The Southern herald., 1911-06-02

lean capital and while It will
be- perforce Infinitely less showy than the
elaborate program in the British metropolis,
this echo on this side Of the Atlantic will have
much of significance for all believers in the
hands across the sea tradition
kingly coronation is always a magnet for
tourists and sightseers of all nationalities-as
witness the thousands Of spectacle-loying
Americans who have planned 10 be in London
for the big show early this summer-but no
government Is expected to send official repre-
sentatives to a coronation unless specifically
invited by the government whose sovereign Is
to be crowned. However. Uncle Sam was duly
Invited. all right, TO send special envoys to
London for this supreme event of British his
tory. Indeed In the present instance. as in
the case of the coronation Of the late King
Edward. the United States was one of the
first nations to whom an invitation was dis.
patched and this is something of an honor.
for John Bull invites very few republics to
participate In his big celebration and even
purposely overlooks some Of the less impor
tant monarchies in sending out his bids"
From the minute that the state department
accepted Brittania's invitation immense inter.
est was aroused all over the country as to
whom the president would appoint special am
ary attached to the place and the allowance
which the government makes for expenses can
not be expected to cover the outlay Of a man
who has such a position to maintain. But 1t
is a great honor to be sent as coronation en-
voy-carrylng with 1t such privileges as din
ners with the king and queen in addition to
choice reserved seats at all the big functions
and so the place is eagerly sought by men
who have the wealth to enable them to carry
out its obligations. President Taft bestowed
this plum upon his close personal friend, John
Hays Hammond, the multimilllonaire mining
engineer who, for the first time, broke into
politics Just prior to the last presidential cam.
palgn and was mentioned for nomination as
vice-president on the ticket with Mr.. Taft.
The California mining expert who rolled up
the greater part Of his wealth in the gold fields
and diamond mines of South Africa, has the
reputation of being very liberal spender, but
he will needs be to outshine his American
rival Mr. Whitelaw Reid, In the coronation
Inequalities. Mr.. Reid was the special envoy
(the post now held by Mr.. Hammond) at the
coronation Of King Edward, as he had been
previously at Queen Victorias diamond jubilee,
and on both occasions he entertained in a
manner to cause British eyes to open wide
with astonishment. Now, Mr.. Reid is our reg
ular ambassador at the Court of st. James
and as such he has to play second fiddle to
the special ambassador Mr.. Hammond But
that is only in official precedence. There Is
no oficial etiquette that puts check upon his
private hospitalities However President
Taft's chum has leased large London man.
sion for the coronation season, paying a for
tune as rental, and it is likely that no tenn.
porary resident Of the city Of fogs will play
host more splendldly during the six weeks Of
gayety.
Special Envoy Hammond will have one i'm.
mense advantage over the regular ambassa.
dor, Mr. Reid and of course, over all the
Americans who are present in London at this
time as private citizens. 1t will arise from
the circumstance that the British government
WILL in order to make things easy for the spe.
cial visitor, detail to attend him military and
naval aids and court officials who will act as
gentlemen-in-waiting just as is the case when
a king visits the capital of a friendly nation.