The Delta independent., 1902-08-15
WITH IMPOSING CEREMONIES
KING EDWARD VII IS CROWNED

<ueSn was cToWueu, uutter or Rer-
vousness ran through their ranks and
coronets were pulled out and patted
and pinched into shape, their faces
hardened with anxiety and then all
their arms suddenly went up, and coro.
nets, large and small, were put in
place, some crooked and some straight.
For the next five minutes the peer
esses disregarded what passed before
them; first one and then another turned
around for advice and help, and then
ensued mutual pushing Of each 9th
ers coronets into place.
NO stage enect could have eQualed
the climax that ensued the moment tho
crown was placed upon King Edwards
head. the sudden Illumination by hum
dreds of electric lights making the
thousands of priceless Jewels Including
those In the crown itself, to sparkle
with dazzling brilliancy.
The instantaneous movement of the
peeresses, the placing Of their coronets
upon their heads, the choirs loud
| God Save the King" with its unhar-
monious yet genuine refrain from thou
sands Of male and female throats, con-
| stituted such an outburst Of pent.up
thankfulness and rejoicing as even
| Westminster abbey. with all its his
toric traditions, never before witnessed
Nearly 100 Americans must have wit
messed the ceremony in the abbey.
Among them were Mrs. Cushman Il.
Davis and Mrs. Willard of Washington,
Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Willard accom-
panying Sir John Agnew; Madame
Waddington. who was Queen Alexan-
dra's especially invited guest; Mrs.
Bailles, Mrs. Hartman, Mrs. Post, Mrs.
Dudley Leigh, Miss Astor. Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Yerkes, Lady Barrymore
| and Lady Michael Herbert
From 8 o'clock in the morning the
| scenes outside the abbey grew gradu-
ally insplendor and color. The gorge
ous preparations for the crowning GER
emony reached their climax there, The
troops present were picked regiments
! Of the army, and the bands of music
were the best the English barracks
could send out. In the background Of
this pageant was Westminster Abbey.
30 transformed by decorations and
stands that It was scarcely recognize
able, and serried rows Of gaIly dressed
people r0se In tiers Of seats from the
roadway on each side to great height
Near the west door Of the abbey stood
| a double line Of sailors In blue uni
forms with white straw hats, making
a block of color In the line Of troops.
Behind them, in a blaze of gold, the
band Of the Royal Horse guards walt
ed for the King. Suddenly, In the
midst of this old world pageantry, oc-
CURED an absolutely modern, unprs-
cedented incident.
For the nrst time In any English cor.
onation. the troops salutsd motor
car. 1t was that Of the Duke Of Con-
naught, In command Of the troops Of
London, making his nnal round Of In
tnS % ttS~t Ill II
was recognized and loudly cheefcd.
While the King and Queen were In
st. Edwards chapel many Of the peers
broke rnnks and lined mp along the sp-
proaches to the altar. The younger
members Of the nobility. some Of them
being scarcely ten years Of age, who.
had previously been kept In the back
ground, then Joined their older rela-
tives. General Kitchener, with his
hands on the shoulders OF little page.
was conspicuous among these.
The hrst to appear from the chapel
was the Queen. AZ she passed between
the ranks all the mobiles bowed low.
the Queen acknowledging their salu-
tations. When her majesty reached
the nave some one shouted. Three
cheers for the Queenw and the old alb
bey rang with cheers n the Queen
slowly passed into the annex, men and
women rising from their seats and
shouting with ~ much good will -
any of the crowd In the streets.
Nearly ten minutes later the King
entered from the chapel. still wearing
the crown and carrying the scepter and
rod. Az the King passed the chancel
| arch those In the body Of the abbey
commenced to cheer. The sound grew
In volume, and bishops and priests.
peers and peeresses. generals, admir-
ais and diplomats, the whole vast
throng. rose and hurrahed At the top
of their voices. Until the last man
in the procession had disappeared In
the annex the cheering was continued.
The King bowed and smiled, evidently
delighted with his reception and then
| the organ and orchestra played God
Save the King"
The departure of the King and
Queen from the abbey was signaled by
another salute, the massed bands play
Ing "God Save the King" The entire
| route OF their majcsties' return to the
palace was marked by scenes Of en-
thusiasm similar to those which greet
| ed their progress to the abbey. the
more circuitous route through Club
land and Constitution Hill giving the
hundreds Of thousands of persons oc-
cupying stands. windows and roofs an
opportunity of greeting the new
crowned King and his cOnsOrt before
they re-entered Buckingham palace,
which they did In the midst Of remark
able scenes of enthusiasm, the entire
crowd from Constitution Hill down.
wards Joining In the singing Of the
national anthem.
Shortly after the return Of the King
and Queen to the palace II was ofn-
cially announced from there that the
King had borne the ceremony well and
that he had suffered In no way from
fatigue, and this was confirmed by the
presence Of the King himself, when, In
response to the repeated plaudits OF
the crowds, his majesty, accompanied
In robe and crown. The faces Of both
were sufYused with smiles a. they