The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-27
MEMORABLE SCENE AT COVENT GARDEN Brilliant Audience Attends
 Performance LIKE FLORAL PALACE Costumes of Gorgeous Splendor and Hundred Thousand Rose Blooms
 Make Spectacle One of
 Regal Magnificence
LIKE FLORAL PALACE

London. June z6.--One of the most
 ma gniicent spectacles in connection | with the coronation was the perform
 ance tonight in Covent Garden, the in terior of which was transformed into a veritable floral palace wreath thed with
 En ngland's fairest flowers. Those priv iliEed to be within the great audi
 torium will long remember the gor-
 geous scintllating picture. the fras-
 rance of 100000 perfect rose blooms, the
 noble company of men and women rep l resenting the royalty of the world and | all the most distinguishd in British of l hcial and social life, who filled every box and stall.
 The King and Queen drove from Buckingham palace m state coach es- corted by life guards. On their arrival their majesties were received by the chief state officers and escorted to the royal box the audience rising.
 The royal box consisted of 10 boxes, in the center grand tier thrown into one, providing 100 seats. nearly all of which were occupied by guests of royal rank. Thanking the royal box were two other large boxes, each occupied by 100 representativ es of foreign countries In gorgeous uniforms and the repre- sentatives of the dominions. Half of the stalls were allotted to the suites of the distinguished guests
 l In point of picturesque attire, the In- l dian princes, glittering with jewels, were easily first, eclipsing the royalties In their
 most splendid uniforms. Special Ameri- can Ambassador Hammond sat in the l second row of the royal box between the Duke of Connaught and the Grand Duchess of Hesse, his plain evening dress rendering him conspicuous by contrast.
 Mrs. Hammond sat in the diplomatic box to the righ: She wore a costume of gold cloth, yellow and white diamente trim
 ming with gold lace on the bodice. Her 1 jewels were emeralds and diamonds. l Among the other American women pres l ent were Mrs. Mackay, Lady Newbor- | ough, Lady Granard. Lady Cheylesmore | Lady Cooper, the Hon. Mrs. Coventry l Lady Duffern, Mrs. Burns, Lady Speyer l Viscountess Parker, Mrs. Christie Miller
 Mrs. Van Raalte, Mrs. Helke, Mrs. New | house and Mrs. Singer.
 The King was in an admirals uniform
 and wore the sign of the Order of tht
 Garter. The Queens gown was of del | icate pink over which the blue riban6 | of the Garter showed in marked relief l On her bosom were the twin stars oi
 Africa on her head diamond fieur de lis | and a maltese cross. The Queen was | escorted to the royal box by Crowr
 Prince Frederick William of Germany
 and the German crown princess entered
 on the arm of his majesty.
 Although rain again fell, dense crowd
 gathered outside Covenant garden tC l witness the arrival and departure oi l their ma5esties and the royal visitors 1 After the performance the royal guests l special envoys and members of the dip l lomatic corps attended a ball given by the Duke and Duchess of Westminster at Grosvenor house.
 Renowned artists took part in the gala performance The programme opened with scene from the second act of Verdi's s Aida This was followed by the sec ond act of Gonoud's Romeo and Juliet Then came act three of Rossinis "The Barber of Seville,'' and tableaux ? of the Russian ballet, 'Le Pavilion D' Armide."
 Among the artists were Mines. Melba, Destinn, Tetrazzinl, Berat and Kirlxby Lunn and John Mccormack, Sammarce, Franz Bassie and Malatesta.