ton at the completeness Of the ar.
rangements and emphasized his regret
at the fact that the King was unable
to be present.
This was a sample of all the other
dinners, which were followed in every
case by variety shows. upwards of 1900
operatic, theatrical and music hall
artists and 41S pianists giving their
services for the occasion.
The royal visitors included the Duke
and Duchess Of Connaught. the Duke
and Duchess Of Fife. Prince and
Princess Charles OF Denmark. the
Duke and Duchess Of Argyll. Princess
Henry Of Battenburg. Princess Chris.
tan of Schleswig- -Holstein and the
Duchess Of Albany.
During the course Of the afternoon
second message from the King was
read Mt the various gatherings. saying
His Majesty was very glad TO feel that
they were his guests. and hoping that
they would all be happy and comforta-
BILE and spend a pleasant afternoon.
The Prince and Princes Of Wales oh.
taIned a particularly warm reception
In the East End streets. which We're
gayly decorated. In speaking TO the
gatherings the Prince always addressed
the people as my friends"
Sir Thomas Upton. the General
Chairman Of the dinners. has trans
mitted his thanks to all responsible
for organizing the t"asts for their
paInstaking devotion n carrying out
the wishes Of the King.
There were distributed altogether
$4,000 pounds Of cooked meat. 25O.-
600 pounds Of potatoes. the same num-
Der Of loaves Of bread. 1.OOO.OOO ounces
of cheese. 125 tons OF pudding. $4,000
GALLONS of beer. 10000 pints Of ginger
beer and $4,000 pints Of lime juice. The
usual menu was cold beef and mutton.
fruits. tart and pudding. In some dis.
tricts pickles were added to the bill
OF fare.