The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-06-22
HAMMOND IS BUSY
u. S. Envoy Received BY
King George.
PIERS REHEARSt SERVICES
London Gets Foretaste of Gorgeous
Spectacle When Prominent
Actors Practice Coronation
Ceremony.

London, June PA fulldress re
hearsal OF the coronation ceremony
the reception OF ENJOYS from foreign
lands by the king and queen at Buck
ingham Palace, the state banquet 10
royal guests and representatives OF
the heads OF states. and the Shake
spearean ball at Albert Hall. made ur
Tuesdays crowded program of events
directly connected with the browning
OF King George and Queen Mary
The coronation rehearsal depicted
the ceremony practically as it will be
performed on Thursday.
The Shakespearean ball was nota'
bic afair. as King George and Queen
Mary and nearly all Of the members
Of royalty we're present
The state banquet at Buckingham
Palace was the most elaborate Of the
Kind ever given in London. The IA.
nous Windsor gold plate was used.
Aside from these main events there
are large number of lesser features
constantly recurring incident TO the
continuous arrival OF distinguished
foreigners and the innumerable semi.
Official dinenrs. garden parties. recep
tious. exhibitions and private events
which have sprung up in connection
with the coronation festivities.
Enormous crowds gathered early In
the vicinity Of Westminster Abbey.
where the peers and peeresses furnish
cd tree show. many arriving for the
coronation rehearsal wearing their
robes and carrying their coronets un'
covered: while there We're great
throngs near Buckingham Palace To
watch the coming and going of the
uniformed ENJOYS attending their ma
jesie, reception There was nothing
else 10 be seen in the vicinity of the
palace. which is bare Of decorations.
bat thousands stood throughout the
day peering through the ratings and
sat he'd 10 watch the sentry daring
the intervals between functions when
the court was passing.
John Hays Hammond. special Unit
"a States ambas, adOr. had we'll filled
lay Win Mrs hammond he lunch ed
Al Kenslnston Palace. the guest Of
Princess Iouise.Wh % is an old friend
Of the Hammonds AZ The luncheon he
met Prince Henry OF Battenberg aud
small party.
Hammond Meets King.
y, terlay afternoon Mr. Hammond
hal IN audience with the king at
Blu, bingham Palace
Last night Mr.. and Mrs Hammond
ATTENDED the state banquet. later going
10 inc -reat Shakespearean ball At
Albert .ll
Al ne banquet at Buckingham Pal
ace. given by the king and queen 10
the special representatives OF the vari-
Gus powers. Mr. Hammond took in the
Princess Alexander OF Teck. sister-in-
law Of the queen. Seated at the same
table with the American special am
bassador were Prince Henry OF Prus-
STA. the Chinese Prince Tsai Chen.
eldest son Of the regent Of China; the
hereditary Princess OF Saxe-Menin-
gen. who is a sister OF Emperor VIII
liam. and the Prince OF Monaco
Before the dinner Mr.. Hammond
was introduced 10 the king by the
Duke OF Connaught, and following the
banquet the special ambassador intro
duced his staff TO his majesty. Later
IN the evening the king specially sent
for Mr.. Hammond and conversed with
him for some time.
The feet Of foreign warships here
for the coronation was made complete
By the arrival OF the German cruiser
Won Der Tam. Sixteen nations are
represented at Spithead. The Ameri-
can battleship Delaware takes the
premier place both in the matter OF
size and armament.
John Hays Hammond had an au-
dience with King George. during which
he presented a letter from President
Taft wishing the British monarch a
long life and reign. The delivery Of
this letter was followed by another
pleasant chat between his majesty and
the United States special ambassador.