New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-19
THE ABBEY PAGEANT
Robes and Ritua|-A MagnlfI-
cent Court.
London, June I.

August suffered from aHli-cilhh"N' -"
rrocessio,s outside and within the Appey
were shortened; the ritual was siinpnneu
nv the omission of litany, sermon ana
various acts of homage; the sovereign
was presented from the centre ihs,eau
of each of the four sides OF the tneatre'
the symbolic bestowal Of temporal power
through rhe consecrated regalia was
sh,rred: the music was scamped; and the
foreign princes and special ENJOYS were
absent from the choir. King Edward
probably for the inst time In MS me-
vas nervous and restless, fidgetng over
his decora tons and robes and constantly
moving his hands. Two physicians were
close at hand for an emergency. ana the
court officials were in a flutter OF excite
ment lest some thing should go wrong
Archbishop Temple was so nearly pima
that he had to he led about. and When
he offered homage to the King he could
rot rise from his knees and had TO be
supported by two prelates. and Dean
Bradley stumbled about the altar ana
nearly dropped the chalice during the
communion office. The spectators were
overwrought and lIstless. and the pa
geant as a whole was neither as brilliant
nor as impressive as the Earl Marshal
had hoped it would be.
If the unexpected be barred out, the
coronation Of George will exceed In
artistic beauty and gorgeous magnlh-
cence any ceremonial that has ever taken
place in Westminster Abbey. The blue
and gold color scheme adopted at the
last coronation in place of the flaming
reds ordinarily employed will be re-
peated with many passages Of gray. pur-
pie and black. and a larger use viii he
made of the rose thistle, shamrock ana
lotos in decoration. While the blends Of
color will he more harmonious in the
hsngings for the concealment Of car
pentry and IN the decoration Of the walls
and floors. the pageant will he enrichea
at every point. There will be a larger
body of clergy in more splendid vest
ments: the heralds. standard bearers and
medieval mummers will make Drawer
show: the procession Of state and court
officials will be longer and more IN
geniously grouped for the supreme mo-
ments If the conservation service, the
peeresses will be more magnif1cently cos
tuned and jewelled. and the ritual will
be more stately and richer in symbolism.
While the King and the Queen have no
passion for pageantry and ceremonial
they have appreciated the imperial value
Of a coronation which will be ranked in
onulence and grandeur with that or
George ". and the Earl Marshal and his
chief assistants, having planned one
pageant with painstaking care. have
known how to improve upon it in many
respects.
Queen Mary will he the central figure
of the most beautiful tableau of the
coronation. The underdress and over
dress will be of cloth of gold and tulle,
covered with enbroideries, and the royal
robes before and after coronation VIII
he lined with ermine and will carry an
immense train of purple velvet. trailing
six yards behind her. The train VIII De
embroidered in different shades of gold
with exquisite designs of the rose. shan-
rock and thistle and wreaths OF acorns
and oak leaves The trainbearers. In
stead OF being pages as at Queen Alex
andra's coronation, will be hair dozeh
or more tall, handsome girls. the daugh-
ters of earls. arrayed IN gold ana silver
textures. Queen Mary will not have SO
MANY maids of honor with her in the
procession into the theatre as Queen
Alexandra had nine years ago, but four
beautiful duchesses will hold over her
canopy of cloth OF gold when she IS
crowned. When she leaves the Abbey
at the close Of the service the hoIinoor
ui1 no IN her crown between two GULL
nan diamonds. and no Queen VIII ever
have been jewelled with equal spiendor.
There VIII be the largest muster OF
increases eyer seen in the Kingdom BE-
ginning with duchesses on a lever Win
the throne. they will rise tier after tier
in the north transept until the triforium
line is approached Seated in the order
If rank with their coronets IN their
hands they will be enthroned IN the
glory of miniver and ermine, silk velvet
as thin as muslin, and diamonds and
heirlooms The crimson robes, capes
and trains trimmed with fur have been
fixtures since the reign of William ~,
and uniformity is rigidly enforced by the
court The white underdresses or petit
coats are yelled in lace and embroidered
i'm gold and silver thread, In accordance
with individual taste Many peeresses
will wear their coronation robes Tor the
second time I'm the Abbey, and why
should they not when the fashion does
not change from reign 10 reign and
miniver and ermine are so dear? Nearly
all the underdresses will be new, and
while the coronets will suit the most
becoming couture the display Of tiaras
and Jewels will be unexampled. The
Queen has set the style of lavish use of
historic Jewels. and the sumptuous
spIendor of heirlooms already noticeable
at balls and parties will be even more
noticeable at the Abbey, where, in addi-
ton To the pecresses. all the great ladies
IN English society will be gathered for
the most magnificent of courts.
Disilusionment there may he respect
ing the silver gilt coronets. All viii not
be gold that glitters when the circles are
lifted with both hands to the heads when
the Queen is crowned, and equally
ta~dry will be the peers coronets when
the King receives homage. Nor is Il