The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-23
WAITING FOR THE PROCESSION
Description of the Crowds and the Decora-
tions in the Streets.

tIons in the streets.
London, June 22-The last stroke OF
twelve had not died away in the mid
night air when from a hundred metro
politan steeples a tumultuous peal OF
bells announced Diamond Jubilee Day
The vast crowd that filled the miles OF
saeets and squares answered with ring
ing cheers and here and there the sing
ing Of God Save the Queen"
The crowds that peopled the streets
and squares all night in the hope Of a
good view Of the procession today We're
amazing in their sublime patience
Waiting for twelve, fourteen and sixteen
hours, as many Of these people were do
ing, jammed together, is a feat OF en-
durance that could only be sustained by
some overmastering desire. Quite half
OF these jubilee walters We're women.
many Of them with the pale, carew0rn
look Of the London worker, yet all en-
during the back-breaking tediOusness
with the utmost good nature. Some had
campstools, some sat on projections OF
buildings or on curbstOnes, or leaned on
doorways and the angles made by
stands. Refreshments were in order ev-
erywhere and the police had little trou-
BILE. CHEEKY good humor being The note
OF the night. During the long hours
snatches Of song and occasional bursts
Of cheering showed that the people were
determined to enjoy the festival Of pa
triotism and loyalty TO the utmost. A
clear, starlit sky and cool air kept the
spirits Of the crowd al the topmost point
throughout the vigil With dawn the
hope OF queens weather merged in GER
tainty and the world here prepared itself
in fullest confidence for a day OF plea
sure.
The earliest action indicative Of the
great event-apart from the people wait
ing twas shortly before six o'clock, the
arrival Of vestry carts to freshly gravel
the roa1ways. after the fashion which
prevailed in the good old days Of Sam
Pepys. Then. a little later, that inevi-
table precursor of any procession, the
police. began to arrive in great numbers
eight thousand being distributed along
the line Of route The strets on the
north side OF the Thames were closed 10
ordinary vehicular traffic a. 7:36 and on
the south side al 8 a. m. London bridge
had been closed TO all traffic at midnight
and Westminster bridge and other
bridges between, at in the morning, at
which hour all persons were removed
from Westminster and London bridges.
The first great difficulty OF the police
was assisting owners of seats on stands
and houses TO get TO them, they being
permitted to drive 20 them up TO 10
O'clock, for there was a vast interval be-
tween a title 10 a seat and actual pos
session. The crowds on the sidewalks
were quite willing to give passage to the
favored mortals who owned seats, but
70 do so was difficult vas an attempt
n divide six into four with no remain
der. And the difficulty was further in
creased by the arrival Of the troops, af-
ter $50. taking up their appointed
places The wise however, had reached
their seats in stands or obtained access
10 houses where they had bought win
d0Ws by O'Clock 20 7:50. II was only
the inevitable late-comers who had TO
push and struggle, in the case Of ladies.
much to the damage Of their toiettes.
At length order was evolved out of cha
os-many OF the extreme late-comers
were peremptorily shut out and every
body settled down 10 wait. The picture
was complete. The last touches Of dec
orator. upholsterer and florist had been
given, the fine effect II the decorations
could be viewed. the faces were in their
places
THE DECORATIONS BY DAY.
Decoration for Her Majesty's jubilee
has been universal and without stint.
Could the queen have passed this morn
ing through some Of the wretched
streets Of her great London. some of
these. narorw ill-favored alleys where
pale-faced children come 10 believe the
sky is only a yard wide. where there ia
want and hunger and disease the year
round-she could have found no more
striking evidence Of her abiding place in
the hearts of the people. The respien-
dent WesIland. with is crimson glory.
great banners. triumphal arches and
parterres OF costly blossoms. meant no
more, Il half - much. as the tiny paper
flags the yard or 50 of narrow red.
White and blue stretched along a win
dOw sill and round common flower pot
wits single rose. modest decorations.
which formed today shrines for the chill
dren Of the shadows Of the Nh.,echapel.
Spitalfielis, Roxton or Shored.;cl alley
ways.
Il is. however. - the six ana three
quarter miles Of the professional route
that one must turn for what are consid-
cred The jubilee decorations. In describ-
ing them il may be said at me outset
that the ART Of street decoration Is no;
understood in London. While here and
there much tina, : beautiful meets the
eye. Il is no, possible 10 escape the fact
that he ensemble has been ruined by
lack % concerted effort The means en-
ployed nave been As varied as me ends
achieved While there is plenty q red.
white ana blue. the greatest reliance
has been placed on royal crimson trim
med with gold. Notices are beautiful
with scrolls. banners, fags. The royal
arms. the imperial monogram. portraits
OF the queen in every possible form OF
Reproduction. and unlimited illusions 70
'1SS7-ls9I.' IN me richer streets sre
countless, costly blossoms. bu; paper
flowers haven %, been dis57nied. espe-
cialy in such decorations as are in the
street proper. and the green of ever
green and fir and laurel garment The n
unpaal arches Venetian mases. wf.h
thin, idly-wavins pennons. shields and
standards Of flags, flowers and ferns
lend more Of The picturesque than per
h3ps anything else. There were 10
sar-'is Or decorations stretched across