Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-07-13


This tiding came as a rumor from
Boer sources at $3.50 Friday evening.
May 18. Within an hour the report
had overspread the city and from the
narrow streets and lanes the crowds
swarmed into the principal thorough
fares until they were fairly choking
with human beings, nearly every one
of whom was shouting, or singing, or
cheering as they passed slowly along.
Women and girls were just as much in
evidence as men and boys and equally
as enthusiastic. They formed them
selves into companies four abreast and
marched in the roadway, alternately
cheering for Baden-Powell and Queen
Victoria, and singing Rule Britannia,
God Save the Queen, The Soldiers Of
the Queen, the British Grenadier and
other melodies dear to the Britons
heart. The scenes that were enacted
before the celebrated tunes died out, 36
hours afterward, battle description. The
populace simply went crazy with de-
light ON this unconfirmed rumor which
was not authenticated until two days
afterward. 1t was likened to the STIR
ring spectacles Of the French revolu-
ton with the bloodthirstiness omitted
Down the street hundred men
marched hatless with another hundred
women linked arm in arm. When an
omnibus came along filled with cheer
ing compatriots this strange detach-
ment would stop and from 200 lusty
Threats cheers would ascend that were
almost deafening. And all over Lon
don these weird and patriotic ebulli-
tions were going on until the people
seemed to have parted with their rea-
son.
A sailor headed another crowd with
his arm around two buxom women
whom he alternately kissed to the de-
light of the onlookers. Long peacock
feathers played a prominent part in
the fun. They were welded usually
by women who tormented everyone in
reach. Those who did not have this
implement of annoyance carried flags
and Haunted them in every conceiv-
able way. Now the stats c,l which
they were hung would be employed to
knock silk hats from the wearers'
heads; again to tickle the bystander's
ear, and then the helmets Of the po-
licemen would come in for attention.
All this was by-play and received with
the utmost good nature. For once the
admirable police force was at the mer-
cy of the crowd and had to make the
best of the situation without amy re-
dress. At o'clock in the morning l
was driven in carriage through the
Strand, Piccadilly, Regent and other
avenues through dense masses OF men
and women giving velt to their pa
triotic exuberance in songs and cheers
until it seemed as If Bedlam was let
loose. The crush of carriages became
so great finally that had to abandon
my conveyance to get back to the ho-
tel. and this was accomplished only
after ] had pushed through a crowd
that jammed the sidewalk until 1t
seemed as if every particle of my
clothing must go before l succeeded in
making my destination. London did
not sleep that night or the next day,
and it was we'll into Sunday morning
before the voices Of the millions were
stilled. How men and women could
dance, sing and cheer for Sc hours was
as much of a marvel as how Baden
Powell could stick out for seven
months in Mafeking after locusts, mule
steak and horse flesh became choice
tid-bits in the bill of fare! The LON
don papers admitted that the rejoic-
ing over Mafeking's release was I'M
paralleled and are still at a loss to
know how it could have been kept up
so long and so nolsily.