New-York tribune., 1911-02-12

Englishwomen are just now in fermen'
of excitement about the coronation Tor
unlike the inauguration Of a President, the
coronation isn't an exclusively masculine
pageant. In fact, a coronation could no'
take place without women without Violat-
Sug the traditions Of a thousand years
which fact ought to reconcile the fair sex
70 sharing the honors in the matter OF
dress on this occasion with the sex which
IS usually content to act as foil TO their
charms.
BY royal command coronation robes and
ornaments must he the product Of British
industry. Queen Mary has ordered the
laces for her coronation gown from the
Shaldon Lace School in Devonshire. Cos
tumiers and designers of all classes nave
been inspired 10 do their very best in or
der that when 1t is all over England may
pat them on the back and say: 1T was the
best ever. my boys. and we did 1t all our
eelves. didn't we?"
1t is no mean task, however, TO rival the
splendors of the past From the days OF
the Conqueror TO the last, pathetlcally re-
cent, the coronation Of King Edward, these
ceremonies have been attended with the
utmost n1agnifcence, with the glowing col
ors Of royal robes and the flashing OF All
the nations jewels.
The English people love pageantry' anu
these scenes in Westminster Abbey, sacred
20 coronations since the day OF Nlllam
the Conaueror, give expression to the hd-
tional love for picturesque snlendor. HOW
the last coronation thrilled the nation Is
suegested by the flow of rhetoric whlch
strcamed from the pen of woman writer
Mrs. Eric Pritchard. who described II as
follows:
What a prospect. The medieval ap-
proach to the Abbey. It's windlne steps'
is solemn greyness, It's stiffness, l1s eTers peas
'temporal and spiritual And as the
watchers look through into the great m
terror. what vista of beauty mere avail
..hem. what blaze Of color. what harmony
~ scene, The royal prncesSes in their
gorgeous gowns and purple ropes, lIlr
trains borne by the maids-in-Waltlns. aI
in white. The peers and peereTseS i s"eI in
ali their Splendor. court dresses, resplenu-
ent uniforms. church dienitarles, kmgnts
and pages Most happy was Lord EsneI EI, : :
scheme OF decoration at King EdWaru ;
CORONATION: the gorgeous blue carpet ana
lhsncings were q wonderful seton 10 the
royal reds and purple. Plh me ,s5s iasa WIEN I
The streets were lain with gravel ana
blue cloth fer Queen Elizabeth?
There has not been Of late the same ne
ssity-which seems 10 have been urgent
an Flizsbe,h's time-of covering the muddy
streets with cloth when royalty goes
ab,oad hut there is a striking resemblance
Ietween the coronation OF the Virgin queen
and later monarchs-for instance. Queen
Victoria The parliamentary robes are al
vavs of richest crimson" ana the dal-
matte robe. or imperial pail, If OF cloth
of gold. lined or "furred' with ermine. In
tho records Queen Victoria is referred TO as
"ha bited in rich mantle and train OF Grim
son velvet above slip of satin wrought
with gold. and circlet ~ diamonds on her
brow" Her dalmatic robe was put on by
the archbishop. and after the service she
changed her robes Of state 10 those oil
purple velvet
Not only are the principal features or the
coronation as unalterable as the laws oi
the Medes and the Persians but many of
4he minor details are observed win the
closest reference 10 tradition. The ring Tor
example which tho Archbishop slips on the
Queens finger is y relic Of St Edward the
Confessor. II was he who gave a ring 10
q hegrar who asked aims and then turned
out 20 he ST. John tho Evangelist. The ring.
which he gave back 20 the King. Of course,
became a sacred emblem. and was handed
down through many reigns. Richard II
presented the nation with new one, a
ruby. and William " further improved on
antiquity by providing a sapphire with a
yubv cross. which has been the pattern
ever since.
The deeper ono delves into these ancient
aourt records tho more picturesque they be-
cor,c. This description Of the coronation
of Elizabeth. wife Of Henry VII, gives the
whole picture In ono paragraph:
Being thcn m kiruc and mantle of
rtiiple velvet tho queene came furth of
Wcstulnster Han from the which place
she went upon new bay clothc, hut more
pi'ie. there was So moche people pressing 10
cut the hay clothe that the quccne went
upon. that certin persOnes I'm the presso
wore slain and tic order Of the ladies fol-
lowing the quecrc were broken and dis
troubled.
Those who critc.sc the rising generation
f,r lack Of respect and abnormal greed"
for souvenirs may we'll pause 20 reflect
upon the fate of that ancient bay clothc.
Tho next queen was spared such Demon
stratlons bv the vulgar multitude" for
.hc wa borne in litter. "appareled in
white satyn. embroidered. her hceire hang
ing downc 20 her backc Of ye-y great