Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-25
King Edward Opens Parlia-
ment With Pristine Splendor.
WOMEN PREDOMINANT
STATE CARRIAGE MOST MAGNET
CENT IN THE WORLD.
Move to Sweep Office Of Commander-in-
Chief Out Of Existence
Automobile Interest.

hOINDOXN, %, IoOts
London was treated to one of it's legiti-
mate shows yesterday in the opening OF
parliament in full state" For many years
after the death of the Prince Consort par
lament was opened without any of this
show and ceremony. Only once in the long
period of her widowhood did the late queen
drive to the historic building on the Thames
embankment and formally declare parlia-
ment open. Since that day this historic
ceremony was neglected until the accession
of the present king, who has revived 1t in
all its glory and brilliance
The Londoner, satiated as he has been in
recent years with pageants and state cere-
monials, probably because he may be re-
motely attracted by it's historical signifi-
canoe. takes a vast interest in the opening
of parliament. He (and she, for it is the
women folk who are present in the greatest
numbers) crowd the short distance ut is
only about a mfle) between Buckingham
Palace and the houses of parliament. For
In none Of their theaters can they see any
thing more colored. dazzling, brilliant, full
OF life and motion than this real spectacle,
with real king and queen, crowned with
real crowns, and wearing the ma jestic robes
and symbols of their office.
They are accompanied by all the highly
placed officers of state, in their rich uni
forus, and surrounded and guarded by
troop Of the gorgeOusly accoutered Life
Guards, that splendid regiment, which is at
once source of awe and pride to the
cockney. 1t even puts Beerbohm Trees
wonderful spectacleS to shame.
State Carriage Marvel
But after the king and queen nothing is
so much admired as the equipage in which
their majesties seated. In this carriage
the seating is so arranged that the king
and queen are thrown into more prominence
than they would be in any ordinary vehicle.
The state carriage is probably the most
beautiful and elaborate in Europe or the
world. The nearest approach to Its mag
nificence is in Vienna the Emperor of Au-
stria having two models made in imitation
of 1t, but far inferior to 1t in beauty Of con-
structiOn and intrinsic value. There is, of
course. no box or seat as the drivers ride
on four Of eight famous "Hanoverian
creams" that draw 1t. This state coach is
used for coronations and the opening of par
lament only 1t was first used by George III
IN 1851. The hind wheels are #. 1 in. in
diameter. and the total weight Is four tons.
The artistic panels were painted by the
great Italian painter Chimbrohani. Four
large Neptunes, or sea GODS rise at the
corners, their shaggy locks giving the whole
an appearance of barbaric beauty.
The Hanoverian creams that always per-
form the service of drawing the royal CAR
rage on these state occasions. were bred In
I1dnONcf OTlSlldlly, Out are now reared at
Hampton Court in the royal paddocks. They
are fed and groomed in the state stable a
very roomy building, well lighted and
warmed throughout. They are ridden two
hours a day In the riding school, and this
is their only exercise. But SO that they
may not show any skittishness on the day
of the ceremony they are taken over the
route few times before the royal process
sion, and they are tested with motor cars,
traction engines. troops of cavalry and all
the fiendish noises that can rise to the
minds of the royal servants. The trappings
are of solid morocco leather, with all the
fittings of gold plate on bronze. Each set Is
extremely heavy, and weighs no less than
112 pounds. They are never used except at
royal funerals, coronations and the OPEN
ing of parliament.
The Procession Route.
The route from Buckingham Palace to
the houses of parliament presents land
scape full of striking architectural fea-
lures. The Mall, the new professional
route, which the king used yesterday for
the first time, affords a view In the dis
lance Of the well-known towers of st.
Stephens Big Ben gilded and glstening,
and the other bare and square, but flying
the Union Jack, a token that parliament is
again sitting. The route lies along the
Mall, across the broad graveled sweep of
the Horse Guards Parade, and thence un-
der the archway out into Whitehall, oppo-
L
was beheaded.
When the alterations, which are being
made In the park in connection with the
memorial to Queen Victoria, have been
completed, the royal route to parliament
will be slightly heightened. 1t will lie by
Charing Cross, and access will be given
from the Mall to Whitehall by an imposing
gateway. This is not the least significant
of the structural changes which are being
carried out in this historic thoroughfare.
But once through the dark archway of
the Horse Guards the procession turns
sharply to the right into Whitehall, 50 full
of tragic memories, and thence EDWARDS to
the houses of parliament. In the house of
lords the scene is most brilliant and i'm
posing. The benches are covered with
crimson cloth. Grouped around the throne
which stands alone, the foreign am
| bassadors and minister's decorated with the
insignia of many orders; the bishops in
their white lawn the judges in their scar
let and ermine robes. The first sign of
the approach of their ma jeSties is the ar
rival of the Beefeaters, always popular
and picturesque. They line the gangway,
| and few minutes later come the body
| guard, the officials of high degree bearing
| the crown, the sword of state, the mystic
cap of maintenance, and crowd of pur-
| suivants and heralds.
Trumpets Announce the King.
| Then, at last, the king and queen move
slowly in. and advance to the throne, to the
1
peters. Then, the faithful commons -
headed by the speaker, advance to the bar,
| and the king, rising from the throne, reads
| his speech opening the session of parla-
| ment When this is over the king takes
| the queen by the hand. and both pass down
| the ranks of lords and commons into the
cutter ante-rOoms. Then there is the re-
| turn drive through cheering crowds to
| buckingham Palace, while parliament falls
| into its labors. Yesterdays rain, however,
| somewhat hampered the popular show
The report of the military reconstruction
! committee has met with fattering and,
| from the governments point of view a
/ gratifying reception. OF course there are
| many critics, but If all the great admirals
| and generals between the time of Hannibal
| and Hamlcar, and Napoleon and Nelson
| had jointly prepared the report they would
1 have been critics In the present instance
| these mainly belong to the "old school,, so
! hard hit that a little ill-feeling may be
| excused.
One of the most interesting questions arts
| ing out of the report is who will be the
| inspeco: general? Almost mechanically
one points to Lord Kitchener. The inspec-
] tor general. must be strong man. an ex-
| pert and a .reformer, II he is to be effec-
| lively the eyes and ears of the new
! board. He must also be one who is OUT