Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-06-20
Parties to Big London
Event Appear in Their :
RegaIia.
BIG BALL is GIVEN
Day Crowded With Preliminary
Events-NaVaI Contingent
Is Now Complete.

London, June 2o.-A full dress re
hearsal of the coronation ceremony. re
'ception of ENJOYS from foreign lands
by the hing and queen at Buckingham
palace, state banquet 20 the royal
guests and representatives OF the heads
of states, and q Shakespearean ball al
Albert hall make up today's crowded
program of events directly connected
with the crowning of King George and
Queen Mary.
The coronation rehearsal win depict
the ceremony practically as It Is to be
performed Thursday. The famous
Windsor gold plate will be used at the
banquet.
MANY LESSER FEATURES.
Aside from these main events there
are q large number OF lesser features
constantly occurring. Royal carriages
conveying the nations representatives
on an interminable round of Official
visits, the passing and repassing of
conttngents of troops, and the cease
less stream of sight-seers with a big
sprtnkling of frightened apparel affect
ed by the dwellers OF both the near and
the far east, furnished London with a
day-long succession of thrills. Among
ithe troops were many In strange for
eign uniforms and continental regi-
ments Of which King George is an hon
orary colonel.
Enormous crowds gathered early in
the vicinity of Westminster abbey,
where the peers and peeresses furnish
ed q free show, many arriving for the
coronation rehearsal wearing their
robes and carrying their coronets un-
covered.
FLEET Is COMPLETED.
This afternoon Special United States
; Ambassador Hammond had an audi
ence with the king at Buckingham pal
ace.
The fleet Of foreign warships here
for the coronation was made complete
today by the arrival of the German
cruiser Won Der Tam. Sixteen na-
tions ere represented at Spithead The
American battleship Delaware takes
the premier place both in the matter
of size and armament.
RAIN MARS DECORATIONS.
London. June 20-Rain began fall
ing steadily early yesterday afternc5l
and the flags along the street hung
! limp. their gaudy colors blurred, while
paint ran down the columns of the
triumphal arches. Some Of the lu+st
decorative effects arranged for the cor
onation celebration stand a fair chaCce
of being ruined. The spectacular a.
pect Of London is considerably damag-
ed, but the town has a festive appear
ance regardless of the unkindness of
the weather
Many illuminations blazed last night
all the way from the West end cluLs
TO the heart of the financial district,
where the stock exchange and Jnr
Bank OF England were bright With
electric lights. Throngs of people
splashed cheerfully through the muddy
streets enjoying the patriotic show.
NO REST FOR THE CITY.
Buckingham palace again yesterday
was the center of popular interest, and
al night traffic was congested through |
out a wide area Central London will /
see little rest day or night until the |
crowning is over. Well into the small 1
hours of the morning there was a con- |
slant parade OF oelated sighIseers /
watching ceSiously the thousands OF /
workmen engaged IN completing tue .
of which much still re-
mains to be done and must be doae 1
at night time, owing to the difficulty in
obtaining sufficient men. The stahds
are being hurriedly painted and hung
with red cloth, and garlands axe
strung across the streets. while finish
ing touches are being put on Other
decorations.
The king and queen had busy day.
In addition to receiving a large mum
Der of visiting royalties at the palace.
they attended q rehearsal ceremony II
the abbey, and last evening dined tie
foreign representatives at Bucking
ham palace. The queen received depu-
tations from various parts OF the EN-
pire, who presented gifts and address
rs
The feet al Spithead is now praouc- {
ally in full force for the review. Most
IF the foreign vessels arrived yestsr- !
lay and took up their stations. Por-s-
mouth. South sea. Ryde and adjacent {
seaside places are filled with visitors
During the day there was constant
iring of salutes. Each OF the foreign
ressels on entering the harbor fred n
,alute of 81 guns in honor of the IA {
ion and another of Il guns in honor {
If the commander IN chief !