The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-05-31
Ex-president Siaps Colonial
Policy of English Govern
ment and Its Dealings With
Egypt.
NOTED VISITOR MADE
"FREE MAN OF LONDON
High Officials of City and Ma
ton Do Honor to American
Crowds Fight to Get View
of Party.
(American News Sa vicsl

(American News Sa vics1
London, May 31-With conventional
pomp that turned the affair into q
pageant, Theodore Roosevelt was to
city of London and his visit to England
formally began.
Twelve hundred of the foremost per.
sons of London witnessed the cere
monies at the Guild hail.. the guests
invited including the Duke of Con
naught, Prince Arthur Of Connaught
Ambassador Whitelaw Reid and many
well known Americans, both tourists
and members of the colony here.
Dull. drizzling weather prevailed, but
did not dampen the curiosity of Lon
don. Along the streets OF the ex-rresi
dents route, as well as the other parts
OF the city, American flags were dis
played In great numbers and hundreds
Of teddy bears were swung from poles
Vast crowds struggled to get sigh!
Of the former president, and SO great
was the crush that the police were com
PEELED to bar the street about the Guild
hall-a precaution seldom taken save
when royalty is the attraction.
Though the death OF King Edward
caused the abandonment of some OF
the features he had planned before
Mr.. Roosevelt had actually arrived in
England, the affair today was by nc
means . disappointment to the lovers
Fof the spectacular.
Governed by the precedent Of centur.
les, the municipal authorities added
the name of Theodore Roosevelt tc
the roll of honorary freemen of the
city-a roster which includes the
names Of Rodney. Nelson, Wellington
Livingstone, Gladstone, Garibaldi, Dee
Lesseps and U. s. Grant.
At hve minutes before noon Mr.
Roosevelt left Dorchester House, the
residence Of Ambassador Reid. AT
his disposal was the gilded state
coach Of Lord Mayor Knill-a heavy
vehicle, manned by flunkies and out
riders, gorgeous with gilt carving.
Before him. the escort OF honor. rode
Sheriffs Noel and Ralph Slazenger in
their state coaches, only trifle less
gorgeous than the equipage of the
guest Of the day.
Before and behind clattered a squad
ron of mounted police All along the
route crowds were gathered and as Mr..
Roosevelt whirled by he was greeted
by cheers.
Teddy" London calls him, taking
the cue from Paris, which refused to
call him by his family name
The route lay through one of the
most picturesque portions Of London
by way OF Park Lane, Constitution
Hill. Birdcage Walk and the Embanh-
ment to the Gufldhall on King street
About the hall was drawn up q
force Of $500 policemen guarding the
ropes stretched across the streets lead.
ing to the building. Beyond were mass
ed thousands upon thousands of Lon
doners with good sprinkling of Am,
ericans. AS the carriage that bore the
ex-president rolled mp. q cheer that
lasted several minutes broke out
Scarcely less important than the con.
ferring Of the freedom OF the city was
the lord mayors luncheon at the Mae.
sion House. Before the death OF the
late king. it had been determined to
make this magnificent feast. but al
ter Edwards demise the majority OF
the IS invitations that had been issued
were recalled. the plans being changed
to make the luncheon private instead
Of a state affair.
This discrimination was q disAppoiQt-
ment to those whose invitations are re.
called-cabinet members, past and
present, leading Americans and al OF
the 232 members of the corporation
and their ladies.
At the luncheon, however. were Lord
Cromer, Lord Strathcona. Lord Morley
Lord Desbrough. Lord Beauchamp. the
bishop Of London, Sir Edward Grey
and John Burns.
The calling OFF OF the state luncheon
was in part made up. however, by the
ceremonies of conferring the freedom
Of the city. which preceded the gath
ering at the Mansion house.
Throughout the day, in view OF the
national mourning for Edward, every
effort was made to prevent ostenta-
ton. No semblance OF military e..
cort for Mr.. Roosevelt was provided.
Speeches were cut from the program
wholesale. and the large sum recently
voted by the city corporation for the
decoration of the streets shout Guild
hall waas not utilized
The only addresses made were those
BY the city chamberlain, the n Hon.
Sir J. G. Dimsdale, and Mr.. Roose-