st hope that, by mutual co-operation and good-will, the
bitter feelings of the past may speedily be replaced by ties of
loyalty and friendship and that an era of peace and prosperity may
be in store for South Africa."

CHAPTER XXI.

Arrangements for the Coronation

The preparations for the Coronation of the King were of a character
which eclipsed anything in the history of the world. It was
unquestionably his aim and intention to make the event an illustration
of the power of the British Empire, the loyalty of its people and the
unity of its complex races. The pride of the King in his great position,
the knowledge which he had acquired of the Empire in his innumerable
travels, the statecraft which he had inherited and developed, were all
factors in the determination to make this occasion memorable. Connected
with the splendour of the event, as planned, was the personal
relationship and friendship of most of the Sovereigns of Europe with and
for His Majesty and, associated with every detail of its anticipated
success, was the enthusiastic loyalty of Indian Princes and great
self-governing British dominions beyond the seas. Finally, the end of
the South African War came as if to add the one thing wanting to the
entire success of the most magnificent Coronation in all history.
Preparations went on apace from the beginning of Spring, 1902. The mere
material evidences of the coming event transformed busy and commercial
London into a forest of boards and poles and platforms. Westminster
Abbey was changed inside and out and a special entrance was made for the
King and Queen Alexandra to enter through, and so made as to harmonize
with the general architecture and character of the building.

A thousand great beacon lights were built over the United Kingdom so
that from shore to shore the news of the crowning of the King might be
flashed in flames of light to the people. In London and other centres
every kind of device for electrical display and illumination was
prepared and, toward the middle of June, flags and bunting in myriad
forms began to show themselves. In other parts of the Empire almost
every city and town and village arranged for some kind of demonstration.
Banquets and garden parties and band concerts and processions and
military reviews and all the varied means by which the English-speaking
person expresses his feelings were in full tide of preparation as the
time of the Coronation grew nea