THE QUEEN IN LONDON.
VISIT TO WESTMINSTER AND THE AMERICAN EXHIBITION.
Her Majesty's visit to London yesterday was partly official and partly for a novel form of afternoon's amusement and relaxation from State duties. Shortly after eleven the Queen drove from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, where she was received by Dean Bradley and the Abbey officails, and inspected the various preparations being made for the Jubilee service to take place on June 21. The Dean, the Lord Chamerlain (Lord Lathom), to whose department the arrangements officailly belong, Mr. Plunket, and Sir H. Ponsonby Fane conducted the Queen over the Abbey, and explained all details. Her Majesty made a few suggestions, and, having expressed her pleasure with the proposed plan of the ceremony, drove back to the Palace. Before leacing the Queen paid a visit to the grave of Dean Stanley. In the afternoon the Royal party left the Palace, and drove through Earl's-court and West Kensington to see "Buffalo Bill."
Truly Colonel W.F. Cody should feel honoured, for in the last week all the notabilities of London -princes, pliticians, and players- hace visited what can now be fairly called "Wild West Brompton." Yesterday cam his crowining triumph, for it was her Majesty's Royal will and pleasure to witness the performance of the picturesque people who are already the talk of the town. As in the case of the Queen's cisit to Olympia, the entertainment was of a strictly private nature, the public being admitted to the Exhibition, but not to the ampitheatre. The Royal carriage came into the arena about half-past five, and with a suggestion of Ascot formality drove round the circle to the centre of the amphitheater, where a crimson velvet dais, decorated with orchids, and been prepared for her Majesty's use. The Queen, who looked in remarkably good spirits, was received by the Marquis of Lorne and the representatives of the Executive Council, comprising Lord Ronald Gower, Colonerl Hughes-0Hallett, M.P., Mr. John Priestman, Mr. Wm. Lee Thornton, Mr. J. G. Speed, and Colonel Griffin. With her Majesty came the Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg, and the Royal party was attended by the Duchess of Athole and Sir Henry and Lady Ponsonby, with Colonerl Gardiner and Sir Henry Ewart as equrries. The Marquis of Lorn having duly presented the president, Colonerl Henry Russel, the director, Mr. Whibley, and the secretary of the Exhibition, Mrr. Vinvent Applin, a selection from the performance was given. The "orator" was not called on to exercise his excellent powers of sonorous elocution from the rostrum, but stood just outside on the left of the Royal box and performed his duties of introducing the various groups. Mexican Vaqueros, Indians, cowboys, "a group of American girls," as the "orator put it, and, in short the whole show was paraded before her Majesty, the Indians sweep[ing past at full gallop with wild cries of delight. To a man every one of them knew the real meaning of the tiny audience and the honour of the occasion, and so they put their hearts into their work, and fought, plunged, danced, and shouted with rare spirit. "Buck Taylor" dashed up and saluted; the little "cowboy," Master Bennie Irvingm kissed his small hands in token of his respect, and when, finally, Buffalo Bill had reined up his white mustang, waved his salutations, and dismissed his little army, the selected programme was gone through. A three-quarter mile race between a "Cow-boy," Indian and Mexican, was followed by the "pony express," with its incident of a quick remount then Miss Lilian Smith showed her skill with the rifle, and after her performance was called to the Royal box and complimented. Then little Miss Annie Oakley showed what she could do with clay pigeons, and in her turn was presented and complimented, and made the prettiest of curtseys before she scampered off.
Next came the picking up of handkerchiefs at full gallop by "Buck Taylor," the gigantic, and buck-jumping on the snorting mule "Suicide," which animal in its over loyal zeal seemed at one moment apparently desirous of paying its personal respects to Royalty till duly "warned off" by the "orator" and Mr. Salisbury. Then followed the "war dance," wherein the painted Indians crowded as close as they could to the Royal box, and placed themselves ambitiously in evidence. What the whoopings and yells quite meant we have no means of judging; but anyhow they were a very sincere form of enthusiam of some sort.
