Evening star., 1937-06-13

pleasure given Jne PUBIC.
Little Princesses Witness
Revival of Age-Old Ceremony.
In the exhibition is a large tome
OF plates with double-page engraving
showing the interior of Westminster
Hall in the time Of James II. and
the ceremony of the throwing down
OF the gauntlet by the Kings cham
pion. accompanied by cortege of
horsemen and footmen with banners
flying, just as the two little Prin-
cesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose
saw the ceremony few days ago
when they were invited to a daylight
rehearsal OF Rushmood Tattoo, when
their fathers champion rode into the
arena and threw down the gauntlet
as challenge to all who do not
share in the army's loyalty to their
sovereign.
Ceremony Has Not Changed
In Hundreds Of Years.
The Rushmood Tattoo, which takes
It's name from the continuous beat
ing or drumming" Of the regimental
bands throughout the pageant, will be
held every evening until the 10Th. AS
the champion rides into the arena q
procession bearing the banners Of the
Kings and Queens from 1865 to 1887
clusters around representation Of
the lion of the empire guarding the
crown. The costume and trappings
Of the champion and his escort were
Identical with those shown in the old
engraving at the Library. Another
double-page engraving in this tome is
entitled "A Prospect of the Inside Of
Westminster Hall, Showing How the
King and Queene With the Nobility
and Others Did Set at Dinner on the
Day Of the Coronation. April %, 1885"
This picture is simply fascinating with
Its marvelously minute details, even
to the food on the tiny plates with
which the long boards are laden.
Mrs. Henry wilkins
Rare Loan.
Mrs. Henry Blakiston Wilkins, who
has so generously lent her collection
OF royal bindings for charity benefits.
has loaned the rare book division for
the present display one of her most
valued treasures, The Manner OF the
Coronation Of the Kings of England"
bound in manuscript form in the origi-
nal brown morocco fooled in gold
which, by the way, is remarkably pre-
ssrved-with center decoration Of tiny
conventional roses on the cover. The
small book, about by inches,
printed with pen and ink in red and
black with the pages bordered in red
ink and the names OF king and God
IN gold. Is 20 regularly and accurately
Gone that 1t appears almost machine
made 1t describes the service for
the coronation Of King Charles 1.
Mrs. Wilkins, who lived in Florence,
Italy. for more than 20 years, has
acquired rare gift in assembling her
collection and an appreciation for the
spirit as well as the letter Of her
treasures.
Near this little volume is the Form
and Order Of the Coronation of
Charles H." son Of the martyred King
Charles I, which was written by Rob-
ert Dowglas, Minister at Edinburgh,
about 1851. The inscription on the
front page is: Let these hands be
snointed with the Holy Ollie Of Kings
as Prophets have Been Anointed.'
Mrs. Behn England's First
Self-supporting Penwoman.
Then nearby and all in the family
Is King James II and His Illus
trious Consort Queen Mary" printed
In, }V,
Mrs. Behn; Aphra Behn, who was
called the George Sande Of the
Restoration, and who is said to be
the first female writer in England to
earn her living by her pen. Mrs.
Behn, the daughter Of barber, after
many vicissitudes Of fortune, married
4 gentleman Of Dutch extraction and
through him she gained entrance to
the court Of Charles H. Through
her witty sallies and terse remarks
on the happenings of the day she
became favorite guest of Charles,
and her astuteness and insinuating
charms caused her to be sent as a
spy in the Dutch War. In 1871 she
produced at Dukes Theater comedy,
The Forc'd Marriage" and in the
same year coarse, broad comedy,
THE Amorous Prince" which had
some success and both of which were
attended by the court and Mr. Pepys.
While not very successful as a play
wright she was distinguished by burial
in the cloisters Of Westminster Abbey.
Royal Russian
Gift Book Is Shown.
With the royal Russian collection
of books which came to the Library
Of Congress is the copy OF the cor
onation of their majesties King
George V and Queen Mary, which
was presented by them tc their
cousins, the late Car and Czarina
OF Russia. This handsome book. bound
in royal purple morocco, with the
cphers in gold, &c. R. and M. r."
surmounted by the crown, produces
feeling Of sadness as one in fancy
reads between the lines, and visions