The Washington times., 1902-06-29
Physicians Marvel at Wonderful
Elasticity Of Constitution After
Recent Operation.

4 ~ ~ -
blame for mistakes il the diagnosis and
for the delay in operating.
For the former Sir Francis Lal.ing IS
held mainly responsible, and foT the lat
ter the whole medical ard surgical stan.
not one OF whom apparently had the
courage 20 restrain his majesty's pathetic
impatience to get to London for the coro-
nation.
1t is doubtful now whether the King
ought ever to have been allowed to leave
the royal pavilion at Aldershot. for he
was very i'll man then. He most Ger
tatnly ought on his arrival At Windsor
have been put to bed aad kept there
Everybody. including the King himself
apparently argued that the coronation
was so supreme and sacred a thing that
it must be gone through at all risk A
horror Of postponement took possession
OF all, and risks were in consequence
taken which would not have been ac-
cepted in the case Of the humblest OF
the subjects of the King who had been
stricken.
Everybody was engaged as a logical
consequence in this recklessness in the
game of make believe.
Newspapers Aided.
Even the newspapers, who were not
compelled to take a hand in the game,
Joined in ii so unaccountably as to sug
gest official instigation, going to the
length of descriptions of his majesty's
robust, vigorous appearance when h
appeared in London on Monday at a
time when the King was suffering great
pain and walked with difficulty and with
the aid of stout stick
1t is to be hoped for the sake OF the
King that this exaggerated worship Of
the coronation fetch will not expose
his majesty to risks before his conva
lescence is thoroughly completed A wise
course would be to postpone the cere.
mony till next year.
No harm would be done by the delay
and precedent. which is also fetici
here, would be in no way outraged, fol
British kings ere now allowed severa
years 10 intervene between their acces.
sion and coronation.
From all appearances, however. thi.
sensible course win not be followed
The King, it seems. must be crowne'
+ this year, the Times" suggests. in Au
gust, which is ridiculous in view of al
the circumstances.
Effect on the Country.
The effect of the weeks tremendous
drama on the British public has been al
interesting study. 1t furnishes extra
ordinary contrasts. The impression
created on the better classes is well de
scribed by the Spectator" when it says
while contemplating the events O
the last few days it is impossible not tc
be struck by the fact that the sympath;
felt for the King will have a marked
effect on the future position OF the dy-
nasty, an effect which will last far be-
trust that it be prolonged many years.
1T is a commonplace that men do not
so much love those who confer actual
benefits upon them as those whom they
have helped. and with whom they have
sympathized and suffered. The King
and indeed the whole royal family, will
be more to the nation after his Illness
than they were before.
Every sorrow and every act OF suf-
fering is link which binds the ma
tion and the crown. and in This tie Of
sorrow and anxiety the whole empire
shares, for all the statesmen OF the en-
pire are gathered, as it were. arount
the sick bed gf the King.
Royal House Endeared.
"The Queens death, coming as IL did
while the sacrifices of war were still
going on, and the knowledge that tbs
efforts she had made helped to shorter
her days, had a perceptible effect in en-
dearing the royal house TO the nation
The overthrow Of the nations hopes ant
tine deep anxiety over the Kings illness
will still further strengthen the ties be-
tween the people and the dynasty"
But there is another picture which has
been shown in London streets, chiefly al
night, and in other parts OF the c0un-
try, where the masses. or rather the
lower classes. manifested the strongesr
resentment against any curtailmcnt oI
their holiday privileges. which cons.i-
tuted their sole interest in the situa-
tion. It made not tho slightest differ.
ence to them apparently. wnethc- the
King lived CT died.
A Significant Feature
Il may seem d,ac0urteous. perhaps, tc
call attention 10 this revelation of a
feature Of the situation bu: It has sig
niGcance Of sorlc Importance. 1t is, in
deed. hardly possible to ignore it when
It is remembered that most OF Tues
day nights dispatches were written
araid an uproer Of music hall songs
shouted b. parading thousands through
the Strand.
Newspaper men did net fail TO no.
ticc that the Official copies of the honor
list issued from Downing Street on We'd
ucsGoy night had been considerably cut
names having been erared with a pen
knife ard then pasted over with slips