Life — June 22, 1911 — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Lonpon. (Special Correspondence to Lire) HIS morning I reviewed the English Army for the last time. i The King refused to go down to the steamer to see me off. “TI never could stand those partings, he said. “Just let me say au revoir in a natural way, as if you were to come back to-morrow.” The German Emperor is not a bad sort—when you get to know him. At first I was inclined to resent his famil- iarity, but I found out that he didn’t mean half he said. But to our muttons, as the Archbishop says. The coronation was a great success, as those things go. If I had to do it over again, I could improve upon it. An unfortunate incident, however, marred the opening part. J. P. Morgan insisted on buying everything connected with the affair—throne, crown, the King’s robe that I had designed with so much care, the chariot—and take them all over to New York and present them to the Stock Exchange. Of course I couldn’t have that, so I wouldn't let him take part in the pro- cession. The pageant was gorgeous. No words of tongue or pen can describe the long <i ae CIN oT “PAE King Crowned At Last Everything Went Off as Planned By Our Correspondent line of dignitaries, the imposing array of genuine talent that I had gathered to- gether from all parts of the kingdom. Scholars from Oxford’ and Cambridge, Sepoys from India, Dervishes from the Nile, lordly bishops and barristers, lords, dukes, viscounts and viscountesses, knights of the Royal Bath, keepers of the bed-chamber, high plenipotentiaries from all parts of the world, horses, xro- planes, automobiles. I noticed also some other American correspondents, to some of whom I gave unimportant pieces of news. The Queen and I led the way, the King just behind, with Parkhurst. The horse guards surrounded us to prevent a killing. On arrival at the cathedral we re- moved our outer wraps and entered the church, or nave, ‘as they call it here. My robes proved all that could be de- sired. Everybody admired the King’s. I forgot to say that before the cere- mony we all sat down to a little family party. Those present were the Princesses Helena, Louise and Beatrice, and Princes Arthur, Victoria and Maud. I proposed the health of the ladies and we had a jolly time, although marred’ slightly by the fact that I stepped on somebody's gown and I had to make a THE QUEEN AND I LED THE WAY; THE XING BEHIND, WITH PARKHURST humorous speech in order to turn the thing off. I said to the Queen: “Do you know, this reminds me of home; all these simple little furnishings remind me of my own plain but substan- tial villa on Jersey City Heights. You must come over and visit us some time.” She said she couldn’t get away. That's the trouble with royalty. I have known most of the kings and queens in my time, but they are all tied down; no such thing as coming over and sitting on your piazza and being neighborly. The procession left the palace prompt- ly at eleven, the crowning being at high noon or thereabouts. Reports that it took place at any other time are errors of my brothers of the press. We moved slowly through Regent Park and thence to the cathedral. It was the proudest moment of my life. Never before have I made five dollars a word, but when I thought of the syndicate privileges, my heart grew hard once more. I enclose an interview with of Spain. He is here, but I seen him yet. I simply had to ask Morgan to din- ner. He is still sore about the crown and fixings, but he’s got to get used to it I looked over the proof sheets of Kip- ling’s coronation ode to-day and made some corrections in it. Pretty fair stuff. I tried to persuade Bernard Shaw to ack with me to America. ‘ot as long as I can associate with men like you over here,” he said sternly. The Duke of Connaught, who called on me yesterday, was much exercised over my attitude toward the marriages of American girls to Englishmen. “My dear fellow,” he said, “I am astonished that you don’t approve of such an admirable arrangement. Why, it brings us together.” “We won't argue the point,” said I coldly. He left discomfited. Carnegie is here. He wanted me to get his name in the papers. I turned him down, I am sick and tired of hav- ing these philanthropists hanging around waiting for a reading notice. The Archbishop and I are now great friends. I let him win a couple of hun- dred from me at bridge, just to keep him warm. I saw Anthony Comstock the other day skulking around the window of a Alfonso haven't comicbooks.com