THE CORONATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10764, 12 May 1911, Page 2

THE CORONATION.

To the discomfort of citizens accustomed to attend the daily celebration of service, and to the disappointment of foreign visitors already flocking to the metropolis, Westminster Abbey is in the : hands of the British workman, says Sir Henry Lucy in the Sydney Morning Herald. The Coronation is yet afar off, and the period of preparation seem intolerably extended. But the ways of Government departments are not those of ordinary business people. ' There is 710 appeal,- though there is much ghimwing at what is regarded as unnecessarily early appropriation of one of London's most precious public pos-, sessions. Meanwhile- the lawns that environ the Abbey l and were just putting on the greenery of approaching spring are blocked with piles of timber. The principal entrance swarms with workmen, on whose doings a shift; ing crowd reverently gazes through the long day.-A feature of the architectural preparation for the ceremony, whichgave rise to much controversy at the" coronation of King Edward, was the overlaying at the entrance by Deans Yard, at which Royalty will alight, by a porcli of sham ecclesiastical design, ; purporting to" be a portion-of the ancient structure. It was exceedingly cleverly done, the colors being so manipulated that there was avoidance of the shock of newness. The man in the street was rather pleased with it. But it was spoken of disrespectfully by more learned persons jealous of the sacredhess of the edifice. . According to present appearances, it looks as if this little architectural fraud will be repeated next June. The chair his Majesty will occupy during the ceremony of the Coronation is not of older date than the time of William and Mary. It was made for Queen Marv,and was modelled upon the original, built a little more than 700 years ago by direction of Edward I. It was that monarch who, during a visit to Scotland, found at Scone Abbey the stone on which Scotch kings had been crowned. Vac victis. He appropriated it, carried it to London, and since his time all the Sovereigns of England have in turn sat in a chair resting on the stone which, according to ancient tradition, was the one on which Jacob, journeying to Bethel, rested his head. King Edward's first idea was to have a bronze chair for Coronation purposes. A commission was given to liis goldsmith, but when the work was nearly completed his Majesty altered his mind and had a copy of the goldsmiths' work made in wood. It is interesting to learn from ancient records that it cost £5. What became of it or its remains history sayeth not. It might with care have been preserved to this day, for it was built of seasoned oak, fastened together with pins.