THE CORONATION FESTIVITIES.
[TO THE EDITOR OP THE " STECTATOF..1
Sin,—There is an undercurrent of feeling about these recent festivities we have just passed through which it is not quite well to ignore. My friends and I are as loyal as any other people, but we wish for better ways of showing it. We object to the waste, ugliness, danger from fire, great derangement of busi- ness in town and country, loss of wages to working men who cannot afford it, and also because of the number of people it drives away from town, among others a friend of mine whose note I enclose.
There was an article in the Held last week which showed how much business, and especially country business, suffered from the festivities which at first sight people might think would help business.—I am, Sir, &c., W. R..
London has been detestable all the days I saw it before the Coronation. We fled here on Wednesday, glad to be out of it Really, the silly, futile decorations made a poor thing of some of the noblest thoroughfares. All this fuss is enough to make one a republican. I very much doubt whether this sort of thing will really add to the King's popularity when the emotion and shout- ing of the noise-loving crowds have subsided. Anyhow, I never want to see London prepared for a gigantic conflagration again. If there had only been any perception of beauty about the whole thing one could forgive it, but the horrible vulgarity and garish tawdriness of the miserable calico-covered poles and wreaths with which the streets were filled is quite unforgivable. But I don't know more than about three people one dare say this to.
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