San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-25
GAY ASSEMBLY
PRESENT At
CORONATION
Miss Beatrice Stribling Is
Queen Of Love and
Beauty.
IS BRILLIANT AFFAIR
Society Out in Force to
Witness Growing of
Queen.

The fourteenth coronation staged I'M
der the auspices of the Order of the
Alamo took place Thursday evening at
the Majestic theater. Society looks
forward each year to the coronation
as the elimination OF a gay season,
and each year the coronations seem
to grow more brilliant, more spectacu-
lar, but the Court of Chivalry will be
outstanding down the years to come.
The theme was beautifully carried out
in every detail, and San Antonio So
ciety was present to witness the event.
The Ioreword of the program ex-
planned the scene:
No court, in truth, no period in his
tory, has ever surpassed the heroic
and chivalric romance of the Court
of King Arthur. The legends of the
famous Round Table, its valiant
knights and fair ladies. and the en-
chanting tales of gallant exploits and
SURPRISING achievements in love and
war form rich page in romantic
poetry and literature.
History bids farewell to Arthur at
the last great battle Of Camlan. where
Arthur, seemingly MORALLY wounded, is
conveyed away from the field by his
last faithful knight. Sir Bedivere; and
being thus carried away from the
scene of strife and carnage down to
the nearby water side. is met by a
fairy barge and is received thereon
by queens and fair ladies, who, amid
tears and mourning bear him away.
Recalls Ancient Legend.
An old and cherished legend of the
p.:k1-. 10, Artbur xrac uot
dead but had been carried away by the
fairy queens to far away land where
he ruled supreme, and whence he
would return some day to resume his
place Of old. In the words of an an
cient bard:
"There he reigns a mighty king,
Thence to Britain shall return,
If right prophetic rolls l learn,
Borne on victory's spreading plume,
His ancient scepter TO resume,
His knightly table to restore,
And brake the tournaments of yore.'
-WARTON'S CODE"
Hearken you then to the fulfilment
of that ancient prophecy. and gazing
tonight with sympathetic eyes, you
may behold. by grace Of Merlin's mag
ic. the assemblage in radiant display
of the youth and beauty of the fair
age Of chivalry. summoned, as Of old.
to the restoration of the ancient court
of Arthur and to do homage to her.
who, .fairest of all. We here with regal
power invest, as Queen of Love and
Beauty.
The theater was a bright scene with
the many colored evening gowns in the
audience. A number of informal box
parties were given. Attention was
drawn to the lower left hand box where
Her Majesty Olive, of the House OF
Martindale, Queen of the Court of the
Sea, was seated wearing her royal
robes of becoming blue. She was seat
ed with Lady Cornelia of the House
of Vaughan. Princess of the Court of
the Sea and maid of honor to Queen
Olive. She was gowned in her robes
of coral, Mr.. and Mrs. Bruce Martin
dale were seated with the royal party.
Mrs. Martindale wore white lace over
pale pink. Warwick Field. the prime
minister Of Queen of the Court of the
Sea, and Armand LeGendre completed
the party.
Admirable Setting for Throne.
A hush of excitement fell on the
house when the curtain rose on an at
tractive setting of King Arthur's day.
The scene showed banquet hall in
the massive gray stone castle of King
Arthur. The stone walls were hung
with rare tapestries. The throne for
the queen whose identity is always a
source of sensational anticipation, was
in the center of the stage with a strip
ed canopy of dull red cOlors outlined
in various shields over it. On either
side of the high backed throne were
tall candelabra holding white tapers.
A high easement window TO one side
of the throne and the drawbridge clos
ed across the moat added picturesque
touch TO the sturdy old castle. The
portcullis held IN by a massive chain
helped to guard the fortified castle. In
the distance an artistic landscape scene
showed the open plains, field of many
battles. An impreguable castle upon
the hillside was partly obscured by
misty clouds.
Franz Groos as the Lord High
Chamberlain. Merlin, accompanied by
two halbardiers of the day and two
heralds to trumpet his summons, en-
tered the throne room. Merlin, the
wizard, by a simple waving of his mag
~ hdnu hlDb
and the Court Of Chivalry. Merlin
wore flowing costume of green with
a straight tunic and full cape effect
trimmed in wide gold braid. A wreath
of ivy bound his long whit hair. He
had white beard that added percept.
IDLY to his grim dignity. He wore
sandals and carried tall staff. The
heralds wore typical Robin Hood cos
tunes of brown leather with doublet
and rose. Their caps were trimmed
with one green feather. They carried
long silver trumpets from which huns
loyal purple satin pennants embossed
with the crest Of the Order of tbs
Alamo.
Welcomes the People.
Upon his appearance Merlin said
@Good people ALL
We thank you for your presence here
You answered Beauty's call
10 celebrate in festal hall
The glory Of our commonwealth.
The Order Of the Alamo,
With patriotic aim.
Has conjured up the name
OF Arthur, tabled, puissant knight.
The ideals of the ancient days