The Washington herald., 1911-06-23
By MARIE CORELLI.
Cable To The Washington Herald.


London. June 22.-America is inter-
ested in the crowning Of a King. The
episode is, and no doubt always will be,
outside its own experience. That is the
reason why It likes TO hear all about it.
Being a republic, II naturally loves its
opposite.
Always talking about equality and the
rights of man, It nevertheless enjoys the
SAVIOR of royalty, and has a keen ap-
probation of rank and ceremony, vel
vet trains, and glittering coronets.
This is an essentially human attitude.
We all desire what we do not possess,
and we crave for information respect
ing conditions of life which We are never
likely to share. Therefore, every Ameri-
can worthy the name has made a rush
to see the coronation Of King George
and Queen Mary.
It is to the American contingent IN
London that the proprietors of stands
prices demanded for seats to view the
royal procession. And probably the
peeresses OF American origin are the
very ones who have been most particular
about their costumes and most explicit
as to the make of their coronets.
No such History. ....
All this Is very natural and very charm
ing. 1t is the sparkling of the surface
foam over a vast sea whose depths can
only be measured by the plummet line of
history, dropped fathoms down into the
far ages when America was never
thought of and adventurous deeds of
romance and war and chivalry made
England's chronicle of fame.
II the gray walls of Westminster Abb
bey could find speech. what strange
things they could tell What records
they could give of ambition and stIife
and conquest Of envy and hope and pas
sion, of proud hearts humbled and haugh-
tys spirits crushed in the very zenith Of
their glory.
To one who, like myself. was witness
of the last coronation, when King Ed
ward VII, lately risen from a sick bed,
stood before the lords spiritual and the
lords temporal. a fine and stately figure
of man, his features shadowed not only
with past suffeTings, but with something
OF awe and doubt, especially when
dark cloud swept over the face of the
sky, at the moment of his crowning. to-
days scene In the abbey was more than
merely impressive.
1t Is well to remember that this is the
first time since the accession OF Queen
Victoria that a comparatively young
King and Queen have occupied the
throne.
May Be Last Opportunity.
King George and his Queen Consort
are In the prime Of life, and no one Of
grown-up age who was present at the
ceremony OF to-day is likely to witness
another coronation.
8 The royal children were, to many, the
most charming and interesting person
ages present, the young Prince of Wales
notably so.
No more fascinating boyish figure ever
walked into the old abbey than his, and
his modesty and dignity together made
him singularly attractive.
Among the foreign royalties the top
most man for looks and royal bearing
was the Crown Prince Of Germany, a
noble type Of manhood at It's best.
The whole stately ceremonial was alto
gether splendid and worthy Of England's
greatest memories and traditions.
Those who imagine that the British
people are ripe for a republic or a revo-
lution should learn a lesson from to-day.
All London is given up to childlike de-
light in royalty; all the best blood OF
the empire doing homage to King and
Queen.
Does this look well for radicalism or
socialism? Somebody asked me In the
abbey II could see Lloyd Georges No,