Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1901 — PARLIAMENT IS OPEN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PARLIAMENT IS OPEN.

EDWARD PRESIDES IN PERSON AT THE CEREMONY. Monarch and Consort Bide in the Stnta Coach—Spectacular Parade from the Palace to Westminster House of Lords Is Thronsed. The first Parliament of the reign of King Edward VII. was opened in London Thursday afternoon by the King in person. His majesty was accompanied by Queen Alexandra, the Duke of York and Cornwall and the Duke of Connaught and many others of the royal family. The last state ceremony of the kind took place in 1861, when Queen Victoria opened Parliament, accompanied by the prince consort, and since the death of the latter nothing equal to Thursday’s pomp has been witnessed in- London in connection with the opening of the legislature. Not since the wedding of the then Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra has the gorgeous state coach been seen in the streets of the capital. In this coach on Thursday the King and Queen and Princess Victoria rode from Buckingham Palace to the palace at Westminster. The route of the royal party, which lay through the Mall, the horse guards’ parade, YVhite Hall and Parliament street, was guarded by 5,000 soldiers. Thousands of Londoners packed Bt. James'

park, bordered the routrT of the procession and filled windows, stands and roofs. The pageant was short, but spectacular, The procession speedily traversed the short route to an accompaniment of roars and shouts and reached the royal entrance to the palace of YY'estminster beneath 'he Victoria tower at the appointed time. Royal Flan lard Hoisted When the great gilded stale coach came In sight of the tower in YVestminster the royal standard was hoisted to the top. The state coach and those following, containing the heir and the Duchess of Cornwall and others of the royal family, passed through the great gates under the Y’ictoria tower. The sovereign and the Queen and suite passed thence to the robing room. The Duke of Devonshire, Lord President of the Council, carried the crown. The cap of maintenance was borne before King Edward on the right hand of the sword of state. Lord Salisbury walked in the procession as Lord of the Privy Seal, as the office of prime minister is not yet, according to court etiquette, recognized. King Edward’s robes were of crimson silk velvet, edged with rows of gold lace and powdered ermine. The robes of Queen Alexandra were of maetrial similar to that of the robes of the King, but the design was somewhat different. In the House of Lords wherever the eye rested its gaze there was the pomp of state. Peers and lords, correctly robed, stood in their places. The galleries were filled with diplomats of all countries represented at St. James’ and their wives and entourage. It was a scene of'splendid color and tinsel, such as one can hope to see but once in a lifetime. YY’hen the King and Queen had seated themselves on the throne the King ordered the Blnck Rod to summon the Commons. On the arrival of the members of the House of Commons in the House of Lords the King read his speech. The opening of the first Parliament of the new reign witnessed the usual competition on the part of members of the House of Commons to secure seats. At 10:30 o'clock a detachment of yoomon of the guard-.from the in tiicir quainr new uniforms and carrying hallherds, arrived and conducted the customary search of the vaults for imaginary conspirators, with the usual result.

KING ED WARD VII.