Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-06-30
THE CORONATION
Thousands View Greatest
Array of Pomp and Splen-
dor of The Age

democratic Britain gratified her in
born love of formal show today when
amidst the most dazzling scenes re-
corded in history, she crowned George
v and his wife Mary, king ana
Queen of the United Kingdom OF
Great Britain and Ireland and the
British dominions beyond the seas
The crown was placed upon Geor-
ge's head at 1887 p. M, and just nj
teen minutes later, the browning OF
the Queen, much shorter ceremony
had been concluded.
The venerable archbishop OF Can
terbury, summoning his rapidly wan
ing strength for the climax of the
spectacular ceremonial, his hands
trembling with emotion, placed the
crowns upon the heads of the new
rulers, at which the vast audience
broke its restraint with a cheer, that,
waking the echoes amid the time
dimmed rafters of the ancient abbey,
was taken up by the thrOngs with
out, and carried to the ends of the
British empire.
The ceremony of the coronation
and the accompanying pageant in the
streets of London when their males.
ties drove through the streets be-
tween hundreds of thousands of their
cheering subjects were magnificent
in their details despite unfovarable
conditions-cloudysk ies and drizzlins
showers.
Day Breaks FOggy.
Coronation day broke foggy and
lowering, with rain threatening to
spoil the pageant and ruin the de-
corations. There was murky dr1z-
zle in the air when the morning sal
ute was fired at dawn, which turned
into showers.
Despite the inclement weather, the
streets were alive with hundreds OF
thousands of people, many hundreds
of whom had camped out through
the night to hold their points of van
tage in the public stands when the
day dawned.
Striking Incident
A striking incident took place just
as the King and Queen were leaving
Buckingham Palace for the drive to
the historic abbey. AS they stepped
into the royal carriage the sun sud-
denly broke upon the leaden skies,
falling upon the FURNISHED brass and
glass of the ancient coach.
Again in Westminster Abbey, a
little later, when the King solemnly
took the oath to govern his people
accordingly to the laws and customs
of the land and was proclaimed
King, the sun burst through the gray
clouds and fell through the high
stained windows of Westminster
Abbey, bathing the impressive scene
within its splendor.
No Untoward Incident
The coronation passed off without
untoward incident, in marked con-
trast with the coronation of King,
Edward nine years ago, when the
King was weak and suffering from
a recent operation, and the aged
archbishop of Canterbury was SO
weak that he placed the crown on
the Kings head backward and after
ward tainted.
City A Riot of Color
London was riot of sOlOr, the Un'
ion Jack being everywhere. Flags OF
all nations floated from many staff
and were draped from windows. The
royal color was everywhere; in and
out of dwellings-in hotels, restaur'
ants, depots-nowhere could the eye
direct its gaze without meeting the
same sight.
The procession to the Abbey fol
the coronation ceremonies was pro-
tected by thousands OF soldiers ano
police. 1t was the most picturesque
scene the ancient capital had evel
witnessed. There were many ole
fashioned state coaches of the no
bility, many of them ancient but
repainted and regilded since the cor
onation of King Edward VII. They
were drawn by four horses apiece
and made a brave showing. Out
riders fianked the horses and gor'
geously liveried footmen stood on the
rail behind.
In curious contrast with the anti
que coaches were the great number
of automobiles in the procession
through the windows of which peers
and peresses could be seen wearing
ermine.
The Royal Procession
Lord Mayor Strong arrived short
ly before the stated hour for the
ceremonies to begin accompanied by
his official suite Following the Lore
Mayor came the royal procession, the
most interesting spectacle of the par
ade. Bells pealed a welcome to the
King and Queen; soldiers stood al
attention and from millions of Brit
ish threats a tumult of cheering
broke out which rolled liked huge
pillows above the densely packed
mall.
King Georges approach to the
Abbey was heralded by the Kings
Bargemaster and twelve waterme1
wearing medieval tunics, knee
breeches and stockings, all scarle
with the crown and badges emblaz
oned in gold on their breasts. Thei
feet were enceased in low shoes ad
orned by huge silver buckles. The.
wore velvet caps with long feather