New-York tribune., 1901-01-20
GLOOM IN LONDON.
THE QUEENS ILLNESS HUNG LIKE A
PAIL OVER THE CITY.
Copyright: 1901: BY The New-York Tribune3
by CABLE TO TIE rRIRI-NE

Copyright; 1901: BY The New-York Trbune) y
IBY CABLE THE TRIBUxEI
London. Jan. 20. g a. n.-The Prince of Wales
had intended to spend Sunday at Sandringham
and visit the Queen in the course of fortnight
He decided In the morning TO remain at MarI-
borough House. but changed his plans at noon
upon receipt of dispatches from Osborne urging
him TO go to COwes without delay The railway
officials at Victoria Station had been warned to
have a special train in readiness at short no.
t1ce. and the Prince arrived at the station with
royal punctualty minute before the appointed
Time Princess Louise, who had expected to go
to Osborne on Monday. to take the place OF
Princess Christian, had also received an unex-
pected summons and she joined the Prince OF
Wales at the station in the course of a few min
utes. The Prince. in a dark suit, short overcoat
and felt hat. was a conspicuous figure on the
station platform During this short interval Of
delay, contrary to his usual habit. he walked
restlessy up and down the platform. and ap-
peared deeply agitated and depressed
a MELANCHOLY JOURNEY
Current stories about the Prince are not al
wevs trustworthy, but there is we'll founded
one. based upon many casual remarks. that he
has not expected TO outIive the Queen and as
cend the throne His sudden journey with
Princess I.cuis~ to Portsmouth similar to one
which ne made from Cambridge before the death
OF the P-iEce Consort- foreshadowed result
cortrar. 10 The expectations which he had enter
taired decade afta~ decade. Not single cheer
raised 1T the station. although the presence
o. the Prir., and Princess was known to hun
deeds CT spects-crs. The melancholy signihcance
OF this s'.dFen tourney was appreciated by the
GuliesJ Of raENay porters and the noisiest OF
suburban trippers. and the train moved out in
silence.
tO fall
! during the afternoon. when special editions an
/ nOunced that the Queen was suffering from
' physical prostratiOn. accompanied by symptoms
that caused deep anxiety. The half holiday had
come after a week OF toll. but there was a
strange hush in the Strand and PiccadilIy, and
every face in omnibuses and on fOotways was
careworn and sad The crowds Of clerks and
shOpgirls knew that the good Queen was lying
at the point os death and that her children
were Fastening 10 her bedside. and they were
sobered ana saddened by the thought that this
might be their last chance TO show their loyalty
TO her by communing with their hearts and
being still London has witnessed all the tri-
umphs OF the Queens reign from the gray morn
ing when her accession was announced at Old
KensingtOn to the glorious second Jubilee. but
il has never paid fine a tribute to her virtues
and nobility of character on this murky Sat-
urday afternoon. when a reverent hush fell upon
the CROWDS IN the streets, ana NObCCT naQ the
heart to smile. The matinee audiences at the
theatres seemed half ashamed to laugh at the
comic business on the stage. and when the cur
tain fell they rose from a common impulse and
sang God Save the Queen" reverently and with
deep emotions and there were tears in many
eyes and the voices were tremulous when the
solemn refrain ended
a GLORIOUS REIGN.
ie
every subject with a sense of personal sorrow
and bereavement when the sovereign is stricken
unto death.
The royal circle at Osborne could not be COM
pIete for the Empress Frederick IN
valid at Cronberg. free from pain, Dut menaced
with recurrence Of a fatal ma,ady. The Duke
of Connaught was IN Germany for the purpose
of visiting her. but caught on the way at
Berlin and summoned in haste to Osborne. The
Princess of Wales came up to London during
the afternoon. and went on 10 Osborne with the
Duke Of York Princess Henry OF Battenbers
and Princess Christian were already with the
Queen and welcomed the Prince Of Wales and
Princess Louise when they arrived. 1t had al
wavs been united. the royal family, for the
Queen had ruled her children with the law OF
love. and there had never been jealOusies or
strife among them The Queens viii had al
ways been law for her children. and in hOnOring
her they had been Joined together in bonds or
affection Mournsully they gathered in response
To- the physicians warning that the end might
come at any time as the aged soveregn's pow
ers were waning. But happily there was an i'm
provement in the symptoms before nighJfan.
The Princess of Wales and the Duke OF York
arrived during the evening The Duke OF Con-
naught is expected to-day. and a warship has
been sent 10 fetch the German Emperor to Spit
head.
1t was one of the gloOniest nights London has
ever known Not light fickered from Buck
ingham Palace. where so many stately functions
had been ordered by the Queen The old palace
Of ST. James. where the girlish sovereign had
shown herself at the window when her accession
was proclaimed sixty-three years ago. was dark
and gloomy and there were no lights in MARI
borough House. Pail Mall was empty and silent.
and the Strand was strangely quiet at the
theatre hour II was the first night at the Globe
Theatre. where Sweet Nell OF Old Drury'' had
returned in triumph from the provinces and the
old playhouse was crowded 10 welcome her.
Miss Nelson has seldom acted with more pathos
and dramatic force, and Frederick Terry as
Merry Charles was brilliantly effective. and if
the audience enjoyed the entertainment II did