The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-21
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London. April 0.-Dullness. impenetrable
and hopeless, appears to be the prospect fol
the first season of the new reign and of the
new century.
The national mourning. which officially
disappeared this week has not been sue
ceeded by the faintest approach to n return
OF animation. The everlasting war, whose
grim reality has been brought home by the
appalling budget figures. has looked a ma
tional fit of blues. Pessimism in every dir
ection is becoming contagious.
The exact effect of the additional taxa
ton is too obstruse for the man in the
street to worry about. He can understand
2-pence in the income tax, but as for the
rest. 1t Is too vague and distant to make
him feel the pinch.
The export duty on coal is no concern of
| his. A little less sugar in his tea is no
! killing matter. while the addition Of fifty
or a hundred millions to the national debt
Of the famous peer who wanted to know
what posterity had ever done for us to war
rant its being considered.
But when all these come on the heels OF
! the persistent croaking about England's
loss Of trade and ominous hints of n speedy
termination Of the last few years prosperity
they cap the climax.
The prospect Of the season Is du1er than
of any in the memory of the present gener-
alton, and Is unrelieved by a single drawing
room or levee-state functions which the
average Britisher. though he never gets
nearer than the outside Of Buckingham
Palace gates, regards as a fetish for bring
Ing trade.
It is hardly to be wondered at that every
body is feeling blue.
The outlook Is. that things will be worse
before they mend. Still there are not want
ing many Mark Tapleys who forsee in the
next year abundant reason for anticipating
q glorious reaction from the present gloom.
Looking Forward to the Coronation.
thing. as does the beacon promised haven.
But other plans daily crop up in various
parts of Great Britain. Indicating the same
determination to look on the bright side If
possible.
Scotland expects the King to revive the
glortes Of Holyrood Palace and to hold court
there about September. Ireland looks for
ward to the possibility of a new royal pal
ace In Phoenix Park. for which the rumored
site has already been chosen. Several cities
are planning festivities for royalty to open.
IT Princess Victoria's mishap at Wind
sor Park. when an officiating gatekeeper
threw her of her bicycle, may yet prove q
lucky accident. She is known as the favor
lite ugh OF the King. and her prompt
exculpation Of the old man is said to have
been at her fathers suggestion.
The King is known to be strongly on.
posed to the policy Of reactionary local
boaros whose Efforts seems to be to kill
cycling and automobiling by the enforce
ment OF vexattous local penalties. In ex-
tending a personal pardon to the old man
tor MS anrcnt to the Princess he threw
the blame on the system of Interference.
Ine lesson has not been lost on sundry local
Dogberrys. who are. likely to think twice
before mourning the risk Of q similar mar.
don forthcoming.
l neafd that the King intends. a.. en-.
as ms new motor is ready. to make mant
road. taking advantage of his veas 81 ~
ncisi seclusion to see more of rural Enc.
tnan he possibly could travelling in
state: As these visits will be unheraIded
II VIII behoove the local authorities at least
70 keep the road clear of obstructive con.
stao!es' armed with power to cause mishaps
similar to that occasioned by the Windsor
VAC "inuso
Little Prince II Very Popular.
AAe!ie Prince dward of Cornwall prom
ises TO begin his travels earlier than either
MS father or grandfather did. II report,
ne true. he may accompany his aunt, the
Fr1ncess victoria. to Canada, to meet his
parents returning from their world trip,
Inc kings personal popularity appears to
nave. descended to the heir presumptive. who
u already familiarly dubbed king David"
stories OF his childish prattle are eagerly |
read. while the doings Of his parents, even
whiie they are visiting distant parts Of the
empire: excite only a perfunctory interest. |
Somehow the heir apparent is anything |
popular, while it will be next to i'm |
possible for the present generation to speak |
OF the Duchess of Cornwall as Princess of
Wales. Their giobe-circling tour may eradi- |
cate this feeling. but it is impossible to |
deny Its existence. The Kings wisdom in |
insisting on the Australian trip in face Of
the opposition Of the Queen and the Duke
and Duchess becomes daily more apparent. |
Apropos Of next years coronation, which
ID generally regarded as fixed for the end
OF June. Truth revives a curious bit of his |
tory Of former %coronations.
The Dean and Chapter Of Westminster |
ABBEY are entitled. it says. to claim as a
perquisite. every article taken into the alb
hey for the purpose Of the ceremony of
coronation. When the Queen was crowned
there was q hand-to-hand fight after her
had retired from the scene. be-
tween Lord Cunningham and one of the
for the magnificent silver ink