New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-09
STATUTORY REPENrANcE.

among the most characteristics things that EN-
peror William has ever done has been his change
U 'Ae nSuohal busstag. OF dag OF national fast
Ing ano repentance. from the month of Nav tn
November he found that the weather IN Nav
vas SO fine and the sprinetirne scenery In the
rural districts beautiful that his subjects IN
steac OF spending the day in mourning their sins
n religious meditation and IN prayer awaited them
selves OF the opportunity to betake themselves
ont OF town for gay holiday in the country So
ne changed the day 70 the latter part OF November
and this year the weather throughout his domin-
IONS on that particular date abominable
oafk rainy and windy that nobody felt any in
cination 20 go holiday making
This day OF national fasting Is in other coun-
ries statutory, the choice Of the date however
stng lett to the discretion OF the ruler In Eng
1enc, Cor instance. the law does compel the
sovereign 20 have day OF this kind every year
o1t leaves him free TO decree one by means OF
public proclamation whenever ne sees 1T In
order that the day thus proclaimed should possess
the fun qualifications OF legal holiday. It must
Ae proclaimed IN accordance with the words that
Il should not only be day Of repentance but
likewise Of fasting.
The last two occasions believe. on which a
day Of this kind proclaimed were during the
crimean War. In ls54 and again in 1857 in connec-
ton with the terrible Indian Mutiny when so
many thousands Of English women. children and
men Of every age were massacred under circum-
stances OF frightful atrocities
Queen Victoria declined al first 70 order a fast
eDd declared that II would be quite enough 70
order q day Of national repentance and huInilia-
ton But at the last moment the London bankers
and hnancers. and. in particular. the management
Of tbs Bank Of England. took alarm. and called
upon the then Premier and the Lord Chancellor.
declaring that II the word fast omitted
from the Queens proclamation the latter would
not be statutory, and consequently the day would
not be legal holiday. and that bills of exchange.
etc. would be payable that day. So Queen Vic
toria was obliged to give way. and THE day OF
humiliation" likewise made a fast day IN
order that the banking operations might not be de-
ranged on each occasion the day observed
Doth IN town and country. Business was suspended.
the ennrches were thronged and in the words Of a
contemporary writer. "even the most turbulent
portions OF Cur great cities have preserved an IN
usual quetude and decorump
x was the same In Prussia the other day on the
occasion Of the annual "Busstag," or Day OF Re
pehtance work was suspended IN all government
alo PUBIC institutions Every theatre in the country
was closeo shops we're shut dancing both In public
nut II private, vas forbidden. not a single newspa-
per was allowed TO be published Or sold after the
o-nSry delivery Of the early morning editions. and
N oroer that newspaper men might have an OPP
portoniy 70 take spiritual stock OF themselves no
newspaper was allowed TO be issued until the fol-
lowing afternoon. The only kind Of diversions per-
aittec in the kingdom were sacred concerts the
Programmes Of which had 10 receive the approval
q tne authorities beforehand. II is very strange
TINS spectacle thus presented in the twentieth cen
Jury o. an entire nation suspendng not merely all
as business but even it's very pleasures and pas
1es for Gay. IN order TO devote the latter to re-
hgos meditation and repentance for its SINS at the
Word Of command Of It's sovereign II savors Of the
pleoieVss. but is none the less striking