ROMAN PAGEANTRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 9 January 1930, Page 5

ROMAN PAGEANTRY

MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE ITALY’S ROYAL WEDDING FORMER SPLENDOUR RECALLED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) ROME, Jan. 8. A pageant in which 5000 peasants took part to-day proved a spectacle of magnificence such as the Eternal City lias not seen since, the palmy days of the Renaissance. A grandstand, covered with scarlet and gold velvet, had been erected before the Quirinal Palace, in which Prince Umberto and Princess Marie Jose were seated, while the Kings and Queens of Belgium andl Italy watched) from a balcony in the palace square, which was crowded with spectators, who were behind a triple row of soldiers with fixed bayonets. Leaving the Piazza a procession of 18 Italian legions moved along the crowded streets, 18 heralds with golden and silver trumpets sounding a fanfare composed by Mascagni. Sardinian peasants, who wore native costumes, had the place of honour after the trumpeters. When they reached the Quirinal they sang the Sardinian national anthem.

Piedmontese in Alpine costume followed, each group approaching Prince Umberto and liis bride and presenting bouquets of flowers, also a present from each district. Princess Marie Jose was introduced to each Italian province from the Alps to the sen. The Tuscan group included bare-backed riders, who previously partook in a famous race called the Palio of Siena. Shepherds of the Alban Hills, wearing sheepskins, played folk music on bagpipes. A nuptial touch was given by the singers of the Orsogna, who rendered songs, and a group of Roman girls who sang love songs to the tambourines. Then followed a party of sturdy Ethiopians, while cowboys of the Campagna and Somali chiefs on camels wore other features of the pageant, which eclipsed every expectation.