The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-06-26

tion services to be held tomorrow. The
archbishop of Canterbury also asks
for "the public and private prayers Of
all in behalf Of the king in his serious
Illness"
A brief notice has been published in
the Gazette, as a result Of which the
entire state, social and business ar
rangements throughout the country
are paralyzed. The order is dated from
the earl 'marshars Office and reads as
follows.
II have to announce that the solem-
nifty of the coronation Of their maj
estes King Edward VII. and Queen
Alexandra is postponed from the Goth
to a date hereafter to be determined"
The best informed opinion places the
date Of the coronation in about three
months time, provided King Edward
progresses well in the meantime.
In spite Of the royal wish that the
provincial celebrations be carried out
as arranged many towns have aban-
doned the festivities which were to be
held although at Liverpool and other
large cities hurried meetings were
called and 1t was decided to carry out
all the charitable arrangements as pre-
viously made. The leading business
houses of London have decided to keep
open June 26 and 81, although the
banks will probably be closed those
days.
Among the hundreds of postpone
ments caused by the sudden illness of
the king is that of the publication Of
| the list of coronation honors.
Portsmouth is perhaps the keenest
sufferer among all who lose financially
as a result of the postponement of the
coronation. The harvest Portsmouth
expected to reap from the naval review
will now be lost to the city.
The bonfires which top the hills Of
the United Kingdom from John
! O'Groat's to Lands End will not be
lighted. They will be kept intact, how
ever, in the hope of the celebration be-
ing held at later date.
The pope and the king of Italy and
other monarchs have cabled anxious
inquiries concerning King Edwards s
progress, and dispatches received from
all parts of the world reflect the in.
! tensity of feeling occasioned by the I'M
expected news of his majesty's illness
and sympathy with the British nation.
At various times during the last year
ii has been predicted that King Ed
ward would never be crowned. Many
believed his health would not survive,
and others saw ominous signs of COM
ing distress in every little turn of the
coronation preparations.
When the white coronation robes
were decided on, it was pointed out
that they had only been used on three
occasions, and, curious enough, each
wearer came to violent end Rich.
ard III. was crowned in white satin.
Next was the unfortunate Henry VI
Despite the strong persuasion of the
Earl of Pembroke Charles l. was also
invested at his coronation in white
satin.
In order to protect themselves many
persons, tradesmen principally, took
out insurance on the kings life. They
stood to lose large sums if the corona.
ton should not take place.
The king has always had supersti
ton that he would never be crowned
There is an old story that at the time
of Edwards birth prophecy was
made which ran:
king shall Edward be, but never
shall he be crowned"
On Saturday and Sunday society was
discussing the reports Of the kings i'll.
ness, and though their circumstantiali.
ty, detail and sources from which they
came precluded entire disbelief there
was a disposition to doubt the stories,
and when the positive, categorical de.
nial was officially issued they were dis.
missed as being unfounded. Hemor.