The Sentinel=record., 1911-06-18
~
FOR CORONATION
PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS
FOR BIG EVENT RAPIDLY
NEARING CLOSE
Familiar Sights in London Almost
obliterated by Decorations
10000 Troops to
Participate.

London, June 1.-THE final prepa-
rations for the coronation festivities
through next week are rapirly being
brought to close, and the city is
fast being given over to spirit of
holiday rejoicing on colossal scale,
with untold thousands of visitors
from America and other parts of the
world here, to join in the royal DEM
instration.
notable feature along The lines
of route to be followed by the newly
crowned king, in his procession thru
the streets of London next Thursday
and Friday, is the almost complete,
transformation Of similar sights.
Churches, ancient edifices, public
buildings and cIen spaces, business
promises and private residences have
entirely cbangel their appearances.
Starting with the Westminster Abby
itself, the annex added to increase the
accommodation has altered its aspect
almost alarmingly, although efforts
We're exerted to lend an air of age to
the stucco addition.
The Parliamentary church of st.
Margaret and the adjacent Parliament
square are unrecognisable in conse-
quence of the gigantic stands covered
with purple bunting, surrounding and
hiding them from view. On the
latter spot the statue of Lord Bacons-
field appears to look down on the
passing procession as from a private
box at theatre, for it is enclosed in
square wooden palisade reaching to
the breast.
Then along Whitehall, stand after
stand varies the usual appearance OF
the imposing government offices and
the old-fashioned Admiralty. AT
| Trafalgar square Landseer's lions have
disappeared under timber tiers of
seats. Old Saint Martins in the Field
is cloaked in bunting and surrounded
by crowded stands.
In response to many petitions from
participants in the Coronation cere-
monial, the Office of Warks has de-
cided to permit those present to pur-
chase as souvenirs the chairs and
stools on which they sat, all of which
are marked with the word Corona
ton and emposed with he crown
and the date of the oecurance.
The onerous duty of the disposition
of the guests has fallen on the Ear
Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, who Tor
many weeks has been the busiest man
in England. His task was rendered
all the more difficult by reason of the
fact that the space in Westminster
Abbey is very limited and before he
was abe to take into consideration
any OF the thousands Of applications
for invitations from the distinguished
visitors and others desirious of being
present, he was compelled to provide
sitting room for no fewer than 4,040
official guests.
These guests represent 40 members
of the Royal family, ESQ foreign rulers
and representatives of foreign States,
l,450 peers and peeresses, go mem
haro DorIfar,ant ooa ,,,o,,, hor. 90 .ho
diplomatic corps, priyy councillors,
bishops and judges, 600 official colon
ial representatives, $50 officers OF
the army and navy, kings councillors
and members of the Royal household /.
As the Abbey is capable of holding
only slightly under 5000, there re-
manned only about 1000 places to be
disposed of by the unofficial public
A large staff wa sengaged in the. Earl
Marshall's office for over month in
sending out corteous refusals.
A peculiar dilemma arising out of
the scarcity of frst-elass carriage
horses which has developed since the
universal introduction of the motor
car, affected many members OF the
peerage and ancient nobility par
'icipating prominently in the regal
functions and professions of the
coronation. The question of horsing
the cumbersome but elegantly en-
blazoned family State coaches which
have been in service sometimes for
centuries. on such occasions became
came in many cases -acute and re
course had to be had for their supply
not only to the stables of country
mansions. where most of the animals
are now kept, but to the public livery
stables, who for time enjoyed some
thing of their prestige.
No fewer than 10000 troops. COM
prising representative regiments Of
the regular army, the weomanry, the