Evening star., 1947-11-20
Rebeccu West
Continued From First Page.

It'll be forever after with this pair
Decent people they are
So outside Westminster Abbey the
dull day sparkles with feeling OF
going to church on Christmas morn
ing. The crowd is happy and moral
ly satisfied. 1t had stood there fol
hours which varied for different in
dtviduals. but which had been g
great deal too many for some
Stretcher bearers were quite busy
But the crowd cheered the least d.
version, down to sand carts.
Poor bits of bunting around win
dow boxes on government buildings
and an advertisement facing the
abbey concerning national saving
(Which an imaginative adminiStra-
ton would surely have blanketed tol
this. one day. were the only signs Of
distress.
This was no good-by to pomp anc
glory.
Inside the abbey the press sat ir
sort of croWSnest, built above the
north transept, looking straight
across to the sanctuary, the space in
front of the high altar, where the
marriage ceremony was performed
That small space seemed the only
place in the abbey which was entire
ly real.
The altar was hung with en-
broideries, painted in gold and blue,
shining with candles, and more than
shining with the soft flame of the
ancient gold plate with which it was
covered. It glowed with a deep ra-
dance. The solemnity was not di-
minished by the little white chairs,
such as ones grandmothers used to
cali runseats. They were placed
in two groups, one on each side of
the sanctuary.
Guests Fill North Transept.
The guests filled the north tran
sept. Diplomats and distinguished
public servants sat in that part OF
the abbey. Wives of foreign diplo-
mats were wearing some austerlty
4llClC " do OllC SOI1ASSCAO14 vi
green silk with ribbon and pink
roses that had a curious suggestion
of Ophelia about it, and many os-
triches must have given their all tc
the occasion.
Distinguished Englishmen ano
their womenfolk made one think OF
Flanagan and Allan song Nice Peo-
pie with Nice Manners. but Got nc
Money at All" Shabby tophats
shabby fur coats, fine and disclp-
lined faces were in evidence.
They stood it with handsome grace
but it must have been like bao
dream to them for a few minutes
1t was plain that we were all tired
and one has to feel pity for Princess
Elizabeth, royal and bearing such q
peculiar burden of royalty in this
tired world.
Murmur in the shell grew louder
The crowd outside cheering some
people that meant a great deal tc
them. The bells of St. Margaret s
were ringing loudly, but murmur ir
shell was very strong. In they came
The people that open bazaars that
We know by sight in spite of our
selves
There was the Duchess of Kent
in a silver brocade dress with a
handsome boy in kits. She looked
one thought censuriously, not very
agreeable. They sat in the front
row of English royalties King
Haakon of Norway sat next to them
tall and rangy, with the jerky move
mentS, the sudden smile that goes
as quickly as it comes.
Flaw In Drill.
Next to him was the Duchess OF
Gloucester, woman who one would
trust with ones life. One says that
about her first of all, but not be-
cause one can say nothing else
pleasant about her, for she is hand
some. Then there was the Duke OF
Gloucester.
There was slight flaw in drill. The
wedding party got into slight
tangle over chairs. Quite obviously
Queen Mary, who was at the rear OF
the procession, said word or two
that Immediately restored order.
She was dressed in blue, with a
blue ostrich feather toque. AND
somehow or other it was the only
dress that managed to hold its own
in Abbey. Hard light made al
lresses look fiat in tone; only priests
testments can stand up to it.
.For some reason needlework glows
like a living substance against this
austerity of stone. Queen Mary
seemed taller than anybody coulc
be and to have an authority which
was based on ceremonial compe.
tence that could not be beaten. BY
her side sat the Queen who brought