The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-24

EDITORIAL NOTES.

japan has been extending her railroad system /,
furnishing a good example for China to follow.
Tile trains, owing TO frequent stoppages, make
on an average about sixteen miles an hour. The
Japs appear fond Of travel, tile third class
coaches being nearly always crowded, aud re-
markabe feature noted by foreigners Is the in
evitable policeman with his sword guarding the
wicket of even The smallest station.
The death OF William III OF Holland Is an
event that is likely TO inaugurate important
changes in the map OF Europe. Ii Germany is
quietly permitted TO absorb the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg, 1t may In the course of time be fol-
lowed by the absorption Of Holland. VIII
France, that has long desired TO extend her
dominion over this section OF Europe. qui-tly
acquiesce in movement that means added power
and wealth to her old-tme enemy?
Is the successful example OF this country going
TO induce England to inaugurate remarkable
Innovation in her financial polIcy2 1t IS reported
that Goscben, the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
has asked the Bank of England Directors to con-
slider whether the time not 0pportune for the
issue OF one pound notes payable In silver. Per-
haps thisis one of the SURPRISES it was annonnc ed
the Government intended to spring on the re.
assembling OF Parliament.
The plans of the Notifications Board include
forty-four 16-inch guns 10 defend ports of the
first Importance 1t is proposed to locate thirty
SIX of these great weapons Of defense at New
ork. San Francisco aud Boston. mounting
them in pairs in turets occupying low and eX-
posed sites, and commanding The principal
wafer approaches. These guns would each
weigh 125 tons, have length Of fOriy-nine and
a half feet, and fire a charge OF half ton and
projectile over a ton in weight
The total number cases of cholera up to date,
says the japan Gazette of October 2Sd is over
10000. Though a bad record, 1t pales before
those of 1879 and 1886. The Governments
statistics show that In 1877 there were 13, 916
cases; in 1879. 162637; In 1882, 81 1851, and
in 1886. 155,923. Shanghai has also suffered
considerably from the epidemic, the mortality
being SO heavy in some places that the under
takers cannot keep up with the demand for their
services. In Tientsin the mortality has also
been great.
Siam proposes to construct railways and make
other improvements, but Is in quandary about
the labor supply. The first railroad line Will
connect Bangkok aud Pelriu, on the Bangpa-
kong River. the two most important business
centers Of the country. 1t will be thirty eight
miles long and of standard gauge. Bids have
been received Offering TO construct it for about
$1,000 mile. The extension of this road TO the
Mekong and to Baltambong is likely to prove
magnificent financial success for the Mekong
rapids, drains valley celebrated for It's fertility
and occupied by an immense population.
The funeral of the Queen Dowager OF Corea
was remarkable one. Five months elapsed be-
tween the death and interment, and during that
time elaborate preparations were made, the ex-
penses amounting 10 several hundred thousand
dollars. The funeral procession was an imposing
spectacle. First came thirteen gayly colored
sedan chairs, hung with silk drapery, each
borne upon the shoulders of twelve men. In
Them were supposed TO be borne the historians
who wrote the history of The deceased. Then
came the banners of the various guilds in Seoul,
each flag being followed by men OF the guild who
furnished it. The funeral procession, according
to custom, had TO start at night, and on both
sides OF the street, at intervals of six or eight
rods, were immense torches OF brush-wood. The
fierce glare OF these SET off The CANDY coors of
the banners aud Of the raiment OF the bearers
and soldiers. Then followed gayly dressed men,
bearing long poles on which hung scrolls eulo-
giving the deceased. There were fifty or sixty
of these. One of the most striking features of
the procession was the imps, or deyils-masked
men on horseback, the masks being about Two
feet broad and having two pairs of eyes and
hideous griDHlng mouth. They were supposed
to protect the procession and the dead from the
Internal powers. AT the head OF the main body
OF the pageant rode General, mount-d on a
sEleHuiu cHdI ger anu SURROUNDED Dy u crowd OF
liveried servants. In his costume all the coors
of the rainbow appeared TO be represented. The
procession grew denser and nosier. The glare
of the torches, the clouds OF dust, tile hoarse
shouting OF the soldiers and bearers, contributed
to the novelty OF the scene. Then the preim-
mary carafaldue hove in sight In such pageants
there are TWO Of these, and no one Is supposed to
know in which one the body had been deposited.
Ii was an Immense, obiong affair, surrounded by
a railing, and inside wds the sik-draped bier.
Red and green were the predominant cOlors. al
though gilt played al important part. The whole
was upheld by number of long poles aud ropes,
between the meshes of which the bearers, more
than nifty in number, stood, the ropes passing
over their shoulders. From the four corners
long ropes extended forward and backward, and
hundreds of men, gra sping these. either aided in
pulling the catafalque or pushing the crowd
back. Following The calafalQue came six i'm
mense horses made OF paper stretched on wooden
frames. They were the most uncOuth and ugly
looking beasts imaginable. The second eata-
falque followed. larger and magnificent
than the first Behind was long line of officials
and mourners, flags soldiers, and finally the
bowling and excited rabhle