"ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 57

" ALIEN'S" LETTER FROM ENGLAND.

(Specially Written for the Ladies' Page.) PEACE AND PAGEANTRY. July 7. There were great scenes in London on Saturday evening when the signing of the Treaty of Peace became known. The people's joy was expressed at the heart of the Empire in an emphatic manner. When the . great news known in the afternoon the purely business centres of the city were closed for the week-end, but as the news the guns proclaimed penetrated throughout the length and breadth of the mighty metropolis and the towns of the "suburbs" of greater London were informed by every train and tram and omnibus, the hundreds of thoufands poured back into the heart of things, while every motor car (public or private) took thousands of others from outlying districts, and by the late after--110021 trains many went up from the coast and the .provinces, counting two or three hours journeying nothing so as to be at the centre of things at the great moment. Everybody had expected the news, nevertheless when it came it brought an un* expected thrill with it. _ Church were thrown open, and impromptu services of the thanksgiving expressed the nation's gratitude, for the rejoicings were not confined to London, but spread throughout Great Britain even to its remotest parts and isolated villages, as the sorrow and tho horror of the war had spread. The hours from 4 to 8 gathered together 2,000,000 people into the West End. They came from world beyond world of the metropolis, Whitechapel, Stepney, and all the other centres on the south side of the river, and from Kensington and Hurlingham, Hammersmith, Kew, and Pvichmond. Extremes met and thronged and surged along the Strand, Regent street, Leicester square, Oxford street, and Trafalgar were impassable, roadways and sideways and squares were blocked by a live, palpitating multitude. The "long, long way to Tipperary" had been reached. Gaily-decorated taxi-cabs and omnibusses

•were crowded inside and out, while beauti-fully-dressed women in motor cars drove with their escorts. Restaurants were crowded with impromptu diners, and at an early hour of the evening every hotel and restaurant and eating-house and teashop was eaten and drunk out. ' The street' scenes produced, say, by a film 25 years hence would be more instructive than history. Boy Scouts in thousands marched in self-organised processions,- street urchins from by-ways and alleys (as well-informed in the war as the West Enders) made dozens of ragged-boy bands, solemnly and in perfect order, led by their "officers," marched to martial airs on the tin can, well versed in the peace terms, and determined that Britons never, never shall be slaves. J Gorgeous cars flying tho Union Jack pause at the fashionable restaurants, and ladies, wonderfully garbed, alight, officers of high degree were cheered, the theatres and opera and picture' palaces were' crowded with ,happy throngs. Soldiers of the Empire sat p.stride the lions in Trafalgar square, and crowd the step 3 of every famous monument; whistles, toy drums, every aid to the human voice in two million different notes, swell the clamour, which in every pause made audible the pealing of the bells. Around the gor-geously-lit Nelson column in Trafalgar square was a tremendous crowd. In the interior of the Ritz and Carlton and all the other palatial hotels were crowds of beautifully-dressed people, talking and laughing. Every place was crammed. Flags were everywhere, fluttering across the streets, from windows, from towers and turrets, from cars and busses, draping individuals, decoi-atino: rooms and hallsand theatres, red, white, and blue predominated. But the most wonderful scenes of all were outside Buckingham Palace, where, as soon as the official sisnal shot of the peace was fired, the Royal Standard then flying, over the palace was hauled down and a larger one flown. Here came loyal thousands, tens of thousands, a tremendous crowd chiefly of the middle and upper middle classes who in one form or another had served, and wanted to be near the King in his victorv hour. Soldiers in uniform and demobilised men of Great Britain and the Dominions, nurses in uniform and demobilised and in civilian •dress often fashionable dress, W.R.N.'s. V.A.D.'s. a sprinkling of men still in hospital bine, here and there a man blind, his hand on his wife's arm. One continuous cheer like a roar, and thr> waving of flags like the waving of a red. white, and blue forest in a storm, hernkled the appearance of the Kins on tho balcony, dressed in the uniform of a Fieldmarshal of the British armv. follov,-ed bv the Queen, the Prince of Wales. Princess Mary, and the two younger Princes. It was a memorable scene, the great crowd gathered to celebrate the ppace and share the iov of Ensland's Monarch, who, with the Queen, looked radiantlv happy. And over the victorious crowd Queen Victoria looked down from her monument. The band of the Coldstream Guards arrived on tha scene, and the cheers were

interspersed with tSe singing of the National Anthem, lecf by the band, which then played "0 God, our help in ages past," "God bless the Prince of Wales," •'La Marseillaise," and tho "Star-spangled Banner" in the intervals between the cheering, the calls for each separate member of the Royal Family, and the speeches. The King's speech was brief, but eloquent. "Peace.has been signed. So ends the greatest war in history. I join you all in thanking God." By 9 * o'clock the crowds outside the palace had assumed immense proportions wiien the band of the First .Lifeguards marched into the forecourt. The multitude shouted again and again for the King, who now appeared dressed hi naval uniform. A speech from the Prince of Wales was called for, who said, "I am proud of having this opportunity of thanking you. i feel sure that the spirit which has brought us through nearly five years of war to a victorious end will carry us through the difficult period which lies ahead." Queen Mary appeared very gratified by her special call. She has made herself the people's friend through the sad years of the past, and. Princess Mary and the younger Princes came in for their greeting of affectionate regard. With night searchlights began to play and rockets and searchlights lit wp the sky. The vicinity of Trafalgar square and Piccadilly Circus became unapproachable. But there was no " Mafficking" or excessive exuberance. The joy was spontaneous and natural. There were open-air dances, where there was room to dance, and in some of the theatres the programme was abandoned for an impromptu programme suitable to the occasion. At the London Hippodrome festoons decorated the interior, and at the end of the performance flowers were flung from the roof to the people below, and a battle of flowers followed, a dance succeeding.

The navy took a big part in the peace rejoicings "with its salutes of 101 gnu 3 and extra allowances. Jack was in the fun, as 'he has bean in the fighting and watching. At Portsmouth, _ Sheerness, Dover, and other ports sirens were sounded. A hundred ships in the Mersey gave the news to Liverpool by the sounding of sirens. _ . But hot all the rejoicers were in the crowds, nor the celebrations in public places. Hundreds of thousands avoided the crowds and spent the evening in their homes or with friends. And there were others who had no personal joy on whose hearts the shadow of the war will he forever.

According to ancient established usage the Royal proclamation of peace was publicly made with old-time ceremony and mediaeval pageantry, which many from overseas found extremely interesting, .for the uniforms and robes of office of early England have not been visible in the pageantry of the last five years. But on Wednesday the dressing was of the days of ceremonial and chivalry, and Avhen everv branch of the Royal House had its herald. In the-co democratic days, when the Royal Family live and move among their people very much as they, and unheralded save on great national occasions, it is rare to see Bluemantle and Rouge Dragon riding on horseback with other dignitaries of State in the full glory of their garb of office. And it was very evident to all who witnessed the ceremony of the proclamation that peace returned. "... strictly charging arid commanding all our loving subjects to take notice thereof and to conform themselves accordingly. God save the King." .Henley—the first since 1914, when the weather was glorious and the river scenes memorable—opened dismally on Wednesday in rain. There were no river flower garden hats and frocks, knitted jumpers and sports coat 3 and mackintoshes, and the blazers of the men formed the colour scheme. Rows of punts lay idly above the bridge. Few people strayed in the. Phyllis Court Club stand, and furs were bein»- worn in the enclosure. The pinks, blues, reds, and stripes of the rowing caps and blazers of the rowing men made a bright patch of colour, with the flowerboxes of the houseboats, some of which had let for as much as 225 gs for the week. But without the sunshine the river party is a failure. The price of punts and boats fluctuates with the weather. Thirty shillings to 20s was the price asked on Tuesday for Wednesday, but when Wednesday came with rain the price came down to 10s and 7s 6d. Dauntless lovers of river sport sat beside the stream under umbrellas, which looked like a giant growth of mushrooms under the dripping trees. The international rivalry in the hearts for the King's Cup made the most interesting races, and numerous Australians and New Zealanders, a 3 well Americans, took, the most enthusiastic interest in the events.. And it was quite, in accord with popular feeling that the Anzac3 should carry off some of° the honours of the Victory Henley. Saturdav (Cup Day) was, fortunately, fairly fine, and there was an early rush for the best positions on the river. The winning of the King's Cup by the Australian crew was a very popular one. Meanwhile in London " London's Own" had their victory march, 20,000 heroes c-aluting the King. The Australians and the Anzacs and other sections of the glorious army which gave us the occasion for peace celebrations have marched to the acclaim of millions of grateful men and women of Britain, and on Saturday London had the satisfaction of giving thanks to London men for their great and incredible achievements in the war. Men taken from their shops and counters did wonderful things in France and Flanders, in Mesopotamia, Africa, and Palestine. Tho scene outside Buckingham Palace was one of splendour. His Majesty on a raised dais took the salute, and around him were the Queen. Queen Alexandra, Princess Mary, the Prince of Wales, arid other members of the Royal Family, and the Queen was evidently delighted at the reception she received. In the crowds along the route were many women in mourning, and many wept, for these

pageants of victory are but reminders of loss to many'. Throughout the land on Sunday the churches of all denominations .were packed morning and evening. Perhaps the most impressive service of all was the openair service held outside St. Paul's, which preceded the State service of thanksgiving held in the. Cathedral, both of which were attended by the King and Queen and Royal Family. An awning had been spread at" the top of the steps, under which their Majesties and their sons and daughter stood, having been received by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London. A vast concourse of people filled the great space before the Cathedral, and spread down the whole length of Ludgate Hill and up Fleet street. People of all climes of the Empire and of all denominations of the Christian faith joined in singing the "Old Hundredth" in unison with their King. At 10 o'clock the bells of St. Paul's clashed out a joyous peal, and when they ceased the Guards' massed bands, with roll of drum and resounding brass, burst into the Hallelujah Chorus. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" resounded far from thundering; drums, but a million voices joined in the hymn of praise. The service within St. Paul's was a wonderful thanksgiving. As the Archbishop of Canterbury observed, never before, not even alter Blenheim or Waterloo or Sebastopol, had a national thanksgiving service seen so varied a company. His Majesty, through the Lord Chamberlain, had bidden not only the governing classes to attend, but representatives of all classes who took part in the Avar—statesmen, generals, admirals, diplomats and their women folk,—and the south transept was given over entirely to the women of the W.R.A.F., W.R.N.S., and Q.M.A.A.C Every branch of the three services was represented—wounded men in blue, nursing sisters, overseas troops, marines, sailors, and in the great procession of famous soldiers and sailors were Nonconformists as well as churchmen. As this procession slowly made its way forward, preceded by the great dignitaries of the Church, the vast congregation—between 9000 and 10,000 —joined in a hymn of triumph. The service concluded upon the termination of the Archbishop's address. To a deafening and prolonged fanfare their Majesties slowlv walked down the aisle to receive a tremendous ovation as they appeared on the steps outside the Cathedral. Here for the first time the two new Empire verses of the National Anthem were sung.