The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-01-27
BUSINESS REvoLUTloNIzED.

|
LONDON. Jan. 2G-The after effect
of Queen Victorias death on business
is vital and remarkably widespread II
particularly affects dealers in all sorts
OF clothing and furnishings and all
goods connected with amusements. fes-
tivhies, theatricals and dinners.
Black is the only color displayed in
the shop windows throughout the en-
pire The milliners stores are filled
with black bonnets and other estab-
lishments have a funeral display OF
black clothes. gloves, neckties and hats.
In London every Englshman who can
sfford 1t is wearing black clothes, a
black necktie and black gloves. The
women are all attired in black and the
officers Of the army and navy have
crepe bands on their arms. All army
flags are draped with black.
Naturally there will be loss on stocks
Of colored goods, particularly in the
case of London firms accustomed to de-
pend on court and society business. On
the other hand. dealers in black goods
will be able TO sell their entire stock
at very great prlfit. In fact a fam
Inc in black goods threatens the British
markets and offers an opportunity for
American enterprise. British orders
are already exhausting the stocks of
the French and German manufacturers.
II is said that Lyons, Dresden and
other continental centers are already
refusing more orders. one of the prin-
cipal wholesale firms in London, it is
announced, has already declined 1000
orders. The same story comes from
other factories, which are running day
and night to supply demands. Says
one wholesale dealer;
1T is difficult to say where the de-
mand will end. Assuming that the pc
riod of mourning will be prolonged for |
whole seasons, trade will be revolution !
lied and some branches will be para
lyzed.' Another authority estimates that |
by the weeks end e5OO,O0O had been |
spent in mourning,
GAMBLING ON QUEENS DEATH.
Extraordinary reports are current as
to the amount of insurance on the !
queens life by storekeepers and theatri- !
cal managers to prevent losses under |
the conditions prevailing The sum OF
e250OOO is one estimate of the total |
amount to be paid out by English COM
panies TO policy holders who had TAX
EN- out insurance on Queen Victoria's
life. but who had no relation whatever /
to the queen. Such policies would not
be written by companies in the United
States, it was pointed out, for in Amer
lea there must be an 'insurable inter-
est" before an application would be
granted, as under the American law the
beneficiary must be a person depe endent
upon or pecuniarily interested in the
life of the insured,
Theatrical managers FASTENED to ap-
bly, to the insurance companies when
ler majesty's illness became known,
,ut the reports from the beginning
we're so grave that they found the rates
If most of the companies prohibitive.
rhe shares of certain insurance COM
,anies have fallen this week from one
luarter to one point, but the majority
ire unchanged. Reputable brokers in
ormed a representative of the Asso-
lated Press that the amounts are ex-
The best companies consid-
red the risk too speculative, but the
majority Of the insurances were taken
o long ago that plenty of reserve has
The premium on the