New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-19
THE NEW JUBILEE.
RONFIREs ON THE HILLs-A sHOPKEEP.
ING NATIONS FETE-ONE GOOD
THING THAT IS CHEAP.

The new Jubilee Of the Queens reign is TO
be something more than revel OF charitable
cadging and a SPECTATORS harvest At least
two distinct appeals will be made to the Eng
lIsh imagination. The procession to and from
St. Paul's will represent the power ana
grandeur OF worldwide Empire. With its Ind
ian contingent, It's Colonial body guards and It's
picked bodies Of soldiers and marines. II Will
be a pageant rich in it's suggestions Of imperial
greatness When the last files OF soldiers have
passed up the Mall to Buckingham Palace. and
London is Illuminated as II has never been be-
fore during the long and glorious reign. thou.
sands Of bonGres TO be kindled simultane-
ously the hills and mountain crags OF the
United Kingdom. The warning beacons OF the
Elizabethan reign Will he relighted and multi
piled In testimony Of the JOY and gratitude OF
n United nation after an unexampled period Of
prosperity and progress.
Jubilee bonfres attempted ten years
ago. but the experiment disappointing in
its results. because undue stress was laid upon
the idea Of fame telegraphy. The beacons were
not lighted simultaneously, but at sight OF the
flaming signal which was first flashed from the
highest point Of the Malvern Hills. The idea
was an imaginative and poetical one, that at a
given signal the news should be carried north,
SOUTH east and west by beacons lighted from
hill to HILL but some Of the bonfres were kindled
prematurely and many were not set ablaze from
one cause or another A Parliamentary COM
mittee headed by Colonel Milward, Sir John
Kennaway and Mr.. Lowther has been organized
this week for the purpose Of carrying out the
idea In a more practical way. II has rejected
the signalling system n detail which is trou-
blesome and unsatisfactory in execution. 1t
recommends that at 10 O'Clock OF Jubilee Day
on every important hill in the United Kingdom
a bonfire shall be kindled. The cooperation OF
chairmen Of county councils is asked and an
energetic committee has been appointed for or
ganizing the movement throughout the United
Kingdom.
The material recommended for general use In
these beacon fires is peat saturated with petro-
leun In the mountainous regions Of Wales
and Westmoreland cOlOred lights may be sub
stituted for bonfres. The idea has been taken
I'D with enthusiasm in the provinces. and it now
seems probable that on the night or jubilee
Day the British Islands Will be aSlow with
thousands OF flaming beacons. Ten years ago,
when the plan was neither well devised nor
generally accepted. spectators in favored locali-
ties were enabled 10 many as hundred
of these bonlres. This year with superior SIM
plicity in the plan and more general interest In
the undertaking. the effect Of this unique dis
play Of Jubilee lights ought 10 be greatly In
creased. The procession and thanksgiving SER
vice will be London's show but every one in the
United Kingdom outside of London will be ena-
bled to witness the beacon fires. There VIII De
something in this extraordinary night spectacle
to appeal strongly TO the imagination OF sight
seers 1t will be the outward sign OF national
rejoicing throughout the Queens dominions. and
ii will inspire a fresh glow Of enthusiasm Tor
imperial interests
Features like these Of the Jubilee celebration
are cordially welcomed because there Is so much
that is sordid and mercenary In the prepare
tions for the gala week in June. The metallic
rattle of very hard cash has been heard at every
turn since the Jubilee was proposed House
agents as long ago as last August increased
their rentals for West End property on the
strength Of the projected celebration, and tho
figures have been rising steadily. Tradesmen
have been expecting a fine harvest from the sea-
sons trade and have anticipated their pronts
by overchargng their customers all the year
round because the Jubilee was in sight. AS soon
as the route of the parade was announced
spectators scramble began for windows. rooms.
roofs and available sites such as the world has
never before witnessed. The route is six miles
in length but there is not front window all
the way that does not command a phenomenal
of the Thames. where tradesmen and dodgers
occupied rooms by the month looking out upon
the line of march, the poor have been meneced
with evictions in order that property -owners
might gain possession Of squalid rookeries for
the sake Of a single days rental at Jubilee
rates.
one three-storied building overlooking 81
Paul's Cathedral has been leased for Soo.oOo for
a single day. The situation is unrvalled for the
view which IL will offer Of the thanksgiving
service in front of ST. Pauls, and OF the two Sec
lions Of the procession massed in the open
space; but the windows are few in number ana
the rooms small Another syndicate-for the
buildings along the route Will be largely CON-
trolled by spectators combinations on the day
to be celebrated-has offered 100000 for the
privilege Of removing a building on Ludsa'e
Hill erecting a great stand in its place and
subsequently reconstructing and restoring the
original structure Windows in highly desirs-
bic localities command anywhere between Slooo
and $4,000 The magnitude OF this holiday
traffic is amazing Hundreds of real estate
dealers have gone into the business OF dealing
in windows. rooms roofs and seats. Immense
insurance risks have been taken on the queens
life The newspapers are filled with advertise
ments for holiday accommodations. There -
also a considerable auction trade In them WIN
dows balconies and rooms being soi p, 10 Tiv
highest bidders The mansion in PiccadiIiy
which was leased for $4,000 for single DAY
was disposed of prematurely. The rental might
easily have been trebled.
The tariff Of prices for seats in open-air STANDS
has not yet been established except tor inc
clubs which have made arrangements LOT INC
comfort OF their members. Inc REFORM Ntup;;
for example. will erect a double gallery that VIII
accommodate about 900 persons. ana Two
guineas will be charged for seat and luncheon-
Tho nrices OF open-air seats in platforms over
looking the most attractive portions or the route
will be much higher than the special rates OF,
fered by clubs. Many OF the STANDS are 10 %
erected for the benefit of the Hospital Fund. ana
the prices will range between two ana h.e
guineas The vestries may construct stands IN
go I;,,,, g, Iap,eas-st the borough and