Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-23
SCENES IN, wEsTMIEsTER ABBEY

Britieh fnOnafchs.
SCENES IN wEATMIE sTER ABBEY
Dtstfnguinhed Company from All Ma
tiOna witnesses Ceremony.
LONDON, June 22.-westminster Abbey,
the lode star Of ell today's ceremonial.
was ready and waiting the arrivals of
their maJesties by the time that the i'm
perial procession left buckingham palace.
Nothing could be more impressive than the
customary aspect Of the interior of the
abbey but this was all transformed today.
Where usually is a gray and somewhat
gloomy atmosphere was mass of blaz-
ing color.
All the tombs and the floor of the great
building were concealed under immense
carpets and hangings OF deep blue and
amber. The color scheme was rich and
impressive while It afforded a subdued
background to the marvellous mass Of
theatrically colored robes OF state and var
igated uniforms with flashing decorations.
The floor space in the transept was
wholly occupied by the white upholstered
chairs Of the peers and peeresses. those
of the peers on the south side and the
peeressos on the north. Back OF these
were immense stands In ascending tiers
filled with members of the House of Com
mons and their ladies'. Many commoners
were uniformed and wore decorations,
while the dresses OF the ladies were rich
and striking.
At each angle of the transept were smaller
stands for the accommodation Of the for
eign and, colonial representatives and other
high personages. There were the heirs to
most OF the thrones Of Europe, a crown
prince and princess of the German empire,
Prince Henry the emperor's brother, and
princess and duke of Aostas Prince Henry
of Netherland; Yusuf lied Din, the heir to
the Turkish throne with a red fez on his
head; Prince Fushimi of JapsW with. the
heroes of the Russian war, Adpiral Togo
and General Nogi in full uniforms with
much geld lace and rows OF decorations on
their breasts. the American official con-
tingent. Special Ambassador John Hays
Hammond with his aides. Admiral Vree-
land and General Greeley, Ambassador
Reid with his staff, almost the only Of
ficiais wearing plain clothes. and the
Chinese Prince Tasi Chean, robed in gor-
geous embroidered silks There. too, was
Manuel. the depossd, king of Portugal.
Few UnOffielaI Americans.
Above the choir stalls were arranged tier
after tier OF steats, the fronts OF the boxes
displaying the embroidered arms of the
three Kingdoms. Above the choir stalls
were other tiers of seats and altogether
nearly 1000 people were congregated as
closely together as they could be packed.
Among them the only unofficial Americans
were Charles p. Taft. the presidents
brother. with Mrs. Taft and Miss Taft. j.
Pierpont Morgan and eight newspaper cor
respondents. Mrs. Taft wore white satin
gown embroidered in brllliants and her
jewels were pearls and diamonds. Miss
1afts gown was OF white tulle embroidered
in pink with crystal beads. She wore I
pearl necklace.
Above the choir screen was the orchestral
platform, where was an orchestra Of eighty
musicians and several hundred male sing
ers. selected from the principal choirs OF
the kingdom.
The center of all interest was the area
between the choir and transepts which Is
called the theater. Five broad steps led
up to II. II was covered with a carpet OF
rich blue on which was embroidered the
emblem OF the Order OF the Garter and
other heraidic designs There were the
two thrones for the king and queen. COW
cred with crimson velvet and silk. and
before them marvellous oriental rugs, 800
years old. On the south side before the
peers were chairs for the young Prince of
Wales and the Duke OF Connaught.
In front OF the tarones AMI facing the
altar was the historic King Edwards chair
with the Stone of Destiny set In It's frame,
on which British sovereigns successfully
have sat for nearly 1000 years.
Great Variety of Costumes.
Peers in their purple velvet roDes and
ermine nantes carrying their eoronets
had hours previously escorted in peeresea
in evening dress and suberb trains borne by
pages, wearing diamonds and with feathers
in their hair. There we're ambassadors and
ministers In full regatta. low lords In wigs
and wearing robes thickly laden with gold
judges In scarlet and members of the
House OF Commons all In court dress OF
uniform.
The wait for she arrival of the process
sion was made-lsss tedious by the music OF
the, orchestra.
At $3.50 o'clock the entry OF the impress,
sive' procession Of clergy composing the
chapter OF Westminster abbey put a sud
den stop TO the sonorous hum Of converse
ton and inaugurRted the services OF the
day. The crowns and regalia were lifted
from the altar and conveyed on cushions
and in great state down the aisle to tn,
robing room. the choir meantime chanting
''oh Lord Our Help in Ages Past" tn,
chimes In the tower peeled a loud accom-
paninsent Upon the arrival az the robihs
room the regalia was handed to the heredi
tary bearers who awaited their majesties.
All eyes were turned to the west door IL
anticipation Of the arrival OF the process
sions. Scattered through the vast audi
) snee we're many nurses in simple costumes
prepared to lend first aid If their services
were required. 1
The whole complicated arrangements fol