New-York tribune., 1901-01-22
IN THE QUEENS CAPITAL.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE DAY IN
LoNDoN-woRLD-wID SYMPATHY.

London Jan. 21.-The scenes about the Man
sion House to-day exempifed the intensity OF
the common anxiety which has made all inter-
ests here akin. Thousands gathered there as the
day wore on. and nothing could be more i'm
pressive than the profound silence with which
the announcements of the alternating phases
Of the Queens crisis were heard
A painful mistake was made early in the af-
ternoon. The flag over one Of the Embassies
was lowered. and people rushed off with the
news that the Queen was dead. Without wait
ing for a verIflcation other flags in the vicinity
were lowered. and some time elapsed before the
error was rectihed.
The more hopeful bulletin received at noon
hardly lessened the universal apprehension, and
everywhere that bulletins are posted sorrowing
crowds have gathered, awaiting the outcome Of
Her Majesty's illness.
Preparations made in sll official quarters for
all eventualitiss indicate the expectations OF
those who might be supposed to be best in
formed The royal apartments in Windsor
Castle are being made ready for a sudden re-
turn Of the Court. and all State officials in any
way concerned in the issue are holding them
Selves in readiness for prompt action
a telephone message, timed at Osborne
House 4 p. m, was received here saying;
The Queen is very slightly better.
There is little trust however. in the rally
proving permanent.
The Secretary Of State for Home Affairs, Mr..
Ritchie who had temporarily left Osborne has
been resummoned there.
The Colonial Office has received dispatches
from the governments of the Australian and
South African colonies expressing their anxiety
and distress at the Queens illness.
The dispatches received here from nearly
every capital in Europe. from India. Australia,
Jamaica and all the British colonies, show the
press and people TO be sympathetic in their
comment the Queens illness. The one ex-
ception seems TO be Belgium. A majority Of
the Brussels comment is in good taste, but one
pro-Roer paper takes the occasion TO make
political attack on Great Britans South African
policy.
a dispatch from Pretoria says the Queens
illness has caused a profound sensation there
Special prayers were offered in all the churches
Of the garrison towns yesterday evening.
While expressions Of sympathy and love are
pouring in from every quarter of both henli-
spheres, none are so appreciated as those from
the United States. The Globe" voices the gen.
eral sentiment. saying
From other lands hopes come Of the recovery
and eulogies passed on the character Of Queen
Victoria In America almost without eXcep-
ton. II is under the simple title Of The Queen"
that the ilIustrious patient is referred TO and
deep affection implied. The term can hardly be
Many functions in Great Britain and on the
Continent have been abandoned owing 20 the
Queens condition. Emperor Francis Joseph has
countermanded the Court ball. at Vienna. fixed
for this evening.
The engagements Of Cabinet Ministers and
other notable persons to appear at public din
ners, at charitable fairs at the dedication of
new public buildings, etc, being cancelled
and it seems likely that all functions OF this
sort will be postponed throughout the United
Kingdom. The Duke and Duchess OF Devon
shire have recalled their invitations TO a house
party. and their example is being followed by
other titled entertainers. Many private dinners
have been deferred.
A special train is held in readiness to convey
the members Of the Cabinet TO Osborne at any
moment. Thus far il has not been required.
Up TO 3 a. m further bulletins had been
received in London since the one issued at mid
night
Emperor William is spending the night at
Osborne. where the accommodations are Sc
verely taxed that the Battenberg children slept
Monday night at Lord Gort's residence, East
Cowes Castle. and the royal yachts at Cowes
being fitted up for the accommodation of
visitors
The Queens illness was so sudden and. in the
first onset, was expected to be so brief that no
arrangements were made for the posting and
circulation Of bulletins. An agitation is
foot to have them posted Immediately in all
postoffices throughout the United Kingdom. At
present the provinces have no means Of know
ing anything except from the newspapers. and
the result is that all kinds of baseess rurnors
are circulated For instance. Chelmsford
County Court yesterday a report was received
that the Queen was dead, and the Judge, in
tears and great emotion, referred TO the sorrow
ful tidings. which later on he was able to deny
Up to a late hour last evening crowds
gathered in the vicinity OF Buckingham Palace
ard Marlborough House, and there was a con-
slant stream Of persons anxious 10 enter their
names on the visitors book On all sides it is
tale OF public and private engagements and
functions postponed. and settled gloom rests
over all classes Of society.
The newspaper editorials reflect this feeling
and the suspense the country is enduring, to-
gether with the qualification and consolation de-
rived from the sympathy testified on all sides
from abroad. Bishop Potter's allusion to the
York City TO students and college men, is
everywhere commented upon with very keen
satisfaction. THE Daily News says:
Bishop Potter compared Her Majesty TO Wash
ington. No American could go further than
that.
The Daily Telegraph" says:
II seems but a brief interval since England
was the centre of almost universal hostility,
To-day all International hostilities are hushed
and stilled, as they never were before, by any
other single event in the annals Of the world.
The Daily Chronicle observes:
In the United States the Nation and the Gov
eminent display once again the irrepressible
sentiment Of q cognate people The strain of
common blood which flows in British and Ameri-
tee,