SOME CORONATION SIDELIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 25

SOME CORONATION SIDELIGHTS

i The crowai) outside Buckingham Palace on May 1 saw a kestrel fly from St. James Park and circle over Constitution Hill towards the palace and settle on the crown over the royal arms on the pediment over the palace's main doorway, says the "New York Times." The incident recalled a story told by Queei, Victoria in her diary that on her Coronation Day superstitious onlookers were horrified to see a goose circling over the palace. It was thought by onlookers to be an ill omen but her reign disproved the fears. One of New York's most prominent bankers, philanthropists and art patrons slept in St. George's Hospital--n charitable institution—in order to be near a seat purchased on the hospital stand. The stand was erected as part of the drive to obtain more funds. Among the "early birds" of those who saw the parade free was an elderly woman, equipped with coats, umbrella, and food, who took a seat on a street sandbox thirty hours before starting time. A prominent London hairdresser changed the tints of many peeresses' hair to heighten its brilliance in the dim Abbey. He gave white hair a blue tint, dyed fair hair saffron, and changed "mousy" to gold. Many among the middle classes gave their children Edward VIII souvenirs, handkerchiefs bearing the portrait of the "uncrowned King" and mugs and plates labellel "Edward VIII." True to its scholarly traditions, the Athenaeum Club, had a Latin sign bearing witness to its loyalty. The painter spelt the King's name "Georgius" and purists said it should have been "Georgivs." Staid old London took on the air of a New Orleans . mardi, gras qnd people danced in the streets to the music of accordions. Boys and girls

rode in automobiles with the tops down waving Union Jacks and the crowds sang. Eighty-five per cent, uf those camping out in the streets were women. Some of the seats on Piccadilly roottops were so high the occupiers had to look down between their own feet at the procession. When the Crown jewels .vere moved to the Abbey their guard was con! manded bj the King's bargemaster, after a custom set when the jewels were moved from the Tower of London to the Abbey on the Thames. Ambulance men were stationed at five-yard intervals along the route of the procession. The ambulance hrigade consisted of 60 surgeons, 500 officers, 5000 non-commissioned officers and men, and 1400 nurses, distributed at 3? ambulance centres, and 65 first aid stations. An official of the National Jeweilers' Association estimated that jewels worth £ 10,000,000 were worn at the Abbey ceremonies in addition to the Crown Jewels. The Cinque Ports Barons protestedofficially over their comedown since they once held the canopy -it the Coronation. They were to stand between the nave and the choir, facing thP/ congregation and, although in the Abbey, would not see the service. All of the 1,000,000 persons who were expected to s.se the Coronation procession free,had to stand on their own feet, the police having prohibited the use of ladders, boxes, or other artificial elevations. The most unusual costume among the thousands camping out in the streets was a girl's skiing costume, complete to heavy boots. Flags, garlands, and a banner with "God Save the King" were displayed in a gallery of a coal mine 500 feet un- | derground at Gomersal in Yorkshire