New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-13
CROWDS ACCLAIM KING
GEORGE v and Queen Open the
Festival of Empire.
ROUTE A LANE OF CHEERS
Both Loyalty and Democr cy
Keynotes of Impressive
London Ceremony.
rav Cable 70 The Tribune. !

TRy cable TO Inc Irlpune
London. May 1.-THE first of the
wears coronation professions, held to-
day IN connection with the opening of
the Festival OF Empire at the Crystal
palace by the King and Queen. had 9TH
domestic and imperial aspects. II was
an uupretentious semi-state affair, with
,brea carriages and a travelling escort
- Tsfe Guards. and apart from the four
,orsAs and outriders there was no dis
riav ~ the pomp and circumstance Of
-ovaltv. II was. indeed. a family party.
headed by King George, Queen Mary,
,be Prince Of Wales and Princess Mary.
s-i,ing quietly for seven miles through
hos.s ~ loyal but humble subjects. and
acknowledging with smiles and courte-
o,s salutes the hearty greetings every
where received.
South Side streets leading from Dull
~,ob and Svdenham were frightened
with bunting. and the populace was in
halliday mood. singing the national an
them while waiting for the procession
and sometimes entertaining itself with
horseplay. Yet II was an orderly and
easily managed assemblage. and its de-
votion TO the royal family and its pride
IN having the King and Queen among
them were unmistakable.
The object Of this long drive between
unbroken walls Of spectators was i'm
rerial and hence close TO the Kings
heart. II was not a revival Of the
CRYSTAL Palace as a place Of popular
recreation. but the opening Of festival
which would enable the English people
m APPRECIATE the magnitude and variety
~ imperial resources and irpart gen
uine home feeling TO representatives
from overseas dominions.
Immense swarms Of school children
rnassed at various points along the
route. understood the motive Of the royal
pilgrimage. for they sang songs Of en-
pire after the procession had passed.
The reception to the royal family ny
the multitude within the Crystal Palace
when they entered the box for the con-
cert could not have been either more re-
spectful or more enthusiastic. There
were princes and princesses and the
American Ambassador and Mrs. White
law Reid near them. and brilliant as
semblage in reserved sections. Yet what
was most conspicuous was the demo-
cratic character of the audience and the
proceedings.
The progra mme. carried out by choir
Of $500 voices and three orchestras and
hands was set throughout in a high i'm
perial key. There were greetings tc
overseas domDions. choruses for me
King and empire. songs for sea con-
ouerors. Kipling's "RecesslonaT and
stirring overtures to Britannia and the
sea power.
F1gar. Mackenzie. Stanford and other
British composers supplied the various
numbers Of the programme. and the au-
dience was in a state Of patriotic frenzy
before the final march was played.
The royal party drove around the
grounds after tea. They passed the prin-
cinal colonial structures. caught
gliu,pse Of several thousands of pageant
performers. visited the Dominions Clur
and returned over shortened route Z
buckingham Palace after an. eXhilarat-
ing afternoon. during which the popu-
larity Of the monarchy and the pride o
the masses in imperial possessions had
been demonstrated.
The cumulative effect Of the festival
involving an outlay Of s2,5OO,OOO II
structures and in grounds, will be ont
Of the biggest shows of the coronation
period. An an-British railway makes
circuit of the empire from Newfound
land. Ottawa. the Rocky Mountains anC
Vancouver to the Malay Peninsula. India
Delhi. the Himalayas, sydney New Yea
land and South Africa.
II is at once an imperial exhibition anC
historic pageant of London and the over
seas commemorative. It collects in Wis
ible form impressions Of the world
wide empire which the King and Queer
themselves have received in journeys ant
t-s-.,. oct avd west