The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-26
NO ENTHUSIASM OVER
EDWARDS GROWING.
King Wondering Why Display of Pa
triOtiSm atMOther'S Jubilee Is Now
Lacking His QueStiOnSAnSWered

London. May 2e.-There has been de-
| cded slump In the coronation season.
| Nothing can save II from dismal failure
except declaration OF peace.
| For the past two months we have been
| waiting in eager expectation for the
promised outburst of unexampled and
| brilliant gayety which was 10 make the
season of 1902 unique in social annals. but
| instead OF gayety there are depression,
| dulness and a feeling OF disappointment
The King Is prey TO deep chagrin. IL is
asserted. at the poor show London society
| is making I'm honor of this great OCCASION.
The absence OF all signs OF the enthu-
| siastic interest which heralded Queen
Vietoria's two inhilees is unmistakabe
The classes who hope 10 make money out
of visitors and the section OF the press
which thinks IL policy 10 persistently
adulate the court are doing everything
possible to pump up popular excitement,
but there Is little response, and no spon-
taneity OF interest is evinced as was the
case at the jubilees; there IL no symp-
tom of that gradually swelling national
emotion which eliminated in triumphal
progress through the capital OF the ven
cradle Queen in 1857 and again in 1897.
REASONS GIVEN.
The story goes that the King asked
some members OF his encourage to ex-
plain the dead-alive, perfunctory spirit In
which his people are approaching this
celebration, and that the reply was:
First. the war; second. because the cor
onatIon ceremonial is to be participated
in only by small, select class; third. be-
cause the novelty OF royal professions
through the streets has worn Off"
There is something in these explana-
tions. but there Is still more I'm the fact
that King Edward does not inspire that
sentimental devotion. engendered by the
record OF long and memorable reign,
which Britons lavished on Queen Victoria,
who also unlike him. possessed the at
traction OF being unknown 10 the vast
ma iority OF her subjects.
Already the principal West End streets
| are dsfgured by unsightly boarding in
| closing stards of every kind.
The leading clubs. which have suffered
grievous loss by the spread OF the fash
| ion OF restaurant dining. are feeling heav-
| lily the financial strain OF providing suit
| able decorations.
Whites, in st. James street historic
institution has been compelled to make
| n whip among its members for subscrip-
tions. and the result is so poor that II is
| doubtful whether Il can decorate at all
The big political clubs whose funds are
augmented by political gifts. are specu-
| lating heavily In seating accommoda-
tions. and all find the demand for seats
| sluggish in tho extreme.
IN LIGHT DEMAND
At the ST. James club. a great diplo-
matte centre. only eight seats have been
| applied for 10 date at S25 each. whereas
I at the last jubilee the committee found
, II necessary there, as at other clubs, TO
ballot for the available places.
The street decoration and illumination
are being well organized, but in many
cases the original plans have been cur
tailed because the necessary subscriptions
were not forthcoming.
The seat agents are coming down no.
ticeably In their anticipations Of profit
and now offer very good seats on Picca-
dilly and ST James street at from $40 TO
SIS apiece. Compared with the prices ask
ed a month ago, these figures encourage
| the hope that In coronation week the iu-
dicious visitor can get the best possible
accommodation for very much less even
than the present quotations.
The miserable. unreasonable wea ther
contributes 10 the depressing influences
under which King Edward is 10 be crown
ed, but II the peace negotiations issue
successfully that may save The Sitia:ion
Otherwise the much-boomed coronation
| season may prove a painful fiasco.
THE INVITATION
King Edwards personal friends have
received their Invitations 10 the corona
tion. The cards. which come carefully
packed in tissue paper between cefd.
boards, are about ten inches long by
! eight deep. artistically printet i'm sepin
brown with devices of the imperial
crowns and heraldlc emblazonments Of