Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-23
Medieval Spendor Marks Coronation in Abbey I
Westminster. Thunderous Welcoming Tunu|t
As the King and Queen Pass. incidents
and Accidents Of the Day.
IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

London. June 22.-Westminster alb
hey, the lodestar of all of today's cere-
monial, was ready and waiting the ar
rival of Their Majesties by the time
the imperial procession left Bueking
ham palace. Nothing could be more
impressive than the customary aspect
of the interior of the abbey but this
was all transformed today. Where
usually is gray and somewhat
gloomy atmosphere, was a mass of
blazing color.
The floor space in the transept was
wholly occupied by the white uphol-
stored chairs of the peers and peer
esses. those of the peers on the south
side and the peeresss on the north.
Back of these were immense stands in
ascending tiers filed with the mem
bers of the House of Commons and
their ladies'.
At each angle of the transept were
smaller stands for the accommodation
of the foreign and colonial representa-
tives and other high personages. There
were the heirs to most of the thrones
of Europe, the Crown Prince and
Princess of the German empire, Prince
Henry, the Emperor's brother, and his
Princess; the Duke of Aosta, Prince
Henry of The Netherlands, Yussuf
Izzed Din. the heir to the Turkish
throne, with red fez on his head
Prince Fushimi of Japan, with the
heroes of the Russian war. Admiral
Togo and General Nogi. in full uni
FORMS with much gold lace and rows
Of decorations on their breasts; the
American official contingent. Special
Ambassador John Hays Hammond,
with his aides. Admiral Vreeland and
General Greeley; Ambassador Reid
with his staff, almost the only officials
wearing plain clothes. and the Chinese
Prince Tsai Chen, robed in gorgeous
embroidered silks. There too, was
Manuel the deposed King of Portugal.
Above the choir stalls were arranged
tier after tier of seats. the fronts of
the boxes displaying the embroidered
arms of three Kingdoms.
Above the choir stalls were other
tiers of seats. and altogether nearly
fooo persons were congregated as
closely together as they could be pack
ed Among them the only unofficial
Americans were Charles P. Taft, the
Presidents brother. with Mrs Taft and
Miss Taft; j. P. Morgan and eight
newspaper correspondents. Mrs. Taft
wore white satin gown embroidered
In brilliants and her jewels were pearls
and diamonds. Miss Taft's gown was
OF white tulle embroidered in pink
with crystal beads. She wore a pearl
necklace.
Above the choir screen was an or
chestral platform where was an or
chestra of 80 musicians and several
hundred male singers selected from the
principal choirs of the Kingdom.
Inc center of all interest was the
area between the choir and transepts.
winch is called the theatre. Five broad
steps led up to it. 1t was covered with
carpet of rich blue on which was
embroidered the emblems of the Or
der of the Garter and other heraldic
designs. There were the two thrones
Tor tie King and Queen. covered with
crimson velvet and silk. and before
them marvellous Oriental rugs 500 years
ola On the south side before the peers
were chairs for the young Prince OF
Waies and the Duke of Connaught
In front of the thrones and facing
the altar, was the historic King Ed
wards chair with the Stone of Desti-
ny set in its frame, on which British
soVereigns successfully have sat for
nearly thousand years.
Peers in their purple velvet robes
and crmine nantes carrying their cor
onets mad hours previously escorted in
peeresses in evening dress and superb
trains borne by pages, wearing dia-
monds and with feathers in their hair.
lhere We're ambassadors and minis
ters IN full regalia; law lords in wigs
ana wearing robes thickly laden with
soio, judges in scarlet and members
of the House of Commons, all in court
dress or uniform.
Al $50 o'clock the entry of the i'm
pressive procession of clergy compos-
ing the chapter of Westminster Abbey
put sudden stop to the sonorous hum
or conversation and inaugurated the
service of the day. The crowns and re-
CANA We're lifted from the altar and
conveyed on cushions and in great
state down the aisle to the robing
room, the choir meantime chanting:
''Oh Lord; our help in ages past" The
chimes in the tower pealed a loud &C.
compartment
Upon the arrival at the robing room
the regalia was handed over to the
hereditary bearers who waited Their
Majesties The whole complicated ar
rangements for seating zoo to 5000 per-
sons were carried out smoothly with
the best of order
The arrival of further guests at
tracted constant attention. When J. F.
Continued on Page Seven.)