The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-20
But Still Great City ThrObs With the Coronation
 Fever
HAMMONDS MAKE
 OFFICIAL ENTRY
Coronation Week Signalized By Free Handed Distribution of Title and Decoration Honors to Ma
 tion's Illustrious Men

London, June 1e.-Rain began falling steadily early this afternoon and the flags along the streets tonight hung limp, their gaudy colors blurred, while paint ran down the columns of the triumphal arches. Some of these finest decorative effects arranged for the coronation cele- bration stand a fair chance of being ruined The spectacular aspect of Lon don is considerably damaged, but the town has festive appearance regardless of the unkndness of the weather
 Many Examinations blazed tonight all tho way from the West End clubs to the heart of the financial district where the stock exchange and the Bank of Eng land were bright with electric lights Throngs of people splashed cheerfully through the muddy streets enjoying the patriotic show.
 Buckingham Palace again today was the center of popular interest and to- night as last night traffic was congested throughout a wide area. Central London will see little rest day or night until the crowning Is over. Well into the small hours of the morning there was a con- stant parade of oelated sightseers watch ing curiously the workmen engaged in completing the decorations, some of which still remains to be done. and must be completed at night. owing to the difficulty of obtaining sufficient men. The stands are being hurriedly painted and hung with red cloth and garlands are strung across the streets, while fin- ishing touches are being put on other decorations The King and Queen had a busy day. In addition to receiving a large number of visiting royalties at the palace, they attended a rehearsal ceremony at the abbey and this evening dined the foreign representatives at Buckingham Palace. The Queen received deputations from various parts of the empire.
 While the dinner was quiet affair compared with the grand state dinner tomorrow, which will be the largest and most pretentious function of the sort ever held in England, ordinarily it would be regarded as a great event All the princes and princesses and lesser mem brs of the royal family with the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and John Hays Hammond, the personal represen- tative of the President of the United States, were present.
 Fleet Ready at Spithead The fleet at Spithead Is now prac- 1 tically in full force for the review. Most of the foreign vessels arrived to- day and took up their stations and during the day there was constant firing of salutes of 21 guns in honor of the nation and another of IF guns in honor of the commander-inch chief After the royal dinner at the palace many of the guests drove to Stafford house. which overlooks the Mall, where the Duchess of Sutherland gave a ball This was the most magnificent private social affair London has seen in years. Stafford house is the largest residence in London and is famous because of Queen Victoria's remark once when vis- itng there:
 q have come from my house to your palace
 It ballroom is one of the most palatial halls in England.
 Besides the members of the British royal family. with the exception of the King and Queen, most of the royal vis- itors from abroad with their suites, the iplomatic corps. including the mem bers of the regular and special Amer ican embassies the colonial represen- tatives many of the leading statesmen and nearly everyone prominent in so- cety were present. The display of uni forms and costly dresses and jewels carriages and state coaches of the guests filled the Mall. A crowd of thousands. notwithstanding the rain, witnessed their arrival.
 The British Empire league gave g large ball tonight at the Hotel Cecil in honor of the officers of the overseas forces. Several hundred colonials and English officers were present. Earlier In the day members of the colonial parliaments in London were rendered a luncheon in Westminster hall by the members of the house of commons. Lord Roseberry was the principal speaker. James Keir Hardle, M. P, for Merthyr sxJf cf Ia hnr member, struck the only discordant note thus far heard in the coronation sea son. "The workers ought to have suf- flcIent self-respect to spit at the cor opatlon procession and all it's hollow mockery." he said, speaking at miners demonstration at Barnsley. What will be seen in the corona tion procession is not humanity, religion or industry, but the forces that oppress the common people. The workingmen should see that kings, caesars emperors and all the unholy brood are pu, In their proper places" The barricades across the side streets along the coronation route have excited some criticism. Douglass Bernard Hall attacked them in the house of commons today. asserting that the danger of peo- pie being crushed against them would keep loyal subjects away.
 A score of King Georges coronation
  ed London today. Throughout the day special after special rolled into different London railway terminals, bringing in princes and special ambassadors and suites from all points of the globe. The streets presented a lively appearance with a constant coming and going of the royal carriages with their escorts, conveying the guests to Buckingham palace and other palaces and the private residence given over for the entertainment of their envoys
 The German crown prince and his party Prince Henry of Prussia, Prince Henry of the Netherlands, were among this mornings arrivals. The Duke of Connaught and other members of the royal family fitted from station to sta tion to meet each newcomer unde- tered by the showers of mud that their swiftly moving vehicles tossed up.
 The public appears smitten by the coronation fever. They throng the streets in such multitudes as to make progress anywhere in the center of ia shionable London a matter of diff culty.
 Hammonds Arrive
 John Hays Hammond. "the special rep resentative of the President of the United States" accompanied by Mrs. Hammond and the special embassy staff made his
 
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