The Detroit times., 1911-06-19
|IDDA IsTEEMIkG
|IR THR0hGsf0R
|C0R8NATl0N
IS nays Of Torrential showers Dc
J. Dapps.- -Asdss Of Crowd. Who
rIock 70 Metropolis From All
Parts Of the World.
prchants Raise Prices To Such High
Figures That Many Face
Bankruptcy.
~ CHARLES p. STEWART.
London Correspondent OF the United
n.~.a a.a 0aAeolA TlsaAa

~ CHAHLE8 p. STEWAHI.
(London CORRESPONDENT OF the United
Press and Detroit Tlmes.)
LONDON, June l9.--England Is to-
day on the eve OF the most spectacu-
lar event In her history, the cr0wning
on Thursday, of King George v, and
Queen Mary. Not that the crowning
Of this royal pair II OF any greater
\ Importance than similar events In
the past, but that the king and queen
both with love for ceremonials, and
England and the world at large up
parently clamoring for such O page
ant. has combined to make the func.
ton the most sumptuous Of It's kind.
Arrangements are completed. After
months OF planning and execution,
those In charge Of the AFFAIR realize,
although with nervous apprehension,
that all has been done what can ID
done.
Two days Of torrential showers have
& worked. havoc to the decorations
X Bunting, flags and pennants. except
those OF the best grade. viii have 70
be replaced unless they are 10 be an
actual detraction from the beautifica-
ton OF the professional route.
Tho rains. however, have had no
in1uence on the crowds which have
flocked TO the city until even now the
streets are almost impassable.
Thirty-nine visiting envoys arrived
today, and the welcoming crowds at
the stations were 80 vast that the
police had great difficulty In preserv-
Ing order. Today's envoys included
20 princes and princesses, who
brought with them large retinues and
mountains OF baggage.
That the coronation crowds are
00ing TO furnish rich harvest for
nfckpockets and other crooks, was
Clearly manifested today by the num-
bof Of complaints made to the police.
. SO far the police have given most at
tention to hose who might be sus-
pected OF designs on the royalties TO
4 the end that the lesser criminals have
had full sway. All political exiles
and homegrown agigators are under
& the closest surveillance. Many have
been arrested on bogus charges, and
Will be kept confined while the ciSy
is toeming with royal visitors.
The crowds are proving the cheap
est that ever visited the city, ami
merchants are complaining bitterly OF
the almost complete failure OF the
commercial harvest. This is due
chiefly to the enormous pri'
. charged. The merchants boosted
their prices beyond all reason and q
fexfi7c cut will have to be inaugurat-
"a Immediately. or many or the
+ merchants VIII be facing bankruptcy.
Primarily, the coronation day page
ant Il Intended to impress the kings
nubjects with the greatness Of the in.
ntiu1tion of royalty and to create that
+ enthusiasm for II, which, in spite OF
. III the royalists' efforts. Is so newt
Ably dying out. With the decline, how
ever. Of its political influence, Il In
certain that never in the historS Of
1och displays has any been turned SO
nGectively to commercial account as
ne present one. From all over the
world tourists and money have been
Dooring into England. For weeks to
oo1ne the tourists will remain, and the
1un which London merchants and
Iondlords viii gather In from them ID
|ncalculable.
n their greed, the traders have, In
hot, to some extent, over-reached
(hcmselves. The throng of visitors In
he city Ii to be sure enormous, but
here II little doubt that 1t would
XAxa been far greater had not 30
many people been frightened into re-
naming away by advance news Of
ne remorselessness with which they
vou1d be bied II they came.
The commercialixation OF the coro-
nation has had still another effect.
Never beautiful though q pictur-
. oDQue city, London has been rendered
Docitively hideous by the enormous
f1x board grandstands which fll its
1kreets and public places and hide its
6nest buildings. The whole front of
Wegtminister Abbey for example Is
E today concealed behind one Of these
friehtful piles of boardings. A ter
r|1c outcry was raised among London.
ern themselves against the folly of en-
6nneering the historic structure In
this manner, for In the event OF fire
nothing could save IL from destruc-
Hon To all such complaints, how.
ever. the Dean and Chapter, mindful
of the. fortune they will reap from
the sale Of the seats, replied that an
o1Icient guard is being maintained
and that In any event the Abbey Is
Insured for s250.o00.
The handsome expanse OF Parlia-
uent Square and even the beautiful
1ordens surrounding the Victoria
Memorial In front of Buckingham
Palace have likewise disappeared be-
1cafh the monstrous creations OF the
builderr and carpenters
Humble citizens who wish TO uvoid
waiting for hours In the coronation
1oy crowds will be permitted TO oc-
cupy seats at the top OF these noun.
[oins Of woodwork--not too near the
Drocossional route---at the rate OF s15
This IL positively the best that Il
" possible 20 do on coronation day.
1CuEi1 for the succeeding days
1ren1t. seats can be obtained for az
~ ~ IS apiece. For the better seats
fonafion day prices range from s25
e1niteIy upwards The recofd is
o1nbIy 37.S75 for houseful OF win.
&uo IN Piccadilly for\ coronation day
re IN st. James street--clubland
here have been few places to ,et
I1usc club members are monopoliz.
them an
/tr<et decorations are everywhere,
|@n N small. mean thoroughfares,
- from the routes OF any OF the
.&1rIons. Electric globes, colored
11<ns and enormous desigls OF
~r1 on OF the royal monogram are
|[IY displayed In addition "a
&1muou rnn Of fliuminafions