Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 117, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1911 — UNCLE SAM'S PART IN THE KING'S CORONATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

UNCLE SAM'S PART IN THE KING'S CORONATION

IMP MB XCLE SAM, in one way and an- ■ I other, is to play quite a prorn- ■ I inent part in connection with Bv 1 the coronation in June of King George, Great Britain's new ST} t monarch. First and foremost, of course, will be the reprerjOmj sentaiion, official and unofflcial, of the United States at the spectacular exorcises in S JE) London. But aside from this there will he recognition of the momentous event In the American capital and while it will

be, perforce, infinitely less showy than the elaborate program in the British metropolis, this echo on this side of the Atlantic will have much of significance for all believers in the hands across the sea tradition. A kingly coronation is always a magnet for tourists and sightseers of all nationalities —as witness the thousands of spectacle-loving Americans who have planned to be in London for the big show early this summer—but no government is expected to send official representatives to a coronation unless ’ specifically invited by the government whose sovereign is to be crowned. However, Uncle Sam was duly Invited, all right, to send special envoys to London for this supreme event of British history. Indeed in the present instance, as in the case of the coronation of the late King Edward, the United States was one of the first nations to whom an invitation was dispatched and this is something of an honor, for John Ball invites very few republics to participate In his big celebration and even purposely overlooks some of the less Important monarchies in sending out his "bids.” Worn the ) minute that the state department accepted Brittania*s invitation immense. Interest was aroused all over the country as to whom the president would appoint special ambassador to the coronation. There is no salary attached to the place and the allowance which the government makes for expenses cannot be expected to cover the outlay of a man who has such a position to maintain. But it Is a great honor to be sent as coronation envoy—carrying with It such privileges as dinners with the king and queen in addition to choice reserved seats at all the big functions — and so the place is eagerly sought by men who have the wealth to enable them to carry out its obligations. President Taft bestowed this plum upon his close personal friend. John Hoys Hammond, the multimillionaire mining engineer who, for the first time, broke into politics Just prior to the last presidential campaign and was mentioned for nomination as vios-president on the ticket with Mr. Taft. The California mining expert who rolled up the greater part of his wealth in the gold fields and diamond mines of South Africa, has the reputation of being a very liberal spender, but ha will needs be to outshine his American rival, Mr. Whitelaw Reid, in the coronation hospitalities. Mr. Reid was the special envoy (the post now held by Mr. Hammond) at the coronation of King Edward, as he had been previously at Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, and on both occasions he entertained in a manner to cause British eyes to open wide with astonishment. Now, Mr. Reid is our regular ambassador at the Court of St. James and as such he has to play second fiddle to tile special ambassador, Mr. Hammond. But that is only in official precedence. There is no official etiquette that puts a check upon his private hospitalities. However. President Taft’s chum has leased a large London mansion for the coronation season, paying a fortune as rental, and it is likely that no temporary resident of the city of fogs will play host more splendidly during the six weeks of gayety. Special Envoy Hammond will have one immense advantage over the regular ambassador, Mr. Reid, and, of course, over all the Americans who are present in London at this time as private citizens. It will arise from the circumstance ' that the British government will, in order to make things easy for the special visitor, detail to attend him military and naval aids and court officials who,will act as gentiemsn-in-waiting just as is the case when a king visits the capital of a friendly nation.

These British courtiers will pilot the proxy of President Taft all through the intricate problem of the coronation festivities, telling him Just where to go, when to go and what to do' when he gets there. In addition Mr. Hammond will enjoy all the privileges and immunities which are secured by international custom to the ambassadors of all countries. Whereas Mr. r Hammond will be the most conspicuous American at all the public events connected with the coronation, he is the head of what is known as a "special embassy” and the other members will come in for their respective shares of glory. The official staff of the special ambassador will include a military aid who will be a brigadier general of the regular army and a naval aid who will be of the rank of rear admiral, and in addition there will bq three secretaries—young men chosen more tor their social qualifications than because of clerical ability. The army and navy representatives In" the special embassy will pf course don their special full dress uniforms on all ceremonial occasions during their stay in London, but the special ambassador, alike to the regular envoy, will not be asked to appear in fancy court attire of any kind or to make any elaboration of the conventional evening clothes such as he would wear at a White House reception. There will be this difference, however, that Mr. Hammond will have to venture forth at all hours of the day in his claw-hammer coat Instead of reserving such attire for evening events as he would do here at home. And being somewhat short of stature anyway, this plain American citizen in his unobtrusive costume can scarcely expect to attract as much attention in the big public parades as will the princes of various nationalities who will be present in all the splendor of vivld-hued court costumes, bedecked with jeweled decorations. Yet another American who will have official standing at the coronation events will be Captain Gove, the naval officer in command of the U. S. S. Delaware, our newest and most powerful battleship. The Deleware, be It explained, is to be sent to England for this special occasion. The huge warship, it may be added, does not go to afford an impressive conveyance for the special ambassador and bis suite. On the contrary they will travel on the regular ocean liners, but Great Britain has invited all the nations on the globe to send warships to the coronation marine parades and more especially to a great naval review off the English coast, and it is to enable the stars and stripes

kO have a creditable color bearer In this his-tory-making spectacle that our latest “dreadnaught” has been ordered to cross the Atlantic. Uncle Sam’s participation in the coronation will have preludes of a social nature in the United States prior to the departure of the special embassy for London. The British ambassador to the United States may be expected to entertain the special ambassador, and probably all the members of the special embassy, at a formal dinner, provided he follows precedent in the matter, as doubtless he will, for Hon. James Bryce, the present British ambassador to the United States, has earned a reputation for doing the right thing at the right time and, moreover, he is strongly in sympathy with everything American. This hospitality will doubtless be returned by Ambassador Hammond, who is well equipped for entertaining, having, in addition to his spacious summef home at Gloucester, Mass., a rented house in Washington which he has leased at a rental of upward of SIO,OOO a year and where he is residing with his wife and children pending the completion of a mansion specially constructed for him at the national capital. And 6peaking of Ambassador Hammond’s

family it may be noted that Mrs. Hammond is as well qualified, for the duties of special ambassadress as is her husband for the post of special ambassador. Prior to her marriage she was a resident of the state of Mississippi, but since she formed a life partnership with the mining engineer she has traveled all over the World—one of her latest jaunts being to St. Petersburg,' Russia, whither Mr. Hammond was summoned by the czar only a few months ago for a consultation regarding the development of Russian and Siberian mines. Moreover, Mrs. Hammond has lived for considerable intervals In London during the time that her busband was associated with Cecil Rhodes and the British capitalists who developed South Africa, so that she has had considerable experience to fit her for her duties as a, hostess during the gayest social season in' the interim of the world’s metropolis. If precedent Is followed In the case of the coronation of King George commemorative services will be held in Washington (and In all the world’s capitals where Great Britain has embassies and legations) simultaneously with the significant ceremony in London. Such commemorative exercises when under the auspices of British diplomats are always especially impressive, one of the most notable within the memory of official Washington being the memorial service in honor of the late King Edward, which was held In Washington at the same hour that the funeral was held in England. Such services are attended by the president of the United States and the members of his cabinet and by all the members of the diplomatic corps In full When, as in this case, the services are in honor of a British monarch, they are always held In an Episcopal church, that being the denomination of the Church of England. The scene of such commemorative events in Washington is old St. John’s church, the famous “Court Church” or “Church of the Presidents,” which is located directly opposite the White House. Unfortunately the general public gets never a peep at such ceremonials because the church is a tiny one, seating only a few hundred persons and virtually every pew in the edifice has to be reserved for the diplomats and public officials who by virtue of their positions are entitled to attend.