The age-herald., 1900-03-09
ALL LONDON WAS
 MAD WITH JOY Queen Victoria Rode Through Crowds
 of Cheering People. EPOCH IN ENGLISH HISTORY Great BFitain'a Widest OutburSt Of
 Enthusiasm. MANY EYES DIMMED WITH TEARS The Monarch Bowed, Not With Royal Dignity, But as Woman Who
 Dearly Loved Her Loy-
 al People
MANY EYES DIMMED WITH TEARS

al People
 London March S.-Queen Victoria and the people of the greatest city in her empire to-day celebrated the victories which they believe have transformed the campaign in South Africa from one of reverse into one of success.
 That Is the only explanation of the un- bounded, the unparalleled enthusiasm with which hundreds of thousands hailed their sovereign.
 Tn many ways these demonstrations outdid those of the diamond jubilee, al- though there were no glittering pageants, no triumphal arches, no procession of princes-but only a dozen life guards. fol- lowed by little old lady in the plainest black costume, who had come for a few days stay at Buckingham palace, as she has done many time before. Yet her hold upon the hearts of her people was never more strikingly manifested. Unlike that of the diamond jubilee, to-day's popu- lar outburst was almost impromptu. The fierce pride in the strength of a mighty empire that pervaded London eXultation when the queen last drove through the streets in 1897 had vanished, and its place there were genuine thankfulness and re- joicing for the victories which had sue ceeded months of gloom. The depth of feeling which these demonstrations repre- scented could only be gauged by those who mingled with the crowd. Mothers in deep mourning for sons killed on the far off veldt, struggled bravely with the most hi- larious to catch glimpse of the queen. whose womanly sympathy and thoughtful ness for the soldiers had touched their hearts.
 Eyes Dimed With Tears
 Often the long cold vigils were rendered futile by tears that dimmed the eyes anu blurred the vision as the royal carriage passed. As one very old woman said: q have seen lner many a time, but she said she was sorry for my boy, and must see her again before I die.
 Thousands braved the west wind and stood for hours waiting patiently, many who have often seen the queen and who in ordi- nary circumstances would hardly budge to watch her pass. Among those waiting were many personal friends of the sover- eign, for instance Princess Brownlow a great friend of Queen Victoria, who sat on the curb sharing it for hours with the crowd outside of Buckingham palace. In short it was not so much of a desire to see the monarch. as it was an oyerwhelm- ing need of an outlet for jubilation over the war and national inclination to let the queen see and share the gladness of her people, that prompted London spontaneous ly to make today one of the most memora- ble celebrations of Queen Victoria's reign. It was quite different from the mad rejoic- ing that marked the relief of Ladysmith. Rowdyism was conspicuously absent, al- though the crowds reached such propor- tions that number of police would have been quite inadequate had the people been over demons trative.
 Moreover, intermngled with the rejoic- ing of patriotism there was a particular keen appreciation of the queens personali- ty. her womanliness, her great age. This great reverance for her sex, rather than for sovereignty rendered the crowds per fectly tractable in the hands of the good natured police and 1t was not hard task to induce them to surge back to make room for the carriage. When the queen of Great Britian and Ireland and the empress of ln- dia did pass nodding as if to many friends instead of lowing with royal restraint there echoed under the roar of cheers many heartfelt expressions, such as God bless her. God keep her." My, but she's brave woman," and scores more like them.
 Queen Was Deeply Touched
 It was small wonder that now and then tears rolled down the cheeks of the aged sovereign.
 The queen visited the city this evening, reaching it's confines on the embankment opposite the Temple steps about o'clock where she was welcomed by the ford may or and corporation in their robes of state. The lord mayor presented her majesty with the city sword of state.
 With smile the queen touched the sword and returned 1t to the lord mayor, saying; '.Thank you for all that my city has done," to which the lord mayor replied: Your Gracious Majesty's words will forever be treasured in my heart"
 Then flne life guards trotted on the pur- ple and ermine and gorgeous uniforms, the ma rshnl and sheriffs and aldermen, with the gold Laced flunkies and numbering state coaches left behind, and the sombre- dressed queen drove quickly along the em- bankment, which was black with cheering people. Accompanying Her Majesty were the Princess Christian of SchleSwig- -Hol- stein and Princess Henry of Battenburg. The life guards trotted on through the great tnoroug'hfares of the city, wtldch were everywhere thronged, and so quickly were the horses driven that the crowds scarcely had a chance to cheer before the constantly lowing monarch had passed out of sight. Returned at 5 O'clock
 By s o'clock the queen, by going by way of FIolborn and Oxford streets, had re- turned to Buckingham palace. It was a repetition of the jubilee drive, with the exception that it was so hastily planned that no attempts at decoration could be carried out. But, considering the short space of time 1t was astonishing to see the number of flags whicCl appeared along the route followed 'oy Her Majesty. Many American flags were d.solayed toy American concerns and Americans on the streets.
 The seml-osfcial duties undertaken by the queen during the day would nave tried the resources of many woman under S1 years