The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30

1t is difficult to convey an idea to the
people in this country of the anxiety
which prevails not only in England itself
but also in every quarter of the vast do
minions Of Queen Victoria concerning her
own health as we'll as that of every men,
ber OF her large-sized family. 1t is not so
much on the ground of loyalty that this
anxiety exists just now, although it car
not be denied that the reigning dynasty
of Great Britain, and her Majesty in par
ticular, enjoy probably to greater degree
than any other sovereign house the re-
gard and affection of their fellow-country-
men, but 1t is the dread lest any un-
toward event should occur to render USE
less the extensive and costly preparations
which have been made to celebrate in
an appropriate manner the sixtieth
anniversary of the Queens accession to
the throne. Every one in tho British
empire is looking forward to what is
commonly known as 'having good
time in connection with this great ma
tional festival. The rich ana the well-to-
do are organizing all kinds of entertain
ments for their own enjoyment and for
that of their friends and acquain tances.
The business classes anticipate a golden
harvest from the revival of trade which is
certain to be entaied by the expenditure
in connection with the celebration, while
on every side plans are being made for
ameliorating the lot of the poor and the
working classes, both the Queen and the
Prince Of Wales having impressed upon
the public the fact that they would ap-
preciats more highly that form Of cele-
brating the diamond jubilee than any
other that could possibly be devised.
Besides this enormous sums. amounting
to many millions of dollars, have been al
ready invested in decorations for adorn-
ing the route OF the royal procession
through the streets Of the British metrop-
oils ON June %. entire brick buildings
having been torn down and reconstructed
in different fashion in order to present a
pleasing spectacle to the eye and to offer
accommodation to sightseers on that SIN
gle day. Now all these preparations will
have been useless, all tho money already
spent will be lost beyond redemption, and
all hopes and projects disappointed in the
event of any death taking place within
the next four weeks that would entail
court mourning. True. . mum Der of the
merchants, business men and spectators
in London have endsavored to protect
them selves against loss in this particular
by insuring the life OF the Queen, policies
to the amount Of some $40, ,0O0, 600 having
been taken out on her Majesty, which will
become payable in case she were to die
before the end of June. But it must be
rome m bsred that in the first place this
would only serve to indemnify relatively
small mum Der of individuals for their dis
appointment and loss, and that, more
over these policies do not take into ac-
count the possibility Of tho sudden demise
of ono of the sovereign children, grand
children or other near relatives. of whom
she has nearly 100, and any one of whose
deaths would suffice to put an end to all
ideas OF festivities in consequences of the
necessity Of court morning.
Court mourning may be described as the
nightmare of European court life, - well as
Of that portion OF the official world and OF