The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-02

l.. titled to attend the coronation
IL Of King George next June has
received from the leading the
atrical costumier in London, circu-
lar offering to hire out to them the
necessary robes for the ceremony.
These are OF velvet. capped with mini
Yer and barred with arminc. the nuns
Der OF the ermine bars being grad :
uatcd according to the wearcrs rank
in the peeragc. The length of the
trains OF these robes varies from two
one yard for Il mere baroness. such as
the new Lady Decies. who was until
SO recently Miss vivien Gould.
Tones smsh as; as 'n ,he are very cry, c So
worn on the occasion OF coronations,
and differ IN toto from what are known
a the parliamentary robes OF the peers.
they constitute rather heavy burden
on the exchequer Of those unfortunate
Lords, and their Ladies'. who have been
so impoverished by the fiscal lesisla-
ton Of the Chancellor OF the Exchc-
quer Lloyd George.
King Edward created more than q
hundred peers during his nine years
reign. and King George has already a
None Of these have coronation robes.
while many OF the peers and peeresses
who had coronation robes made for the
coronation of Edward VII. have un-
douhtedly already turned them to
other purposes, or else converted them
into cash.
TO all of these the offer contained in
the London theatrical costumier's cir
cular will provo very attractive. He
makes no secret Of the fact that he
can subsequently other sell thensr or
hire them out for stage purposes. and
for those pageants, reviving historic
scenes. that are so constantly being
organized for the celebration of nat.
ional anniversaries. When peers and
are called upon to choose between the
hiring OF coronation robes at a cost of
perhaps fifty dollars, and the purchase
thereof at an expense Of about q thou
the costumiers propositions. Thus fin
ancial exigercies Will bring about the
Invasion OF the coronation ceremony in
manner calculated to affect the
solemnty of the latter. y
It is owing to the inevitable stagi-
ness OF SUCH ceremonies that they have
Of Europe, excepting Russia. Norway.
Hungary and Great Britain. In the
case Of Russia and Hungary. the peo-
pie, owing 10 their Asiatic origin, are
taste for show and symbolism. that the
coronations serve a very important
purpose. by creating a deep Impression
on their extremely susceptible minds.
King Haakon's coronation was princi-
paily interded to mark the revival Of
the ancient kingdom of Norway, after
SO many hundred years OF alien doni-
nation. and it is probable that when
the most democratic nation in Europe,
he will. like the King OF Sweden, and
like his grandfather and the present
King OF Denmark, content himself with
swearing fidelity to the Constitution,
and vii dispense with coronations.
In n, bng ing despite the grandeur
kind, within the thousand year old
walls OF Westminster Abbey, the in
vasion of the theatrical costumier into
the affair Is calculated to diminish the
sense OF solemnity connected there
with, as we'll as It's sacred character.
and to emphasize its character as a
mere pageant, the tone Of the present
age in England and elsewhere being.
| in the direction not merely of demo-
cracy, but also of irreveJence and 10
the ridicule Of things thae 6 have hithcr-
to enjoyed respect. In one word, the
London theatrical costumierS circular
constitutes a blow to the repetition OF
ceremonies of this kind in future
Capt. the Hon. Dudley Carleton, who
has spent several seasons at Newport.
and n winter In New York. and who
during his stay here has been
frequently reported engaged to this or
that American heiress. is now about
to to. we'd ono Of his conntrywomcn. His
iancec, The lovely Violet Monclton,
daughter of Lord Galway, and who,
through the bcquest of an uncle. he
came tho owner or valuable estates in
Snrry. and an income Of 100000 q