New-York tribune., 1902-06-15
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
,,u.cREEARLE WEATHER FOR CORO-
NATION FESTIVITIES.
o,7v GOSSIP IN REGARD TO EXPECTED
tJoNoRs SETTLEMENT IN SOUTH
AFRICA SATISFACTORY.

,c,,,-fe-t. 1902. By The Tribune Association)
s-s,ts, 70 The NeV:-York Tribune by French Cablel
-5or lime 14.-An eminent statistician
n. wa that the average rainfall for the last
even wears is below the mark. and that the
..scianry must be made good this season
,I,a+ever may be the scientific explanation for
-. ooId raw weather and incessant rain there
a. 9 depression of spirits among officials and
.-.sae,7en and tte opening scenes Of the coro-
re-ion festivities have been fraught with dis
comfort and disappointment. Every outdoor
func-ion is rendered dismal by the rain. and
e-an with all the painstakng care bestowed
,,,or the carriage arrangements by the court
.,ecials. there is confusion and endless delay
ran ar the palace. The work of the car
-enrers and street decorators has been ham
,erad from the same cause, and. although the
,renararfons have been in progress for many
rocks II Is doubtful whether London will be
in readiness for the coronation. The unhap-
NEST people are the spectators in seats The
demand for seats at eXtortionate prices has
hsan light. and the mass of the purchasers are
waiting for the slump which will come at the
LAST moment as II did at the Jubilee in 1891
The prevalence Of wet weather next week Will
make the smart sets unhappy, for the most
elaborate and costly dresses have been provided
for the outdoor fetes at Aldershot Ascot and
Windsor. and everything will be spoiled If
zsterproofs are substituted for summer toilets
and dripping umbrellas for bright sunshades-
Another effect of the outburst Of March
weather in the middle Of June is the breaking
down in health Of a good many overworked
functionaries and several of the leading figures
IN The coronation ceremonial The Lord Cham
b-rlain is still on sick leave. but will probably
he On duty when the foreign princes arrive
The Archbishop Of Canterbury is ailing and
roy+y and prudently saving his strength for
-ba eunreroe occasion Of the coronation. The
ritual makes great demands upon the Primate
and rhe Dean Of Westminster. and each is old
and infirrn The Prirnate's friends are wonder
ing hcw he can conduct the intricate ceremony
7-hen he is nearly blind and walks with great
difficulty but Archbishop Temple has strong
will which carries him through even when his
bodily powers fail. Dean Bradley IS not IN 4
At condition for his exacting and arduous part
in the great function, and the sub-dean, Can
on Duckworth will probably take his place In
rnany details Canon Duckworth is really respon-
sibe already for the ecclesiastical setting OF the
coronation scene in the Abbey.
The King end,res the strain of the coronation
preuerations with more fortitude than any ofh-
oial He seems to thrive on details which ex-
haust the patience OF veteran court functlona-
ries and improves in health the weather
thiekens. Every court circular contains eVi-
dencs Of the enormous pressure of his engage
rents in receiving coronation delegations and
visitore and. apart from the formal functions
in which the stateliness of ceremony is never
neglected. the smallest points connected with
the pageants Of the next three weeks are re
fsrred 70 him for final decision. He has gone
r. Aldershot to-day, to remain over Sunday,
and viii not be back in London for ten days
All the rurnors respecting the coronation
ho-o Of irre
sips The list is likely 70 be a perfunctory
one with 2 few startling surprises. The per-
sistent reports that Lord Salisbury will re-
ceive dukedom and retire from public life
ars flighty as the stories that half dozen
garters will be bestowed. and that William wal
dorf Astor viii have peerage. Lord SALISBURY
cannot retire without arranging his succession
and this will involve more labor and anxiety
than the retention Of Office AS for Mr. Astor,
he has not been courting the Kings favor, but
choosing his own friends in the highest ranks
Ct titled society and is not likely TO receive any
mark of royal favor. Sir Thomas Upton s
chances Of securing prize in the royal lottery
are better than Mr.. Astcr's, but his elevation 10
the peerage is less probable than the gossipS
assume The safest forecast is a generous dis
tribution Of small favors among ali branches OF
the public service with no bounties for what
The responses Of the peers and peeresses to
the invitations to the coronation prove that the
transepts Of the Abbey will not be crowded
Many entitled TO attend staying away De
cause they cannot afford the expenses OF Ihe
London season when livery, rents and entertain
mant abnormalIy high The day has passeu
when peer can drive to the coronation IN d
four-wheeler or live for fortnight in shabby
gelteel lodgings. The declinations Of peers ana
peeresses have left vacant seats for the eldest
sons and daughters OF the wealthier nobility on
each side Of the theatre.
London win lose the smart set for a Week.
since Aldershot, Ascot and Windsor will be the
social centres for the week after the court. The
military review viii offer no novel feature. but
Ascot viii be the most brilliant display Of fash
Ion known in the annals of racing. and Windsor
Castle will be filed with visitors. the Waterloo
Chamber being converted into ballroom, ST
Georges Hall into a banqueting scene, and the
virginia Water into lagoon for boating parueS
IN Dainty muslin costumes and embroidered sun
shades Every country house around Ascot ana
windsor will be flled with guests for the weeks
fashionable outing
The court at Buckingham Palace was a brill
'aht one. with an unusually large number OF
americans in the diplomatic circle. owing 10 the
presence Of he special embassy in full strength
Otliy four presentations of American LADIES were
mace by the general circle. These were MIS-
Charles Alexander, Mrs. Arthur Sedgwick ana
MISS Sedgwick from New-York and Miss Sar-
gent from Boston. There were seventeen Amer
'cans presented By the diplomatic circle: Special
ambassador Reid. with three secretaries OF the
special embassy; General Wilson, with TWO
aus ADMIRAL Watson, with two aids, and the
ioiioWlng ladies: Mrs Reid, Miss Reid Mrs
Nlorgan, General Wilson's two daughters, Mrs
to"les and Mrs. Laurence Townsend, the
VIE Of The rnired STATES Minister at Brus-