Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-03-23
SOON THE JUBILEE.
Preparation 10 England for Celebrating Goth
Anniversary Of Reign Of Queen Victoria.

the Anglo Saxon--a phlegmatic, cold
hearted, unenthusiastic fellow. During
the closing years Of his sovereign's
reign the Britisher has several times
been called upon to display a degree
of sympathy and an exuberance OF
feeling which he was never supposed
to possess. and in each instance he has
risen to the occasion with all the aban-
donment of the Frenchman and Italian.
1t was In 1887 that the staid Britisher
first learned to unloosen himself and
set a portion of his spirit free in big
subscriptions. in animated discourse.
in great crowds. in fanciful decorations
and in loud huzzas.
The occasion, of course. was the
golden jubilee OF Her Majesty the
Queen, who had reigned serene and
irreproachable over her loyal subjects
for 50 years. Perhaps such an event
was the only one that could force the
subject to forsake his usual aspect of
calm dissatisfaction, coupled with a
dignity of mien which makes John Bull
the most unapproachable chap In
Europe.
The English. however. have changed
all that and cast reserve to the winds
since that memorable day, June q.
1887. when the Queen made her tri-
umphal progress from Buckingham
Palace to Westminster Abbey The
route was from the palace up Copsti-
tuition Hin to Hyde Park corner. down
piccadilly to Regent street, Waterloo
Place, Pail Mall. East Cockspur street,
avenue, Thames En-
bankment and Bridge street to the
Abbey.
Descriptions of the scenes along the
route tell how far the Britishers went
crazy with joy and enthusiasm. One
the Queens slow progress, the lower
classes, from even the Sums of Lon
don, vieing with the nobility and
gentry in hurrahing and bubbling over
with joy. The Queen, accustomed only
to the sober Difference of her subjects
vas at first quite taken aback. and
then hugely delighted with the enthu-
siasm she aroused. and kept her royal
head with its crown of diamonds in
constant state of nod.
This lesson of unloosening once learned
has not been forgotten by the London
populace. Before the stirring scenes of
the golden jubilee were. forgotten. Lon
don was again in a ferment of excite
ment last year over the commencement
OF the Goth year of Her Mejestys reign,
jubilant antics of 10 years before had
not the Queen herself politely requested
her subjects to retain their exuberant
spirits and wait until she had completed
I he Goth year of her reign. when she will
have broken the reigning record of all
previous sovereigns of Great Britain.
when they might let everything go.
The date of this glorious result of &
sound constitution and a tolerant Par
lament will fall on June % next. and al
ready London Is agog with excitement
as to what shall be done by way of cele-
bration and how 1t shall be done
1t is known that the great feature of
the occasion will again be the rovai pro-
gress through the. streets and by, the
shops and homes of Her Majesty's loyal
subjects. This time, however, the Queen
will proceed to st. Paul's cathedral to
offer her thanksgivings instead of to
Westminster Abbey. |
Persons who own houses in Piccadilly |
are in a frenzy of alarm lest the process |
sion might turn down st. James and |
compliment of passing their portals. 1t
IS more than likely. though. that Picca- |
diliy will be favored all the way to Re- |
gent street. But: however this may be.
the prices of windows on the Strand |
Fleet street and Ludgate Hill. through |
which the procession has got to pass,
are already faDulOuSly high.
Two hundred pounds for a window six |
feet broad In the vicinity of st. Pauls |
cathedral Is thought to be quite reason
able and the London papers are full of
queries for and offers of advantageous |
space for sightseers on the same liberal
scale.
Sites around St. Paul. especially on the
ire In special demand. Her Majesty is
known to be so weak in her royal limbs
hat it is deemed impossible for her to
walk up the steps which surround ST.
pauIS, and she is so averse to being car
led in public that 1t is Shrewdly sur
missed that she will not leave her state
carriage at all. and that whatever cere
Monies are to be performed at St. Paurs
VIII be in the open air by the Queens
'arrfage or tn canopy under which she
night be driven.
The space between st. Pauls and the
houses which surround it will be held by
indian troops especially brought over for
he occasion. This entire space on the
Chamberlain. which, means that no one
Without ticket issued by him-and that
means no one not on the Queens visiting
Ist-will be permitted within that charmed
eats provided. This is one of the many
easons why it pays an American to be
arrangement outside the Cathedral seems
o justly the assertion that the Queen
viii not alight from her carriage and
hat, the fact that she has driven to st.
'aul's must be taken as an earnest that
he has actually made her thanksgiving
within ST. Paul's.
1t may be of interest now to retrace our
tops to buckingham Palace and imagine
he procession forthcoming from the
reat iron gates. AS usual, both branches
+ the serVice-the household troops and
he blue-jackets-will be represented in
he guard of honor drawn up in the court
ard.
1T is only short distance up Consti-
ution hill to Hyde Park corner where
Apsley house and the splendid residence
{ Lord ROthSchild are sure to be hand
omely decorated and filled with sweIls.
So on along Piccadiliy, with the green
ark on the right and rows Of stately
hubs and private mansions on the left:
asst Park lane, now crowded with Afri-
an Millionaires, who buy everything in i
light: past the Bachelors Club, which
ways pills" Americans. and the ex-
lusive st. James Club which does not:
v the gaudy New Travellers Club and
he Berkeley restaurant which Is the Del
1onico's of London. with just a glimnse I,
New Bond street. most fascina ,.nr ~
hopping centres: by the naught Bur.
ngton Arcade and Burlington house where 4
he academy pictures of the year have
OF been long on exhibition; past lin
lies, as the ST. James hall anu restam-
ant Is irreverently called, into Regent
treet. where the first turn is made.
Regent street. made to satisfy the can.
ice and shorten the daily walk Of one
the Georges, still bears the aroma Of