The Washington herald., 1911-03-02
Arranging Details of the Coronation.

procession of the late King Edward, but
the concession was only at the last mo-
ment. and even then the high commits
sioners did not receive the treatment to
which they were entitled by the positions
they hold
The coronation presents an opportunity
to carry out a reform which will be ap-
preciated by the colonial representatives
in London and in the British dominions.
In the first place, the high commissioners
should be given the same status at court
functions, levees. &C, as ambassadors.
International hospitality demands that
the representatives Of foreign nations
should be given a first place in connec-
ton with important functions, but the
men who represent the colonies should
come next in the order of precedence. It
is desirable that the high commissioners,
as a matter of course, should become
members of the privy council. This
would raisee their standing in the official
world. and opens the way to many privi-
leges from which they are now barred.
They are not in the same close COM
munication with the colonial minister
which marks the relations between am
Mr. Harcourt will be able to inaugurate
a system by which he would be "at
home to the high commissioners and
other colonial representatives one day a
week OF one day a fortnight.
The Union of South Africa, the Domin-
ion of Canada, the Australian Common
wealth, and New Zealand are now repre-
sented in London by high commissioners,
Newfoundland remains a colony and has
an agent general, and agents general.
resident in the metropolis. represent state
interests in New South Wales, Victoria,
South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania,
Western Australia. Prince Edward Island,
British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.
The Duke Of Norfolk nowadays is con-
stantly engaged at the College Of Arms
going into innumerable questions . Of
precedence in connection with the corona
ton which have to be brought before his
notice. The duke is very popular at the
college, where he became very well
known while arranging the details OF the
last coronation. During that time he
went one day to the college when there
was a tremendous pressure of work, and
to make matters worse a lengthy docu-
ment came in from buckingham Palace
Of which a typed copy had to be made
at once.
The duke volunteered to address a
huge batch of envelopes. and suggested
that the typist. who was at work on
them, should take the document in hand,
which was done, and the officials at the
College of Arms had the rather novel
spectacle of seeing the premier duke and
Earl Marshal of England acting as office
boy.
II Sir Frederick Bridge follows prece-
dent, his coronation forces in the Abbey
will consist OF organ and orchestra OF
eighty performers. The chorus will be
composed of boys and men from the
choirs of the leading London churches,
besides those of Westminster Abbey, ST.
PauTs Cathedral. the Chapel Royal, st.
James Palace, Savoy, and ST. .Georges
Chapel. Windsor. Among the Chorus
there also viii be many musical celebri-
ties I do not know whether the veteran
chorister. Mr. Wicks. of Wells Cathedral,
still is at Sir Frederick Bridges service.
II he is, he certainly will be called upon.
in which event he will have enjoyed the
unique experience OF singing at the coro-
nations of William ". Queen Victoria.
Edward VII. and George " I believe
that Sir Fredericks list OF music for the
ceremony will take the form Of repre-
senting English church music over pc
riod OF several hundred years.
(cspyrshL Isn. 30 Mcclure Newspaper sgndscte.I