New-York tribune., 1902-08-25
TRIUMPH OF SEA POWER.
CLOSING PAGEANT OF THE CORONA
TON FES1IVITIES-THE HUMAN ELE-.
MENT IN STATELY CEREloNIALs.
Portsmouth. August is.

ed py the King IS illness and happily resumed
with great access of national gratitude and
humanity. are brought to a close with "a iri-
usnphai display of the home guard fleet Grand
and stately was the ceremonial in the Abbey
week ago, IL was an intensely human pro-
ceeding. The spectators. arrayed for the
sumptuous Of modern courts. admired them
selves and the costumes and yestments of the
chief performers. Yet We're not thrilled, they
had expected that they would be, by a close
approach 70 TIE apotheOsis Of royalty. There
was no supreme moment in the prolonged and
dragging ritual. and there vas no overmaster-
ing appeal 10 the emotions and imagination.
Their e-es We're delighted by spendors OF COS
tuning and h--nenious blends Of color in
l'lique and glorious spectacle but their hearts
we-e touched by purely human and even pro-
sale effects When the professions entered the
Abbey the Queens smile of relief and the Kings
1irr7ress OF step and glow of health meant more
than the beauty of the tableau the mag
-lifoence OF the robes. regala and diamonds
when the crown was placed on the Kings head
The infrmities Of the blind Archbishop cropping
bis way forward and of the Dean. upnerved
by excitement and trenaulous in hand and foot
made deeper impression than the traditions of
s. thousand wears. When the first act of homage
was rendered 10 the King on his throne the
SPECTATORS could think only Of the venerable
Trirnate, who was unable 70 rise from his knees
and required the assistance Of several prelates
and when the communion service was resumed
there vas the Dean weIlnish dropping the
chalice before the altar. In the belated corona
Ylon as in the sudden suspension of the June
festivities, there was effect CT anuthesis III
human weakness at the eliminating moments
of royal grandeur and imperial splenoor' anu
what touched the hearts of spectators was the
fathers love for his son. revealed in the sud
den ,mpulsve embrace which followed the
Princes act Of ceremonious homage. The King
himself in returning from the Abbey was greet
ed by his enthusiastic subjects as never BEFORE
not because he had been crowned, but because
he had shown grit and courage in bearing the
burdens Of illness and disappointment.
These human elements conspicuous even IN
the splendid pageantry and solemn ritual Of the
coronation, have disappeared in to-day's naval
demonstration at this historic stronghold OF sea
power. Humility may be taught with chasten-
ing effect when a magnificent ceremonial is sud
denly arrested through the physical inhrnlity OF
the monarch, or is carried out ultimately with
out the joyous abandonment Of an imperial
TeveI but pride is inevitably renswed whenever
there is q naval review at Portsmouth. The
King in the Abbey may command in the hour of
his convalescence the sympathies rather than
the homage Of his subjects, for ii is the human
side Of the man that is revealed rather than the
Tnonarch's ponp and glory; but even royalty is
overshadowed in this marine pageant by sea
power. by which empire has been estap-
lished and is protected and defended with in
vineibIe might. No unwonted preparations are
required for unique naval display No orders
are sent out for the return Of battleships and
cruisers from the Mediterranean and foreign
stations. The Channel, home and cruiser squad
Tons. with the torpedo hotilla, are brought TO-
gether without the suspension or interruption
OF the ordinary activities of the British navy
abroad A mighty floating rampant Of over a
hundred vessels Of war is formed opposite the
entrance Of Portsmouth Harbor; and the chain
of land eefeuces running far seawerd TO the en-
trance. OF the SoIent and the Spithead and in
land TO ancient Porchester and F'arehan is al
ways IN readiness for the byplay OF dress parade
or for the business of war. Twenty battleships,
twenty-four cruisers, nearly fifty torpedo craft
Of all classes and score or more Of brigs train
ing ships and Admiralty yachts are at anchor in
five extended lines across Spithead; and behind
them are the outer and inner harbors. COM
pletely ercircied with citadels. batteries and
fortthcations for the defence Of the dockyards
and naval base. All these fortresses and fleets
are fully manned in time of peace. and there
are 10 drafts upon adjacent military stations
II is an almost spontaneous exhibition Of the
existing environment Of a garrison town en-
crossed with the mechanic arts and industries
of naval warfare; and the adamantine strength
triumphantly disclosed
Little effort is required for the conversion Of
these beautiful coasts and peaceful waters into
a theatre for a holiday display Of gigantic
preparations for the defence Of the United King
dom. The various sections Of the combined
feet fell into line and there is combination or
floating fortresses, machine shops, engine houses
and ordnance factories Each vessel has its
rainbow circuit of holiday bunting for bright
aning the steel gray reaches Of tranquil water,
and after nightfall the steel sheathed leviathans
are girdled with incandescent lamps and trans
figured with colored searchlights. 1t is ma
r.ne pageant hastily iulprovised, but il is also
an exhibition Of mechanical resources for de-
s1r1,ction and defence which overwhelms every
thoughtful witness with a profound impression
of the greatness of sea power under orderly and
scientific development. Kings may be crowned
in season or out Of season n the presence OF
the ,itled great in their coronets and diamonds,
their crimson robes and costly enbrolderles;
hut Britannia rules the waves from one reign
10 another. and is mistress of worldwide en-
uire over seas. Neither Briton colonial
could gaze by day night at this floating
mirage Of vast factory town with tall fun
rels and rraaypoles. af1ame with color and throb-
bing with the energies of marine engineering.
Without bein, thrilled with a feeling OF pride
81 sharing the glory and prestige Of the Brit
ish Empire.
II is r-,,e that this coronation review does not
mark any decisive advance upon the naval
l5ageant of the Jubilee five years ago There is
rn hsrtIeship superior to the best then seen, FOR
,be IS,ndon has gone since June TO the Med-
1srrauean and the Sut1ej is the only arrnored
cruiser TO be compared with the Powerful and
the Terrible which were then at anchor. In