The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-08
LETTER FROM OUR SPECIAL
CORRESPONDENT.
The Coronation Pageant-Westmin
Abbey-cathoIic Messages to
the King.
London. June oath, 1911.


The great event of Thursday has
come and gone, and the people are
still talking over the wonderful scenes
of the last few days. Many interest
ing and amusing incidents occurred
while the town was decking herself
for the Sovereign's progress, and
regal crowns of crimson and jewels
could be picked up by the roadside,
as they lay in heaps waiting to be
adjusted on the venetian masts. The
appearance of the streets was much
changed by the curious wooden archi-
lecture which the necessities of
stands and platforms caused to spring
up all around, to be draped with won
derful hangings of satin and gold
and velvet and tapestry on the day
itself, while flowers were everywhere,
festooning the streets and forming
medallions round the windows. From
early morn, that is to say 2 a. M, the
sight round Westminster Abbey was
a marvellous one. But the bravest
pageant of all was to be seen within
the ancient fame of the Confessor
which was built up with balconies in
which, after six o'clock, when the
great doors were opened, the Peers
and Peeresses of the realm, in the
unusual splendor of full state robes
began to appear. The sunlight stream
ing through the old lancet windows
flung back rich Jewels of radiance
from scintillating diamond tiaras, and
duca1 coronets. The red robes, the
nodding plunes of the women, the
shimmering white dresses, the brill
liant uniforms and many orders
glistening on the breasts of the men
were set off beautifully by the old
grey walls of the storied Abbey which
has seen so many sights like unto
this. All through the morning, the
spaces, even ascending to the very
roof, we're gradually filling up and,
though good manners kept the vast
assemblage in reverent mood, SUBJ
dued hum of whispers was audible,
until the procession of clergy entered
from the Chapter House, bearing the
regalia of Britain on crimson cushions.
This was a signal that the King him
self was near at hand and the roar of
welcome from the spectators without,
gradually growing in volume as the
royal procession approached, set
everyone on the tiptoe of expectation.
At length the head of the procession
came into view, marvellous array
of military officers, preceding the
various royal and continental ENJOYS,
who wore glittering uniforms, their
ladies being dressed in white and
wearing wonderful jewels. Among
them was the Archduke Francis
Joseph, heir presumptive to the Aus
trian throne, a tall German of youth
full appearance; the Crown Princes
and Princesses of Germany, of
Sweden, and of Greece, Prince Henry
of the Netherlands, Prince Danilo of
Montenegro, and many others, while
Mr.. Hays Hammond from the States
and Admiral Jonquiere, the French
representative, walked together.
These distinguished guests and the
members of the Royal family who fol-
lowed were accommodated with seats
in a tribune raised behind the sane
tuary, where they faced the multitude
in the Abbey and looked down upon
the Coronation rite. In the front row
of this vantage point were the Royal
children the young Princess Mary,
a very lovely little figure in white,
wearing a tiny coronet on her golden
hair, her elder brother, the Prince of
Wales, in the robes of his Office as
Duke of Cornwall, and the three
younger Princes, one as naval cadet
the others in Highland dress. Walk
ing alone under his canopy of state
came the King. King George V, is not
a man of imposing stature, but though
scarcely of the middle height he car
ries himself with a dignity which re-
minds one of King Edward, and his
bronzed face with the light brown
beard and striking grey eyes, which
someone has compared to those OF
Charles l and called 'eyes of fate,
looked very we'll under the crimson
velvet cap of state. Queen Mary in
a wonderful robe of cloth of gold EN-
broidered with the rose, shamrock
and thistle, her fair hair coiled
round her head in becoming greciaT
fashion, and walking between her foul
beautiful Duchesses-taH, gracious
women who supported above her head
a heavy canopy of crimson and gol6
for three hours-looked superb
figure. The Duke of Norfolk, hered
itary Earl Marshall of England
seemed to be everywhere at once, and
directed the service with remarkable
precision.