The Mankato free press., 1902-06-06
GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
Announcement of Peace in South
Africa Celebrated in London.
STREETS WERE THR RONGED.
Undcu of Discomfort is Apparent Some Quarters
Agreement is Given Ou-.Mr A. J.. Baour
Reads the Terms to the House
of Commons.

London, June 3.-The announcement
of peace in South Africa was cele-
brated in London with wild repeti-
ton of the Mafeking celebration.
Hundreds of thousands of people
surged through the streets Of London
from Whitechappel to Buckingham pal
ace, but never at any time did the
crowds equal those which created the
verb ''to Maffick." There was a ire
menduous noise in the streets, pan.
demonium of horns and cheers and
the coarse jest of costers, but the
abandon which marked the announce
ment of the reliefs of Mafeking and
Ladysmith was lacking. Women, many
of them carrying babies, boys, drunken
loafers and others, glad of any excuse
to defy law and order, were the prin-
cipal elements in the ragged process
sions passing and repassing through
the principal streets. The crowds con-
centrated in Regent street and the
Strand and let themselves loose.
Women of the lower class jabbed men
In the faces with feathers, flung an
apology for confetti and in turn were
hugged and kissed by any man who
found time for such a diversion. A
few helpless policemen stood around
and watched the fun.
One of the favorite decorations with
the crowd was a cluster of red, white
and blue stripes wound around tall
hat. A very serious under current of
discomfort probably is responsible for
the fact that London has not shown
the same evidences of rejoicing as
were to be seen on Mafeking night. In
some quarters the comment on this
peace with honor" ending of the war
was that Great Britain has the peace
and the Beers have the honor"
London GaiIy Decorated.
The Liberal members of the house
of commons declared freely that peace
in South Africa might have been Sc
cured year ago and on better terms
had the British government not been
so obdurate. The decorations and il
luminations of London took on a
more organized form as the peace
news grew older. The American and
Irish flags figured largely among the
decorations, while the new ensign of
the Australian Federation made it's
first appearance in a national celebra-
ton.
The words God Save the King"
were very generally inscribed across
the Union Jacks exhibited. This was
q sort of unconscious tribute of the
national belief that peace in South
Africa was due more to King Edward S
personal influence than to any other
cause.
A curious feature of the nights
street scenes was that banners were
carried in several professions bearing
the inscription Brave Butler" Not
a cab, carriage or bus that was driven
through the streets but what was dec
GRATED with flags or some other sign
of rejoicing.
There was a general jubilation in
st. James Park. The large crowds
which had assembled there waited un-
til late hour for chance to cheer
members of the royal family, bound
for Buckingham palace.
At the height of the rejoicing a
hearse passed through Picadilly and
even the undertaker's assistants, who
are known as mutes, waved Union
Jacks.
Utmost Good Humor Prevailed.
Throughout the evening the crowds
exhibited the utmost good humor, and
while some of the worst elements in
London took advantage of the oppor.
tunity to disgrace themselves, the an
nouncement of peace, on the whole
was received with merely wild "dem
onstration." This was somewhat
atoned for by uproarious scenes in the
fashionable restaurants.
King Edward narrowly escaped what
might have been a serious accident
during the morning. His majesty was
driving to st. James palace when a cab
collided with his carriage. The cal
horse fell and lay struggling under
the royal vehicle. The king alighted
and stood upon the pavement until
matters were righted.
His majesty and Queen Alexandra
with Princess Victoria and Prince and
, Princess Charles of Denmark, attended
the production of Wagner's "Valkyrie'
! at Covent Garden. Their majesties re
, ceived an ovation from the audience
! and when they entered the opera
, house the orchestra played God Save
the King"
Special patriotic peace programmes
/ were provided at all the leading music
. halls, and at these places the
Enthusiastic Spectators
demanded that the orchestra play Goo
Save the King" after every turn OF
! the stage. That London's hilarity wa!
not entirely confined to the lowe
| classes of the city is shown by the fac
that Lord Lansdowne, the foreign sec
retary, who is probably one of the mos
| sedate members of the cabinet, had Sc
cured a box at the Alhambra musi,
/ hall AS the foreign secretary with hi
| wife and party of friends entered hi
! box he was cheered by the peopl,
| present. Several members of the hous
| of commons who were in the stalls AM
a number of society men presen
| cheered for the popular generals an
| joined Justify in singing patrioti
choruses. At the Alhambra the dis
play Of a Union Jack riddled with bul
/ lets and other such incidents gave oc
casion for repeated bursts of cheerin,
and Lord Lansdowne and his part,
1