Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-26

| House, the official residence OF inc ~"
mayor. was absolutely devoid OF amy
mourning But it must be remch-
bered that the English are less
demonstrativc and less quick to move
than we are. and this absence OF wy
signs Of grief should not be interprcte"
as indicating either indifference or
hostility
one thing is quite noticeable-inoic
than IS per cent. of the people on the
streets are dressed in black. the men
with black hats ties and clothes, the
women in black clothes. brown
overcoat is exceptional. and then 1t
shows a band of black on the sleeve.
And this is true of all classes. not only
the upper and middle classes. but the
workers also.
The American people are fond Of
resolutions. ON the death Of any
prominent person the papers are hilcd
with resolutions passed by trade
unions. boards of commerce. common
councils, clubs and associations of all
sorts. Not a single resolution of This
KIND have | seen recorded in the Lon
don papers.
The funeral WAS purely military
naval and arlstocratic. There was not
a popular touch about it. Not II single
civic officer was in it. much less any Of
the labor organizations. 1t was z
great ana stately pageant. although a
short one: it was not popular
demonstration. In the procession
through London not even the lord
mayor of the city Of London appeared
There was evidently no offer from a
guild or trade union tomarch. and VINO
/ n
lid not think of such a thing, but did
make display of military force from
al over the world. 1t was a mag
nificent spectacle.
Seats along the line sold from $25 to
500 each. The nobility had seats pro
>.dcd for them; the expensive places
were mostly bought by the new rich
and those who want to shine in So
cicty. Great crowds locked to Hyde
Park. In the morning the buSscs go
ing in the opposite direction We're quite
empty. 50 took one of these ana
rode along oxford street. High TInl-
horn ana Chcapsidc. Afterwards I
walked among tine returning thou
sands. If dress and manner can en-
able one to judge, the town middle
class was conspicuous by its absence.
There We're some nice people from the
country. but the bulk Of the crowd
was from the working classes
iraWny workmcn. thin. pirchcd clerks.
"vcr-Eay and shabby girls. or timoIous
chilled through. women. Il was mainly
the class whose lives are 50 tame INA
monotone is that they sc k any excite
ment. and particularly like the rush
and swirl of 4 crowd even if they SEQ
] II inc ,.f l,.
than on person in ten could more Than
eaten glimpse Of 4 soldiers plume
here ana there
So much for the feeling as gathered
rom general Impressions individual
views, hitS OF talk and anecdotes are
more vivid. perhaps. bat they are likely
to he misleading. The Eaglishman VINO.
on landing in New York. heard a negro
talking with an Irish broEue ana con-
cluded mat lrishmcn turned black III ..thc
| states. illustrates the danger az inter-
prttlnE a nation feeling BY individual
views Hence have kept these till the
The first news We had of the dsoth NJ
the Queen was at Queenstown when our
steamer touched there. our steward ar.
Enslishman. exclaimed oh. the oI,:
lady dead. i she? Wen it's most time"
ana returning coCkncy remarked that h.
had made bet before starting that he
would mud the " ole country in bloonin
m"Urntn. An lrishwoman who had lived
| "
now naturalized American. and was re-
turning I" the old country for i visit
thought the Queen was good woman /.
and the King would be Ike her HI, Unu't
do much harm. and he's sure To DO no
good. lie is through with mis- wild oats
and is really to b. pitied for his training
lie was not trained as Gladstone and
right were"
In the second cabin smoking -room-thc
seconu cabin Is nearer the people than
the nrst-two or three iondoners showed
| r. ham vItst,,
| was amazed AT the Indifference of tho
latter. one of whom remarked: The king
cannot live long. and he'll GO" was
still more surprised Al tine same indiffcr-
ence among the people in Liverpool. Lon
don, etc.
one radical in Liverpool thought more
would be expected ~ the new king. that
the people would be more critical. ana
that reform work would helped forward
y member of the Clarion staff-the larS
est Socialist paper in ENGLAND Thought
| the Queen had been very liberal and had
| permitted 4 freedom of discussion and
agitation which would surely bat quietly
be rcpressed by tn" new king. surrounded
| as he is b. powerful capitalist friends, to
whom hc is reported to bc heavily in
debt; and that the growing friendship Of
the kaiser for his uncle would hasten the
| restriction.
Two London 'bu5 drivers. who would
not say they were glad the Queen was
| gone. vet seemed to rejoice in the idea
that the king would ne over in LonGon
city The Queen did not like London.
rarely staying there more than 4 day or
two at time. and business is always
brisk when "ryalty'' is in town. Eri-
IDENTIFY tho respect and affection for rN-
atty" felt by these men had sound
financial basis. Bit besides this. the kinE
is a fine fellow. who rides through the
streets without guards AMI Shtk IS
hantS with the railway portcrs.
The only touch of emotion have seen
was shown on the morning of the funeral
by "A SUM woman who slapped her chlid-
telling it to Pc quiet; don't yen know
the Queen is dcad?'
| Reyond these few instances cNcrEon"
has appeared absolutely Indifferent. The
head of one If the halls in oxford, "A
Liverpool Iatent lawyer with large
practice. d member of the London county
council, a director in q large manuiaCfur-
ing concern. the able secretary Of n" Ia
hian Society. and others assured me that
the change Of rulers would have no tffa 4
on the lives Of tho people 1t could not.
The country will 60 along just as before.
The Liberal to whom | talked thought
that the present wave of conservatism Is
now at its height ana Will soon subsidc.
he followed by a wavc of liberalism. y
Conservative thought a real imperial pol
icy would be supported for some time:
radical thought radical measures might
have a chance in four or five years. but
all agreed tina: the Queens death aud
| no. of hn