Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-19
Misesllanpus 8faain9.
THE SEATS OF THE MIGHTY.
Thrones on Which Monarehs Sit
Sometimes.

Great Britain has at least half a
dozen thrones, of which three are In
London palaces. one in the house Of
Lords, one in Westminster Abbey, and
a sixth at Windsor Castle. OF these
the most ancient Is that in the Abbey
Iwhere each new ruler of the British
Iempire is crowned.
I This coronation chair. as 1t is called,
Is a massive high backed throne OF
oak. No fever than seven Edwards
have sat in It, Underneath the seat
Is large block Of rough sandstone.
This is the stone of Scone. the emblem
Of power Of the Scottish kings, who
were for many generations enthroned
upon it. Tradition makes 1t the stone
pillow upon which the head Of Jacob
rested at Bethel.
! In the House of Lords is the throne
used by the king when opening or
proroguing parliament in state. 1t
stands under a gilt canopy and is
raised a few steps above the floor 1t
is Of Burmese teak, carved and gilded
and studded with crystals.
/ On either side is lower throne in
tended for the heir apparent and the
Queen consort.
The throne in ST Jamess Palace Is
very large and imposing. with a cano-
py overlaid with crimson velvet and
embellished with bold relief Of en-
broidered crowns, set with fine pearls
and shimmering with bullion fringe.
BY far the most costly Is the throne
at Windsor Castle. It Is composed
entirely of carved ivory inlaid with
precious stones. especially emeralds.
1t was presented to Queen Victoria by
the Maharajah Of Travancore, and was
one Of the most sumptuous gifts which
even India ever gave her empress. The
throne room Is a long narrow apart
ment near the Waterloo chamber, and
so delicate is the rich blue upholstery
4 Of the jeweled ivory throne that 1t Is
usually kept covered with a great
casing Of plate glass.
The best known Of the English
thrones is the one at Buckingham pal
ace, where King Edward and the
queen hold their court today. The
throne stands on a dais Of massive
carving and FURNISHED gold, with dra-
perry and canopy Of rich crimson velvet
with the royal arms in heavy gold en-
broidery. 1t Is at the foot Of this
throne that all presentations Of debu-
tantes are made.
One Of the .noblest throne rooms In
the world is in the Berlin palace Of the
| German emperor. The throne Is OF
silver with a canopy ornamented with
eagles and crowns. Over the seat Of
the emperor and empress Is an i'm
mense silver shield presented to Fred
erick William w by the people Of Ber-
lin. and just in front Of the throne
hangs the great rock crystal chandelier
under which Luther himself once stood
Tin the Reichstag at Worms.
It is hard to say offhand how many
thrones the Russian emperor has. The
three chief ones are those at the I'm
perial palace and the Winter palace, at
st. Petersburg, and in the Kremlin at
Moscow. This last was a present to
the Car Alexis in 1850 from the shah
of Persia. 1t is entirely covered with
thick plates of gold set with precious
stones and alternating with plaques of
ivory chiselled in high relief. The fact
and date Of the presentation are re-
corded in an inscription on the back OF
the throne. Just above are glistening
double headed eagles Of Russia, with
angels on either side supporting the
imperial crown.
In the Imperial palace at st. Peters,
burg the throne stands In an alcove OF
the marble throne room, with a wide
stretching canopy with thick gold
with the royal arms in heavy gold en-
broidery. On the curtains behind are
embroidered the arms Of the Roman
offs surmounted by the crown, with
curious star shaped border all around.
Three wide steps lead up to the throne.
AS to France, although now re-
public, she once supported a monarchy
with more than ordinary splendor. Her
most interesting throne is the one
made for the great Napoleon. 1t ma!
be seen today in the palace at Fon-
tainebleau. The throne Is hung with
crimson velvet, embroidered with gold,
It is placed on a dais Of three steps.
Though a very small kingdom, Den
mark can boast Of thrones and throne
rooms unique in some respects. The
most noteworthy of the Danish thrones
Is in the knights hall Of the Schloss
Rosenberg in Copenhagen.
Here on the usual dais and under the
customary canopy are twin thrones OF
unusual interest That Of the king is
composed entirely Of narwhal horn and
adorned with eight allegorical figures
ball at the summit contains mag
nificent cleaning amethyst.
The queens chair Is Of silver, with
the seat and back covered with silver
brocade. In front of the dais stand
three silver lions, which play an i'm
, pcrtant part in the state pageants
They are, in fact, Denmark's symbol OF
sovereignty and are named Great Belt
Little Belt and The Sound, after Den
marks straits.
These silver lions take part in all
coronation and funeral ceremonies OF
the Danish monarchs, and are borne
aloft in the procession to and from the
Re skilde cathedral. The twin thrones
If Copenhagen, too, are fianked by
mirrors.
The queen Of Holland has thrones In
the Loo palace at The Hague and In
Amsterdam. The Hague throne Is
merely an elaborate armchair draped
and canopied and with the motto "Je-
maintiendra" worked in gold on the
canopy. The throne in the Amsterdam
palace is very new looking, as 1t was
entirely refitted on the death Of the
the king in 1890. The gilded frame
work of the canopy is surmounted by
crowns and ostrich plumes, with
drapery of ruby lined with cream SILK