The sun., 1897-03-22
In HONOR OF THE QUEEN.
NOW ENGLAND WILL COMMEMo-
RATE HER WONDERFUL REIGN.

Fecuhhr-Eue flhua INV SEeht suphoo
wcck-The Spectators Themselves VIII ne
the Greatest spectacie-London Will Be
Overwhelmed. and Prices VIII ne Erorbitant
LONDON, March l2.-"Too many funds and too
little fun" 10 the pertinent comment which is
being raised by a pestored public In this country
with regard to the celebration of the Queens
jubilee. There Is literally no end to the number
and the variety Of the appeals for subscriptions
which are being made all over the land, and oil,
forsooth, because the Queen has reigned sixty
years. Not only is there the great national sub
scripton for the benefit OF tho hospitals of Lon
don, which the Prince of Wales has inaugurated,
but there are scores. hundreds, thousands, even,
Of other funds being doomed and cadgered for in
every city, town and hamlet OF Great Britain
md Ireland There are " Public Library" funds,
"Clorgy Sustentation" funds, Hospital Nurses ="
funds, Temperance funds, Park funds
"Lifeboat" funds Home for Incurables" funds
Cruelty to Children" funds, Z" Lethal Chamber"
tfor dogs, funds, (" Home for the Dying" flor hui
man bengs) funds, Victoria Cottage Homes"
funds, "Spinsters' funds, Lady Mayoresses'"
funds, Distressed Irish Ladies' funds-I havo
scarcely begun to indicate the scope Of this sud-
den craze for subscription hunting, which has
set half England begging from the other half
and from each other, and all in the name of the
Queens glorious reign.
The matter has reached such point of exag-
gerated absurdity that 1t is impossible to treat
It seriously, although Its inception was most
lsudable in spirit and in aim. The vigor and
persistency with which the Prince OF Wales's
hospital appeal is being canvassed are amusing
in some of their features. The cause which the
Prince has espoused is q most worthy one, and
the idea Of lifting great burden OF debt from
the hospitals of London and providing them
with permanent income Is noble and
appropriate project for this jubilee year.
No fault can be found with the en-
ergy with which the object in view Is
being pursued; it Is only the individual energy
of certain OF the most conspicuous promoters
which brings a smile to the face Of cynic. Tho
most active OF all is the London newspaper pro-
pretor who expects to gain a peerage as the re-
ward of this eliminating service In his long
record Of obsequious worship Of royalty. His
ambition will probably be gratified-spccdily,
the readers of his journal fondly hope, for the
dreary sheet which now comes to them daily is
q mere nightmare of subscription lists.
There are many others, moved by more modest
but equally sordid motives, who pursue every
stray shilling to the innermost compartment OF
the private purse of a long-suffering public.
Naturally revulsion OF feeling is beginning to
manifest itself, and the average citizen hates
the sight OF subscription paper us a Cretan
nulcS INC blRnI Ol IL busnlbdLouh. luls plCJu-
dice was also melted by the stupid mismanage-
mcnt of the fund at the outset by the trustees.
The hospital fund was first announced as q
national shilling subscription although
there was, of course, limit upon the
number OF shillngs which might bo sent
by the same individual. The majority of sub
scrbers at the outset sent single shilling. The
committee acknowledged the receipt of sub
s.riptions in the advertising columns of three
London papers. The cost of the public acknowl-
eigncnt in each paper was shilling per line
1t was not possible, OF course to acknowledge
more than two subscriptions per line, at a cost
O. sixpcnce each In each newspaper. In other
words, the committee spent one shilling and six
D nee to acknowledge the receipt OF one shill-
ing. The absurdity was abandoned when Mr.
L .bouchere had pointed it out in his usual sar-
castle fashion.
The English people are not to be blamed II the
year OF the record reign impresses them thus far
as Pentecostal season rather than an occasion
OF JOY and thanksgiving. Even the prospects of
the great week in June are not altogether en-
chanting. There is to be a great celebration, one
diy Of which Is to be devoted TO the public. 1t
will DO stupendous affair beyond ques-
t'on--something unmatched in the history
o, Christendom in certain respects. The
gentle lady, the great sovereign. in whose honor
which her subjects will pay her. 1t will be paid
gladly and with complete national unanimity, in
spite of substantial sacrifices which it will in
vovc. London in Jubilee week will be place
TO fly from for all who value personal comfort
and tranquility. The cost OF seeing the Queen.
OF getting about London ofmerely existing here,
will be more than can be measured on a cash
basis.
1t has come to be a fact that London crowded
Ia tha ,fnrto tohl DttY tn, tl,
For years its hotel accommodation has been in
adequate. This year-well, it is exhausted al
ready, and only small fraction OF those who
are coming to the jubilee celebration have
cured their sleeping quarters. Locomoton in
London when the town is filled with people, is
slower than anywhere else 1t is town OF great
distances, and although tho regulation Of street
traffic Is the best in the world. the narrow thor
oughfares and immense number of cabs and
o;nnibuses during the season" have made
transit by either of these methods insufferably
slow. What the situation will be next June it
is appalling to anticipate. There remains only
the underground railway, but that in warm
weather Is simply an unspeakabe abomination.
SO II is not a very allurng prospect which
London holds out to strangers who think of see
ing this town en- Jete next June. 1t s distinctly
home festival which the British empire will
hold in its capital city. Strangers are not in
Vlted, not even inc rulers or other nations. VI
course strangers will come, and equally. OF
course. they will be welcome, but they must not
complain II they find the accommodations
bcanty and that preference has been given to
those members OF the British family who come
from distant Earts Of the empire.
The one aim Of every human being in London
On Tuesday. June 22. will be to see the Queen
and the royal procession. The number of per-
Iyhn nlI,ill ha ms apd hy mt
that day cannot be estimated at less than six
millions. 1t will probably be more. 1t will un-
doubtedly be the largest number OF men and
women ever assembled together in the history
or the world. This massing together OF humanity
will be the real marvel, tho really memorable
event OF this memorable day. The spectators
themselves will DO the great spectacle. The
most impressive sight ever witnessed was the
silent multitude, three millions In number, who
lined the Champs Elysees and the Bols de Bou-
logne last October waiting for the entry OF the
Dan tI,,,, ,l,nIa a.