The Washington herald., 1908-02-16


learned of the opening of Parliament by
King Edward in person, and have doubt
less read accounts thereof cuiled from
other sources, yst it may perhaps be OF
interest to them TO read of the impression
made upon an American privileged TO
witness it from an advantageous point Of
view
Through the great personal kindness OF
the Earl of Cromer, G. C-S5., o. NJ, the
writer was honored with position with
in the Palace OF Westminster, as the
Houses Of Parliament are more properly
designated, from which he witnessed the
entire scene, in all its impressive splen-
dor No attempt, beyond the brierest
sketch viii he made to narrate the Sc
quence Of events which others have ere
This much better described.
While England is probably as demo-
cratic a country as any in the world. yet
nowhere is the hand Of the law, the I'M
press of sovereignty, felt more strongly
than ia London on a state occasion
Those in Washington accustomed TO ehi1ie
at what they deem unnecessary police re
straint of the masses at Presidential in
augurations and like functions. would find
much greater cause for complaint were
they .present at a state affair IN LONDON
For long hours previous 10 the ceIeilOhS
every possible avenue Of approach Dy IOoI
c7- vehicle IS sedulOusly guarded by pollce
o,d military. Thousands of soldiers IN
1beir sotnber bearskin hats formed Win
The police a double line along the enuIe
'rote de r0i" while about the hih6
paIace and the Palace of Westnllhs'eI
the police were so numerous one saw al
most nothing else.
At about 1.6 p. m. the procession OF
state carriages began TO wend their glIt-
tering way from Buckingham Palace to
the Victoria Tower of the Houses OF Par
lament. One by one they sped on in all
their spIendor of gilt and color and pow
dered lackey. But serried masses OF nu-
manity ranged on either side gave Them
but scant attention. They were waiting
rich and poor. old and young. for a sight
of that old State coach, gorgeous beyond
description in its trappings of gold and
its eight beautiful cream horses, contain
ing as it did. what to every loyal Eng
sovereign and his consort
To an American viewing such a scene
for the first time, had he any precon-
ceived ideas of the decline in popularity
Of monarchy among the masses, il must
have seemed 10 him, had he witnessed
yesterdays demonstration that his idea
was ill-fOunded Certainly no more tu-
multuous and spontaneous acclaim ever
greeted the ear of an American President,
however popular, than was meIed oVt TO
his most excellent majesty, King Edward
WI. throughout his entire trip from
palace 10 palace
The splendOr of that scene. the we'll
nigh intoxicating eXhilaratiOn Of the en-
shusiasm of the people is passed all de
seription. The CLINT Of the snlight-for
London was on this day blessed with a
clear sky-Up0n the naked blades of the
gorgeous Life Guardsmen, upon their ac-
couternents. and the gold of the car
riages of state the cheering OF the multi
tude. the gracious recOgnizances Of both
their majesties made it a scene never
10 be forgotten But the procession at
last reaches the Victoria Tower.
Here their maiesties alighted, and hav-
ing been received by the various officers
Of state, passed into the robing room,
where the King d0nned, over his splen-
did uniform of "a field marshal. the scar
let robe of sovereignty. edged with gold
lace and topped by a mantle of ermine
At few minutes before the process
sion began to form I'm the royal gallery
which leads almost directly into the
House of Lords. At exactly those Of rs
within the house were warned OF ap-
preaching royalty by the sudden flooding
of that apartment with light, only TO be
quickly followed by a tremendous blare
Of trumpets and the entrance of the pur-
sulvants and heralds in their elaborate
tabards As the head Of the procession
entered the entire house rose with a
great rustic of silk and clink Of swords.
The majesty and dignity of the scene
which followed. beggars words. The
slow and stately advance Of the officials
Of the household, clad in all the glory
Of their offices; the Earl of Winchester
bearing the cap of maintenance, made Of
crimson velvet upturned with ermine; the
Earl of Darlington, with the huge sword
OF state, walking backward, with his
face. according 20 ancient tradition, ever
toward the King, the bearer of the mas
sive gold mace; the Earl of Crewe, bear
ing on plush cushion, suspended from
the neck. the incOmparahly gorgeous i'm
.perial crown, valued at SIS ,0G0, and
sparkling with its ISIS diamonds, $50
pearls. and other gems; its historic un-
cut ruby in front. given to the Black
Prince in 1867 and worn by Henry V on
his helmet at the battle Of Agincourt; its
large sapphire in the cross at the top,
once worn by Edward the COnfessor; all
formed component parts of wOndrOus
picture
Slowly they entered, and passing the
throne. symbol Of England's might, bow
ed to It and ranged themselves about the
-dais I'm their respective places. At last
the King entered, leading the Queen by
the hand. and. holding in his left hand
the white-plumed hat of a field marshal.
Standing before the throne, their majes-
ties bowed, paying homage as it were, to
the symbol Of the might OF empire Of
which they were the titulaT heads. The
king handed the Queen 20 her throne,
and then bowling 10 the gorgeous assem-
bly, arrayed about him and receiving an
pbeisance in return. took his seat.
And now, the train of his robe having
been spread down the steps of the dais,
his majesty throwing open his robe and
disclosing his elaborate uniform. crossed
by the ribbon of the Order OF the Garter,
commanded; My lords, pray be seated, -
at which the assemblage resumed their
seats. At a nod from the King, the lord
great chamberlain dispatched Black Rod
TO summon the faithful commons" A
minute or so passed and then at the op-
poSite end of the house appeared the
speaker I'm all his robes and made low
Obeisance to the King. There was a
movement among the officials grouped
about the throne, and the lord chancellor
was seen to step forward, kneel, and pre-
sent the speech 10 the King Putting on