A COLONIAL'S OBSERVATIONS IN THE OLD COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 14636, 4 August 1911, Page 10

A COLONIAL'S OBSERVATIONS IN THE OLD COUNTRY.

I , [BxOur Special Correspondent.] J; ~Preparations for the Coronation.— ■< At such times as this London shines jforth as tho centre of the glory, and tile wealth, and the pomp .of all. the world. fit is now that we see the city decked out •iii regal splendor, and London, always great and majestic, is a sight at Clronation time never to bt> forgotten, and for those tens of thousands who will see the great, city bnt once in their livas, this is decidedly the time to sc©' % it. Truly the people of Great Britain have had many opportunities during the present generation of expressing their national rejoicing. Jt was commonly declared that the glory of tho Coronation of tho Lite King Edward VII. would, never find its equal. But now throughout tho Empire tho cry " Long live the King!" does really come from the hearts that are brimful of thankful rejoicing and confident hope. Never before was tno National Anthem more sincerely sung; never before were such great crowds gathered to hear its strains; for this is a record Coronation—two or three extra millions of people have pourod into the already crowded city, and jxmdon is full. ".; You will have already heard a good deal [about the ceremony, but there will perhaps ibe something of "interest left to bo told jby an independent eye-witness of the proi'coedings. All kind's of preparations for .festivities havo been going on for .•months, and thousands of workers havo ifound employment who might otherwise ;have been idle. For some days before tho <*?remony rehearsals have been held at Westminster Abbey, which, by tho way, has been closed 'to tb'o public for sorno time, and under the direction of tho Duke of Norfolk (tho Earl Marshal) the leading figures in the ceremony have been instructed, in the parts allotted to them. The placo of the King was taken in the Teheaxsal by the Sub-dean of-Westminster, and tho sister of the Dnchess of Norfolk acted the part of the Queen. But both I of these had to be relieved at intervals, | which' fact tended to show tho trying i nature of the ordeal to which their Majesties themselves are • to bo submitted. liNa-tnrally there was not much pomp about rehearsals. The Coronation, proees-[?-sion was likewise rehearsed one morning ['■ for the sake of the horses, and it was a curious sight to see many of the fine I animals tliat are to I alee so import-ant a j part next week harnessed to all kinds of [vehicles, including baggage carts and broughams, and making a. stately march in undress procession. Last of all came a heavily-weighted van, representing tho Xtate Coach. This was drawn by the eight I cream ponies that are to draw the Royal i carriage on tho Coronation Day. | Another form of preparation for the groat event- was tho testing of the stability of the stands that had been erected all j along the- line of march. Tier after, tier of Jong rows of seats had' been built np i in ' every vacant space, wherever ii< was possible: in front of the houses, hotels, and clubs, and even churches, which stand far enough bade from the. road, were erected as many seats as room could be found for. Every window was " To Let," and the roofs of the. buildings arranged for sight-seers. The price of seats- varied generally from one to five guineas, and sometimes even more. The stands were also erected for visitors from the various Australian States, and one- might apply fortheso at 10s 6d a head, and then take one's chance of being lucky in the ballot. Some of us preferred to pay 25s to be quite sure of getting a seat without having to suhmit to a ballot at all. Due week before the Coronation a band of 200 policemen, each weighing 13st at least, took their places on somo of these stands, and tested them for eome 20 minutes by dancing and jumping up and down the seat.?. Tt spoke well for the carpenters' work that the stands' bore the seveie test perfectly. I have,said that

the stands vrero in some places built around the churches. "Well, for weeks past sandwich men have been parading the , streets distributing'copies of .an open letter 'from a perplexed layman, of ' the Church of England, addressed to the Bishop of J>qndon, opmplaining of this "profanation of tho national churches along the route of the Coronation and Royal progress processions by tho letting of seats attached to these bnildingß for the objectionable' purpose of commercial traffic and gain." Full directions about the traffic, vehicular - arid pedestrian, were posted outside all the police stations, and printed in tho newspapers ; also some hints as to the comfort of the public. For instance, tliere appeared in the pages of the ' Evening News': " Wear your easiest shoes, your loosest, clothes, your lightest hat; have strong smelling salts, plenty of provender,, a bottle of "barley water flavored with lemon, a thoroughly damp spongs, and a small towel in your basket.'' Kverybody expects a crowd, and probably no one will be disappointed. Seats for about 100,000 persous have been prepared on the various stands along the line of march. It is probable, th-it all theee will be taken up, although a few knowing ones may be able to purchaso some of the move expensive scats at a low figure a.t the last moment. Thus, at any rate, has been tho case on previous occasions such as this. Tho Australian Government have been pretty roundly criticised on the. fact of their not sending any troops to the Coronation. In ono of the daily papers this morning I read: •"The Australian Government have not thought fit to send any troops to tho Coronation, eo the Australian people have decided to send their sons." Two hundred Australian cadets are encamped near the Crystal Palace. There are, however, a few troops from New Zealand, which to some extent helps to preserve the reputation of tho Southern itemisphere, for over heTe Australia and New Zealand are generally classed as one. But the absence of Australian troops at such a time is a poor advertisement for Australia in the Homeland. Ninety-nine officers and men of the Canadian troops arrived in London last Saturday, and were accorded civic welcome by the Lord Mayor. The troops met with a very enthusiastic welcome from the people. On the same day-the _ Indian and Japanese troops arrived. It is wiid that Australia is the only country in the. world whose troops will bo absent from the Coronation of King George V.