New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-23


them. there was continuous progress
OF ambassadors in uniform, Indian
princes in Oriental robes. colonial pre-
miers in court costumes with breasts
ablaze with decorations, peers and peer
esses with their ermine and miniver'
Privy Councillors in blue and gold and
pages in white satin and knee, breeches.
Judges with full wigs. bishops\in lawn,
members of Parliament and dignitalles
of the civil service in such bravery as
they could muster, and the great DANES
and leaders of fashion in beautiful tod
cites and coiffures. with their diamonds
and pearls. Who could ever forget the
splendors Of that stately court III t"e
Abbey? What painter under royal CONF
mand could hope TO portray the be-
wildering revel of blends OF rau'ai.
color. the shimmering brilliance OF golo
and silver sheen. the sparkling nres anu
softened irdescence of tens OF thousands
of Jewels and the air Of gayety anu us
tinction pervading the ancient iahe'
When the pceresses were in their seats
IN tho north transept the colors OF 'he
crimson robes and minNer capeS
uowdered with ermine were massed 50
that they seemed TO be dressed aiihe'
zach wore three ostrich plumes and
game veil. and held in her lap corone'
and fan. The bars Of miniver could not
no counted. nor the silver balls ana
~o,ao, leaves If the coronets be dis
cerned. nor the quarter yards OF Tue
train be measured with the eye. heia-
tive rank could be determined by the or
dor NJ the tiers and proximity TO the CEN
trail throne. but the beauty of the UNDER
dresses and coiffures and the splendors
of the diamond tiaras and ropes of pearls
,rere concealed. Each peerless had en-
loved. however. her moment OF triumph
IN the passage of nave and choir. Inc
white underdress yelled In, exquisite lace
and embroidered with heraldic or deco
rative designs in gold and silver thread, 4
had heen seen. and every yard of the
crimson train edged with mniver had
trailed behind her and advertised the
dignity of rank The family heirlooms
and beautiful jewels had shone from
neck and hair. and had helped to pro- |
claim her as one Of the great person |
ages Of the coronation.
In the Order Of Rank
The peers in the south transept. seated
in rising tiers in the order of rank, wore
zoos 81 crimson velvet with mniVer
edges and ermine capes oTc- court dress
or uniforms. Their most conspicuous
members were in the groups bearing the
reeala and surrounding the monarch
but the main body of privileged legisla-
tors was massed in the monotonous glory |
of crimson and black and white fur. and ,
there was not puppet peer among them |
Their tawdry coronets. with velvet caps
and golden tassels. were in their hands.
TO he toyed with during the earlier stages
of the service and TO be worn with con
scious pride when the King was crowned. |
In the royal boxes reserved for the prin-
cesses and intimate friends of the King
and the Queen purple was the domi- |
mating note above the gold plate and the
eager faces Of children could be seen
among them.
In the Commons gallery there were
welcome patches Of black. many court |
dresses and military uniforms and. not |
withstanding the Radical majority and |
democratic tendencies q brave display of |
decorations. In the Privy Councillors !,
and diplomatic galleries, in the choir and
on the platforms nanking the long
passage through the nave. there was a
Ill
ladies were in full court dress without
trains. and If they were not allowed to I,
carry bouquets they had exquisite jewels, |
lace and fans. These galleries were re-
lieved from the monotonous sway Of
crimson mantles and black and white |
!. fur. Queen Mary had set the style for
N bright colors, glittering metallic tissues
" and crystal embroidered gowns in balls |
and parties. and had let it be known that
there could not be too many jewels to
please her The coronation galleries
were fairly cleaning with gold and silver
textures and beautiful colors in dress
and never were there so many diamonds
and jewels seen under q single roof. The
simmer of scarlet and gold uniforms
was everywhere. with the Privy Coun-
c'llors' blue, a few mantles Of knights
and the darks Of court dress to tone il
down. The Earl Marshal. in scarlet and
white was central figure as the chief
stage manager. Medievalsm was pictu-
resquely suggested by the heralds pur-
suivants and yeomen Of the guard with
their quaint costumes
Belated and DiIatory.
There vas time enough for rollcall
OF the embassies and of the empire in
the choir and of the peerage in the
transepts. and also to decide whether ii
was a white and gold coronation like the
last one or more joyous one, with
brighter cOlOrs and moro brilliantly jew
olled. There must have been four hours
between the opening of the doors and
the arrival of the processions--the Brit
ish princesses and German princes. the
Prince Of Wales with his heralds, Queen
Mary and her retinue and the Kings
procession with the bearers of the
standards. regalia and swords and the
great functionaries OF the state and
royal household. During that long inter
val opera glasses were freely used and
there was a continuous buzz of animated
conversation in all the galleries. The
orchestra played marches and selections
from Handel and modern English com