The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-15

cred with mating. On each side of
the hall three learge galleries were
built, the highest of which was sup
ported by the beams. Between the
first gallery and the floor were erected
on each side large closets or pantries,
with double doors, answering the pur-
pose of sideboards and cellarets. A
platform ran up the middle of the hall
to where the King dined, and between
the platform and the pantFes those
dined who had not the honor to be
seated with the King. Light was sup
piled by fifty-two large chandeliers
that literally despatched wax upon
the costly dresses of the spectators. A
curious and expensive erection was
the platform which at most of the cor
onations, ending with that of George
~, ran from the upper end of West
minister Hail. where the procession
commenced, and continued through
New Palace Yard, Parliamen street,
Bridge street, into King street, and so
on to the west door of the Abbey, on
to the choir where the King was
crowned. The platform along which
the procession passed was all the way
rallied in and covered with blue cloth,
and was raised about one foot, upon a
floor standing three feet high and four
teen feet wide. where the guards were
placed, while the officers stood within
the rails.
The Banquet of the PIantagenets.
In the times of the Plantagenets
the cost of the banquet was reduced
by sending precepts to the several
counties enjoining them to assist the
royal purveyors in procuring oxen,
sheep, fowls, etc, in quantities proper
tionate to the extent of their districts.
Some of these letters may be seen in
that wonderful repository of state
&c lyY1 nTge
dera." For the supply of wine, which
was always used in great profusion
on these occasions, our earlier Kings
had recourse to their fertile duchy in
the South of France, and a writ is
preserved in the Record Office directed
to the Seneschal of Gascony and the
Constable of Bordeaux commanding
them to buy quantity of good wine
and forward it in time for the corona
ton. After the feast, and when the
nobility had departed, it was custom
airy to throw open the doors of West
minister Hall, and then the mob came
in with a rush and cleared everything
movable victuals, cloths, plates,
dishes and glass. The custom was fol-
lowed for the last time at George Ills
coronation.
Extensive Charges Discontinued.
Many other expensive charges have
heen discontinued. such as the 305
ounces of gilt plate and two large gilt
chased basins to the Lord Almoner for
the day, the gold cup and cover to
the Lord Mayor, which contained TWEEN
ty ounces of pure gold, and many other
pieces of plate presented to the hold
ers of customary rnanors; but we may
expect that the Lord Great Chamber
lain, when the result of the struggle
for the much-coveted Office is decided,
will demand the historic forty yards
of velvet, even if he foregoes the priv
ilege of claiming the furniture, of the
room in which the king passes the
night before the coronation. as we'll as
his wearing apparel, shirt, towels,
etc, all which were formerly allowed.
1t will be readily seen from the ex-
amples we have given of expenditure
on previous occasions. and considering
the fact that the price of material and
labor has enormously advanced during
the last sixty years, that the 100000
asked is not an extravagant sum, even
if we leave out items such AS the hire
of theaters, which is manifestly i'm
possible now. and the cost of the med
ais that used to be scattered broad
cast. But whether anything in the way
of public entertainment will be at
| tempted, such as fair or fireworks. as
in 1888, we cannot say, although a ru-
NOR has been circulated that a sur
| prise is in store for US when the or
| acle speaks.