New-York tribune., 1902-05-24

NeflfHD, PIP - u Ap-'icNoh ~ ~
Mr.. Pascoe has made an entertaining and
gossipy book out of the facts of the great Eng
lish ceremonial. its historical associations and
the buildings and objects connected with it.
He has historical lore his fingers ends and a
thoroughly modern and present day point of
view upon the whole subject WithaI he sets it
forth in an amusing and informal manner that
sometimes takes him far aield, but that con-
tinuaIly tempts to the reading of his pages and
makes them BILE, as he himself suggests at
one point TO take to the coronation services at
the Abbey Ito beguile the tedious time of wait
ing"
The first event in the reign of Edward VII
was his proclamation on January %. 1901, at
the meeting of the Lords of the Council at ST.
Jamess Palace and the meeting of the Privy
Council at which be took the oath and delivered
his speech. An interesting piece of gossip i'm
parted by Mr.. Pascoe. who devOtes several chap
ters TO the early days of the Kings reign, re-
lates to the unexpected difficulty of obtaining
copy of his speech for publication in The Lon
don Gazette
AS d matter of fact there was copy. for the
King had notes and had not written his
speech beforehand. AS eXtempore utterance
il was therefore somewhat remarkable Ot
course no shorthand writer was present TO take
notes. end the only way to obtain the copy was
10 ask his majesty dictate the speech 10 his
secretary. His excellent memory enabled him TO
do this with accuracy.
Another and a more picturesque great Cere-
monial Of the new reign was the opening of Par
lament and the Kings famous Declaration" in
the House Of Lords that has aroused so much
opposition among the English Catholics and
others. 1t imposing ceremonial. rich in
color and stately pageantry-but this is
not altogether serious. We given glimpse
of Lord Salisbury rolling heavily along in his
scarlet peers robes" and stopping TO confer
with very unceremonia smiles with the Duke Of
Devonshre a doubtful question as TO their
precedence. The Duke of Devonshire himself the
gravest Of men, has the air of a state Autoly-
Gus. hawking some of price, he
appears. carrying the crown itself a cush-
ioned tray in front of him. supported by band
around his neck. The Commons enter, in "a
Comus rout." and stand before the bar of the
House The Declaration itself is hardly impress
sve; not word Of the crude. fierce sentences"
of the old formulary reach the further end
of the hall The protests of the Roman Catholics
against the 'contumacious epithet" and the
provocative tone" of the Declaration, though
they aroused much discussion. have had no ef
feet in taking il from the statute book in
bringing about its modification.
The first procedure in. immediate preparation
for the ceremony of coronation that will be held
next month was the convening of the Court of
Claims. On account of the omissions that King
Edward has decided to MAKE in the proceedings.
the duties of this court were not so onerous as
they have been in the past. II was to exclude
from its consideration. by royal command, such
Claims might be submitted to them in
spect Of rights and services connected with the
parts of the ceremonial heretofore performed in
Westminster Hall. and with the Procession"
Mr.. Pascoe. however, attended a meeting of the
court. and is still pursued by the incongruity of
cacfFae ions
cousins and councillors of the King meeting
in the common everyday Bond Street vari-
ety Of frock coats to pass upon such petitions
as these:
The Earl of Lauderdale. to carry the Kings
ensigns Of war as hereditary standard bearer
for Scotland.
Henry Scrymgeour wedderburn to carry the
royal standard, as hereditary standard bearer
for Scotland.
The Walker Trustees Cvhoever these may be-.
10 exercise the Office of Usher of the White Rod
for Scotland by deputy
6. 7. J. Sotheron- -Estcourt, to exercise the duty
OF Chief Larderer, as owning the manor Of
Shipton Moyns
The Duke of Norfolk. TO act as Chief Butler Of
Englard.
Mr.. Frederick Oddin Taylor, as Lord of the
Manor OF Kenninghall. TO act Chief Butler.
The Duke Of Newcastle. as holder of the Manor
OF Worksop, TO provide glove and support the
Kings ann.
The Duke Of Somerset, to carry the orb
The Earl of Enroll. to walk as Lord High Con-
stable Of Scotland and to have a silver baton
tipped with gold.
Lord Grey de Ruthyn, to carry the golden
sIurs.
Some Of the most picturesque services are
done away with. Thus the manor of ScriveIs-
by Court in the fourteenth century, was held by
the Dymoke family by grand sergeantry, Ito
wit. by the service of finding the day of the
coronation an armed knight who shall prove by
his body. If need be, that the King is true and
rightful heir to the kingdom Parliament abol-
tshed this Kings champion in George HIS
reign, and the last of the Dymokes in the direct
line died in 1863. Lordship of the Isle of Man
formerly a held Of the Kings by
presenting the sovereign the day OF his
nation with two falcons.
The very wording of the proclamation of the
Coronation Day is reminder of long tradition;
il calls upon "all persons of what rank quality
soever they be-" having service to render to at
tend lin all respects furnished and appointed as
90 so great a solemnity appertaineth.' We may
learn of Mr.. PascOe the distinctive dress and
coronets OF the various ranks of nobility, for
men and women. We may learn, too, of the
jewels that view in the Tower. of
the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey.
around which many legends cluster. Its stone.
brought by Edward / from Scotland is probably
the stony pillow which COLUMBIA reposed and
which his lying head rested in the Alb
bey OF Iona. On il every English sovereign has
sat TO be crowned. Even Cromwell was in
stalled upon IL as Lord Protector. When used
at the coronation il is cushioned and richly
covered with gold beaten tissue. the better to
disguise lis time stained and worm eaten condi-
tion. Among the coronation paraphernalia the
state coach is of the most imposing. King
Edward has already used il at the opening of
his first and second Parliaments. II was built
In 1f6l for George III, and cost something like