The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-23
Browning of George and Mary Without Parallel
 in English History
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
 CENTER OF INTEREST
Magnificence and Splendor of Corona tion Service Fills Great Audience With Awe and Admiration
 as Rituals Are Read


 bey. the lode star of all of today's cer- emonies, was ready and waiting the arrival of their majesties by the time that the imperial procession left Buck ingham palace. Nothing could be more impressive than the customary aspect of the interior of the abbey, but this was all transformed today. Where usu ally Is a gray and somewhat gloomy atmosphere was mass of blazing color.
 All the tombs and the floor of the great building were concealed under immense carpets and hangings of deep blue and amber. The color was rich and impressive, while it afforded a subdued background to the mass of theatrically colored robes of state and variegated uniforms with flashing dec- orations
 The floor space in the transept was wholly occupied by the white uphol- stered chairs of the peers and peer eses, those of the peers on the south side and the peeresses on the north. Back of these were immense stands in ascending tiers filled with the mem
 
 ladies.
 Many commoners were uniformed and wore decorst tions while the dresses of the ladies were rich and striking.
 At each angle of the transept were small stands for the accommodation of the foreign and colonial representatives and other high personages.
 There were the heirs to most of the thrones in Europe, crown prince and princess of the German empire, Prince Henry, the Emperors brother. and his princess: Prince Henry of the Nether- lands; Yussuf Izzed Din, the heir to the Turkish throne, with a red fez on his head: Prince Fushimi of Japan with the heroes if the Russian war, Ad- miral Togo and General Nogi in full uniforms, with much gold lace and rows of decorations on their breasts; the American official contingent, Spe- cial Ambassador John Hays Hammond, with his aides; Admiral Vreeland and General Greedy Ambassador Reid with his staffs, almost the only officers 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 the three kingdoms. Above the choir stalls were other tiers of seats and altogether nearly 5000 were con- gregated as closely together as they could be packed. 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 em- broidered 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 orches- tral platform.
 The center of all interest was the area between choir and transepts which is called the theatres. Five broad steps led up to it. It was covered with carpet of rich blue, which was embroidered the emblem of the Order of the Garter and other heraldic designs. There were the two thrones for the King and Queen with crimson velvet and silk, and before them were marvellous Oriental rugs 5Ot years old On the south side. before the peers were chairs for the young Prince of Wales and the Duke of Connaught Ir front of the thrones and facing the altar was the historic King Edwards chair with the stone of destiny set in its frame on which British soyereigns successivels have sat for nearly a thousand years
 Peers in their purple velvets and ermne mantles carrying the coronets had hours previously escorted in peeresses in even ing dress and superb trains borne by pages, wearing diamonds and with feath CTS in their hats There were ambassa dors and ministers in full regalia. | The wait for the arrival of the proces sion was made less tedious by the music | Of the orchestra.
 Services Inaugurated |, At 9:30 o'clock the entry of the i'm. | presslve procession of clergy composing | the chapter of Westminster abbey put | a sudden stop to the sonorous hum ot
 conversation and inaugurated the serv.
 ices Of the day. The crowns and othe,
 regalia were lifted from the altar anf
 conveyed on cushions and in great state
 down the aisle 10 the robing room ths choir meantime chanting s'Oh Lord On,
 Help in Ages Past" The chimes in th, tower pealed loud accompaniment Thor
 the arrival at the robing room the re-
 galia was handed over to the here litarx
 bearers, who were awaiting their majes | ties.
 | All eyes were turned to the west doc, ! in anticipation of the arrival of proces
 slons Scattered through the vast audi. l ence were many trained nurses in sim | pie costumes prepared to lend first aid ii 1 their services were required.
 | The whole complicated arrangement fol l seating from 1000 to 5000 persons were
 carried out smoothly and with the bes
 of order.
 | The arrival of further guests attracted
 constant attention. When J P Morgan | entered many whispered his name and
 watched him with interest as he shook | hands with several ladies in the diplo.
 niatio circles before proceeding to his seat He was accorded a decidedly goot | reception, as were Mir and Mrs Tafl
 and Miss Taft. The Americans occu 1 pled prominent places in the second TOW i of the diplomatic gallery. MT. Nor l gan wore d court uniform of black vel l vet. knee brooches and silver buttons
 and a sword. Mir. Taft had the same
 costume except that he wore a white vest.
 | Ambassador Reid >and Mrs. Reid hat |