The Washington herald., 1911-06-23
az sTR GILRERr PARKER-

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
London, June 22-Never has the modern
world seen nobler sight.
Never did the ancient world have such
q crowning.
Purple and gold and crimson every
where. people in bright colors massed in
q happy moving drama, panorama Of
the empire. Apart from mere display Of
gathered forces, here is the most won
derful alliance Of nations saluting flag,
making king, celebrating one principle
of government, giving the head Of the race
and OF all governments of the empire his
commission, formally declaring him to all
the world as their chosen nege lord and
leader, the one constant element In the
changes which pass over commonwealths
and which trouble the path Of govern
ment.
London. west and south, north and
east, looks like an italian city, q very
beautiful and shaded Italian city, with
its canopied seats covering the fronts
Of the great buildings and the lesser
structures too.
Air OF Mystery.
1t has an air Of mystery and romance
Of almost medieval picturesqueness.
Harold the Saxon, Alfred the Briton,
Hengist Horsa the Dane, or Richard
Occur de Lion, with all the knights that
ever set out to rescue the Holy Sepulcher
or sported at Elizabeth's court, would
have been in place in this picture. This
scheme of decoration is a city trans
formed, full Of vital being, gay in a new
way, a panorama in which millions Of
people move.
Eight millions Of people slept in Lon
don last night, and probably more peo-
Qy- he rfa n %
than ever did before in all the United
Kingdom. And the solid gates, put up at
intervals, where the pressure OF the
crowds was likely to be greatest, to aid
the police, add to the ancient and romano
tic character Of this strange transformed
capital OF the empire.
Such crowds never underwent so much
fatigue. With greater good humor, or
der and pride in being Britishers were
course OF men and nations.
Hero wOrshIpinE There.
And such hero worshiping, too. Con-
naught, Roberts, and Kitchener, the
mesterful and supreme in command. were
swept away by the shouting and the hur-
rahs. They were part OF the majesty
of the King, Of the peoples King.
The peoples King! His powers not
dependent upon the fluctuations of
things, not even on himself. He is not
the individual. exercising his pleasure
and giyfnE his pleasure its liberty. He
is crystal of the nations elements. His
majesty is the epitome Of the history he
represents; he is tradition, custom,
power, progress, race, the composite
man; its splendor to-day as we saw him
on his throne in his robe of simmer
ing gold and the imperial crown shin
ing with precious stones and the scep-
ter and orb in his hand.
The rainbow scene in the Abbey and
IN the streets only expressed the COM
mand of the British people over re,
sources. civilization, dignity, refine
ment, and charm even more than the
gorgeousness which marked this whole
ceremony.
No other country could have produced
so magnificent a scene-a congerie of ma
tons one in heart, in purpose, in Alliance,
with eyes enlivened by a wonderful heri-
tage.
No Dying Monarchy.
No sign here OF a decadent people or
dying monarchy. Standing at the bar
of the House of Lords when King Edward
opened the first Parliament of the pres
ent administration, one of the Labor
members, watching the proud nobility
OF the scene, said this will take lot OF
moving.
If there were any revolutionists or an
archists or republicans in to-day's myr-
lads who watched the King and the
captains, they, too, must have said,
This win take a lot Of moving"
Sixty princes and prtncesses, besides
those of the blood royal, of whom
there were at least twenty-five, passed
ha ~ he IN Ahaf
cient site where Edward the Confessor
built an altar nearly 200 years ago, ded-
icated to the conservation of kings, and
where the people have come to elect and
crown their King since Harold the
Saxon lay prone before IT in January,
1856,
Within the memory OF people still liv-
ing, four sovereigns have been crowned
in this abbey, and scenes Of majesty have
satisfied the eyes Of those who love their
fatherland and are happy in its great
ness.
Outshines Them All.
But to-day's splendors were many times
greater than those which went before.
I was at the coronation Of Edward the
Peacemaker. saw the crown placed
upon his head by Richard TempIar,
Of Canterbury; I heard the |
OhNn OL dlceAcIlC0 cWOIh lne FTl0Ce /
OF Wales, now head Of the British ma
tions, while all around blazed the glory |
OF peace whose history moved through a |
which successive generations |
had embalmed in rubric ritual
On that August day OF 1902 London was |
afame with rejoicing and its buildings
were richly decorated, but the crowning |
Of 1911 was marked by magnihcence by |
an artistic beauty which far outshines |
the happy display Of that other time
Here to-day are ENJOYS from score of |
lands, speaking for their ma
tions, bringing good wishes to the throne |
Of England, against which all tides and |
time and fortune wash In vain. Here, too. |
ct this sealing are the spokesmen from |
the governments OF all the people and |
nations Of our empire.
watch King Take Oath.
When Queen Victoria was crowned |
these spokesmen, these men Of mark and |
power in the new lands. had no place. |
but to-day. as In 1901. they watched their |
King and Emperor take his solemn oath |
''to govern the people Of this United |
Kingdom OF Great Britain, ireland. and |
the dominion thereto belonging. accord |
ing to the statutes in Parliament agreed |