The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-26
Can't Meet Demand For Mourn
ing Goods in England.
ALL BUSINESS UPSET.
American Newspaper Methods
introduced at COwes.
Mad Race For the Telegraph Of
flee by Correspondents
On the Occasion of the Death Of
the Queen.

London. Jan. 26-The after effects of
Queen yictoria's death on business is
vital and remarkably widespread. It
particularly affects dealers in all SORTS
of clothing and furnishings and all
goods connected with amusements, fe>-
tivities, theatricals and dinners. Black
is the only color displayed in the shop
windows throughout the empire. TIE
millinery stores are filled with black
bonnets and other establishments haee
a funeral show of black clothes. gloves
neckties and hats. In London every
Inglishman who can afford It. is wear
ing black clothes. a black neclStie ard
black gloves. The women are all attirel
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 iu
the case Of London firms accustomed to
depend on court and society business.
On the other hand dealers in black goods
will be able to sell their entire stocks at
q very great profit In fact a famine in
black goods threatens the British mar
kets and offers an opportunity for Amer
lean enterprise. British orders are al
ready eshausting the stocks Of the
French and German manufacturers It
is said that Lyons, Dresden and other
continental centers are already refusing
more orders. One Of the principal whole
sale firms in London, it is announced
has already declined 1000 orders. Ths
same story comes from other factories
which are running night and day to sup
ply demands. Says one wholesale dea'
Ter:
TT is dificult to say where the de-
maud viii end. Assuming that the per-
iod Of mourning win be prolonged Tor
the whole season trade will be revoiu-
tionized and some branches will be par
alyzed." Another authority estimates
that by the weekend, 500, 900 pounds had
been spent in mourning.
Extraordinary reports are current as
to the amount OF insurance on the
queens life by storelzeepers and theat-
rieal managers, to prevent losses under
the condition prevailing. The sum Of
8250, 900 is one estimate for the total
Theatrical managers fastened to aU-
ply to the insurance companies when
her majesty's illness became known but
the reports from the queen were so
grave that they found the rates of most
companies prohibitive. The shares Of
certain insurance companiesohave fallen
this week from one quarter to one point
but the majority are unchanged. Rep
utable brokers informed q Representative
of the Associated Press that the
panieS considered the risk too specula-
tive but the majority of insurances
were taken SO long ago that plenty OK
reserve has accumulated. The prem
ium on the queens life a month ago
was per cent. When her illness was
rumOred it rose to Is per cent in "a day.
Saturday last It was 30 per cent.
The majority Of the leading thea ters
are draped with crepe and have posted
black border announcements that they
will be closed until after the funeral
of our beloved queen"
The Music Hall managers held con-
ference and afterwards published the
fact that halls would reopen until the
day Of the funeral on account OF the loss
their employees would sustain If they
We're closed. This action is unpopular.
The people think the managers might
carry their employees through them0uru-
ing season, instead of using them as an
excuse for their own willingness to fore
go a fortnight's receipts.
Sober English journalism was shocked
at the display around Osborne House by
the correspondents Of the new English
sheets Of what the Times terms Amer
lean methods" The scene before the
lodge gate following the announcement
of the queens death certainly did not
fit the occasion. A crowd Of reporters
assembled with cabs, horses and BIZ
cycles. Hardly had the words her
majesty has passed away fallen from
the officials lips when the reporters and
messengers. with a wild WhOop. started
to race down the steep hill. half a mile
10 the Telegraph once some or LNEnl
bawling to their assistants below, "The
queen is dead
One English reporter sent a rival
sprawling from his bicycle which skim
ned his face in the dirt, Whereupon he
knocked down the aggressor.
The court officials have been exceed
ingly active in running to earth false
reports, like the fictitious death bed
scenes and have already secured the re-
call Of two correspondents They are
now investigating the sources OF the
tvs death. published in America, for
the purpose Of acting against the au-
thors. Having access to all the tele-
graph and telephone messages they
have discovered that no report was sent
from Cowes before the queens death.
therefore it must have been faxed" in
London or America
An unique illustration OF British adj
herence to traditions marked the sign
ing of the proclamation at St. James
palace. The lord mayor Is always one
of the signers, whereupon, according TO
the view of the priVy councillors. ne
must retire before the king enters and
the speeches are made. An ancient
picture represents the lord mayor
among the receivers Of the king, there
fore the mayors invariably claim this
right Wednesday, however the DUKE
Of Devonshire Qord president OF the
counciD requested the lord mayor 70
leave the room which he reluctantly did
The -Pauncefote treaty amend
ments among the portentous. events Of
the week were lost sight Of and the
cabinet may be unable to reconsider the
treaty for some time, owing to the Inn
portant business incident to the access
sion Of king Edward VIZ