The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-13

should marry British subjects is, under
the conditions of the monarchy, well con-
sldered. The queen continues vigorous,
and exercises 4 great deal of authority.
1t IS by no means her DISPOSITION to efface
herself, and she speaks OF my parliament,
my army, my navy, my subjects, in the
most matter-of-course way. There are dem
ocratic Englishmen, called Radicals, who
say they will not have any of this nom
sense when the old lady is gone They are
resolved to revise at least the phraseology
of the court circulars and royal proclama-
tons. The chances are however, il the
Prince OF Wales outlives his mother, that
his tact will strengthen the props of the
throne, for he is man of real ability and
many accomplishments. Prince George
has been, next to his mother the popular
favorite in the family of the Prince of
Wales, and since the death OF his elder
brother Is regarded with extraordinary In
terest. He was far the stronger and manlier
of the two. and there is real satisfaction
in the prospect that he shall some day be
king, and the royal line descend through
him, rather than through his weak broth
er. This is not, however, pleasing to the
Radicals, who prefer that the royal fam
lily shall be distinguished for rank only,
and tolerated merely as a constitutional
expression and decoration-a form and
ornament, without the capacity to take an
initiative or the force to direct. 1t was a
surprise to note how early in the British
bereavement the notion that Prince George
should marry the bethrothed of his
brother found its way to the sur
face. There has not been much
of it in the newspapers; but
it is the talk on all sides, and
it will be almost demanded that George
shall follow the example of the czar, the
happiest of monarchs in his domestic life.
1t is stated that George has a strong
md e -, lr- nit vs~ff
cess, and almost, if not altogether, en-
gagged. He may make it matter of honor
to disappoint those who are devoted to
the fuItilment of their Own prophecies
that the Russian precedent shall be fol-
lowed. The evening papers of London
may lack the dignity of the morning is
sues, but there Is no question that they
take the first place in the audacities of
journalism. They were, before the burial
of the Duke of Clarence, discussing, with
out particular delicacy. the new duties of
Prince George, and lost no opportunity
to crafty public curiosity about him.
st. Paul's cathedral never seemed to me
so impressive as on the Sunday after the
the death of the Duke of Clarence, when
the services were in part in reference to
that event. Many thousands of people
were there. All the chairs were occupied.
The lord mayor was present The ringing
of the bells sounded like the buZzing of
swarm of brazen bees. The chanting was
strangely rich in tone. Suddenly there
were strokes on heavy bell, and the
sound was as though the dome
itself were ringing, and as if the
heavens echoed its music, solemn
and celestial. Then the organ grandly
broke forth, and the exalted strain lifted
all hearts. There was deep thrill in the
singing of hymns, piercing, tender and
sublime, and | was treasured again that l
was right when saying, years ago, that the
loftiest music heard in this world is in st.
PauPs There was an unexpected pleasure
in listening to the sermon. 1t could be
heard, and was distinct, simple and direct,
touching and weighty in the statements
and reservations OF truthfulness.
London has suffered from fogs this win
ter in such degree that they may be said
to be burning question. That is, at last
there is SO much smoke in the air that
there is a great deal of fire in the public
purpose. During four days of Christmas
week. including Christmas day, there was
a fog so black as to suspend business, and
the losses consequent were tremendous.
4 good deal is required to dishearten Lon
don, but this blowing out OF Christmas
did it, and there are myriads of sugges-
tions OF remedies. There is no help ex-
cept revolution as TO fires. Instead of
burning raw coal, the coal must be con-
yerted to gas and brought to the metrop-
oils in pipes; and that would be to abolish
one of the greatest luxuries of the Eng
iish-their open, abundant, glowing fires.
In winter time, certainly, those fires are
worth a narrow and smoky ho-
riZon. 1t is more important to
have indoors bright and cosy and
happy than out OF doors brilliant and
spectacular. Such was the state of London
skies during the six days l was in the city
that l never saw an OBJECT halt mile dis
tant, and one could rarely see more than
two or three of the halt-masted Hags at the
same time, and the banners dropping in
the gloom were as dingy and dismal as
possible; but there was no sense OF wit
Messing an imposing display. 1t may be
said there was q demonstration, but its
obscurity was astonishing. Sitting before
my coal fire, however, unstinted Goals
blazing with fervent heat, | felt re-
tons. 1t was a shock, though,
walking clammy street about II
O'Clock a. M, to breathe the bitter, smoky
air, behold the houses vanishing
in vapor two or three blocks away;
catching occasionally view of
what seemed to be phantom
towers and domes, to hear the greetings
of friends thus: "A fine morning. sir"
"a bright day, sir" did not wonder at
American ordinations to the effect that
they wanted dose of American sunshine,
even if it had nipping and eager frost
in il and blizzard behinu II. W nat is 10
be done with the people in London is
problem as profound as it is in New York.
The great thoroughfares are inconceiv-
ably crowded, and still the swelling null
titudes come How, if this goes on, the
millions are to be housed fed and,
above all, transported, is q mystery. The
omnibuses, cabs and carriages seem TO
have about reached the limit of their
ability; and so OF the railroads, circular
and underground. The air is saturated
with smoke; the water is insufficient, and
not of the best; the transportation over
wheImed Gas may be made at the pits
and piped to London; water may be
damned in the Welsh mountains and
poured upon the city; but if the floods of
population still accumulate in London
how shall they be handled in their going
and coming? l should think elevated
railroads would meet the requirements for
a few years; and such street car systems
as are established in Paris, Vienna and
Berlin would render material assistance;
but there is a demand beyond that, and
the supply is not in sight.
have inspected with the keenest inter-
est the electrical railway in London,
which has been recommended strenu-
ously to New York as the solution of her
rapid transit difficulty. You enter
solid structure marked Electrical Rail-
way" purchase ticket, pass an iron gate
and enter a room that is declared to hold
fifty persons. As you enter, mysterious
stairways, by which descents to regions
unknown are made, are revealed. After
few inmates a servant OF the company in
,,,ifOrrn apDearS closes the gates tn ot ara