The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
ENGLISH CROWDS
AN INDIANAPOLIS TEACHER SEES
THE REVIEW AT ALDERsHOT
other Royal Spectacles Incident to
President Loubets Visit De-
light Her Eyes.

LONDON, july Last week Lonuon
was an unusually interesting place to the
American tourists, and indeed 1.-The woods
are full of them" The reception Of Presi-
dent Loubet and the public displays of
royalty here made just the kind of stir
that gives us "our moneys worth" Since
Napoleon IFS visit, France has sent no
ruler to visit England's court, the COM
ing of President Loubet stirred London con-
siderably.
Monday, July 6, was the day of his ar
rival. Certain parts of London, from Vic
toria Station, leading into Piccadilly and
Oxford street and thence threading
through Fleet and the Strand to Guildhall
and the Mansion House, in the city, were
brilliant with English and French colors.
Festoons of tri-colored paper roses, caught
up by gilt crowns into the center of the
various circus spaces, made the decora-
tons very gay. Most of the balconies were
covered with royal red panoplies. On the
morning of the arrival the emptying of
these streets of all traffic, the sudden
swerving of all omnbuses, cabs, etc., from
their regular tracks to other streets on
few words passed and a few commands
given quietly and calmly by various police
men, was sight to marvel at. L was on
top of one OF these omnibuses in Piccadilly,
where all was full and expectant. Every
vehicle having no more room for one more,
moved off the street, and the way in which
all the crowded street ahead cleared or
it's traffic and remained absolutely va
cant thereafter without ropes to keep
back the people was an exhibition of the
power of a well-regulated police system.
And this fact is always in evidence. The
police are a fine lot here. Never angry,
alert but looking quiet as the easiest
onlooker; well dressed, gentlemanly, with
out any signs of dissipation, they stand or
slowly walk their short beats" and at
lift of finger or hand check one stream of
traffic and open the way for an opposing
stream. On these days of the movements of
the royal retinue and of the soldiers, either
police or soldiers in their brilliant scarlet
uniforms lined the necessary streets, few
feet apart, and there they remained for
at least two hours before the moment of
the passing of the pageant.
A GORGEOUS DEMONSTRATION
/ found my way into st. James Park, OPP
posite the rear drive from York House,
where President Loubet was to reside" to
House, where royalty was later to receive
the Presidents return calls. The position
was excellent, as it was not packed. Final
ly, about D. m, the Horse Guards OF the
King outriders in sight. "Magnifi-
cent is the term most fitting for them and
for the royal equipages that followed. The
horses of the guards are large black ami
mails and their trappings are very snowy.
The guards are equally striking specimens
of large men OF equal size and height,
dressed in royal scarlet with brilliant he'll
NETS and gold trappings. These shone in
the sun like light rehectors. The royal
horses were four to each carriage and their
trappings were more gorgeous than any
other. feature of the demonstration of rank.
Great feathery festoons of red waved down
from their heads and mingled with their
black names. The King was very pleasant
to the crowd, which managed to look and
cheer, Long live King Edward.'' the
snowy procession hurried by.
On Tuesday the general stir seemed
greater, as more streets were to be used
the city opening it's gates and all the
mayors power to add to the show being
called for The mayor was to give the
hall. Oxford and Holborn streets and their
circuses were the best points. had a
good position in Holborn circus near Guild
hall. Here great band with twenty-five
buglers and as many fifers marched up and
down the street a distance or couple Of
blocks from me, the street being absolutely
free of traffic, except for the sand or saw
dust wagons which covered the street with
a yellow carpet and little later for the
receiving guests of the mayor, whose car
riages preceded the retinue of the Presi-
dent. All this while (about two hours)
the people stood in perfect order. There
was no apparent excitement or restless
pushing about or changing of places. When
the Britisher makes up his mind, that ends
it; it is made up and there is no whim-
steal change ever noticeable. Another re-
markatle difference between the behavior
of an American crowd in streets and public
places, such as parks, and of a correspond
ing British crowd is that here there is no
eating, except IN restaurants, no chewing
of gum whatever Smoking is general and
at times it is very choking, especially in
some Of the restaurants, many of which
place the ladies coffee or tea room" on
on the second floor and in making ones
passage through the latter one has to cut
in two the volume OF tobacco smoke SO
thick substance is it in these places.
WELL-BEHAVED CROWDS.
When President Loubet's party, accom-
panied by the Prince and Princess Of
Wales, Duke OF Connaught-the King not
being a guest of the mayor-passed, the
crowd cheered "Vive Loubet i'm cordial
vigor The breakup OF these thousands of
people into Holborn street was a greater
sight than the procession. The freedom
from pushing and the exemption from
touching one another even in the midst of
the mass is most striking. / saw not one
instance of shocking or rude behavior, nor
did / see one instance where any police
man had to do more than to give some
sign or simple direction of command.
Whatever the English people are not they
truly are a well disciplined population in
London
On Wednesday came the review Of the
army at Laffan Plain, near Aldershot, be-
tween and o'clock, by King Edward in
the presence of President Loubet, Queen
Alexandra and other royalty. 1 took a
special train to Aldershot at ITO p. m. Sew
eral excursion trains had gone during the
morning. but / preferred to risk 1t later.
l hoped for no chance to see except In the
midst of the common people. But I had
learned not TO fear British crowd where