Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-23
CHAPTER XXI.

LEE DAY.
Being DESTROYS Of seeing the play out.
I had secured-at reasonable enough
pyiee-a front seat in the top window
of the house exactly opposite to that
from the roof of which Number Two
hoped, with one snip of his "abhorred
shears" to silt the thin-spun life" of
the royal family of England.
The morning of the jubilee saw me
take my place-not this time in my
councillors disguise-in my allotted
seat, whence l watched with no little
curiosity for the final act in what was
meant to be a tragedy, but which [
had been the means of Transforming
into a farce.
Number Two was not astir as early
as was, and did not put in an appear
ance On the roof until the TAIL of the
great procession was in sight. Mean
while l sat looking down on the stall
wart fellows who went swinging along
at quick march on foot, or upon the
stately pacing and prancing of the cav
alry that passed, gathering and jing-
ling. in pursuing lines
Ny enjoyment of the pageant was.
however, considerably married by the
constant growing of man sitting
lear me, whose natural moroseness OF
disposition was accumulated by the fact
thaf he was dissatisfied with his seat.
VINO wants to see lot of court
nunkeys riding in double rows or driv-
ing in carriages?" he grumbled.
That's what most of 'em are. Won
know. It's bad enough for the nation
to ave to pay for their RECIPROCAL
Keep too-and pay 'em big salaries for
esotns nothing, without our 'aving 'em
otsiSk up on 'orse or in fine carriage
foT rs to ave TO pay to see EN- go by.
AZ you and me were dressed up in those
DIE Uniforms and 'ad 'orses found for
US TO ride on, we'd look Just as fine
men as they. Isn't that so, mister?"
oh. yes" | said, lit is quite posi-
hle'
Thare you are, then. And who are
they. after all7 That's what I want to
KNOW"
who, indeed?" 1 made answer.
Now IL they'd ask me-" he went on.
Ga though he had rather expected
they would have done so, and felt ag-
ezieVed by the oversight. eff they'd
ave asked me, I'd ave said, What you
want Is all the great people in the
Queens reign-them as is living. of
course. They ave got Roberts and
Wo'setey, and quite right too. but
where's Gladstone, and Roseberry. and
Dr. Parker, and w. c.? There's the
president of the Royal academy and all
the big doctors? Amt they done
precious sight more good than all your
busSeys and princes? Princes! We've
got teo many of 'em as il is. Thara.s
'Enry Irving, and Wilson Barrett. and
AN Caine, and Marie Coreli. and
George r. Sims. and Penley and STAN
iey7 They amt 'ere-leastwise. not
IN the show. tell you If they'd asked
me-with another splutter of resent
meant could ave told 'em who to
put in"
Yes. there's a great deal in what
you say" said, thinking ii wiser to
agree with him than to add fuel to the
nre or his grievance by dispute.
"Ail the same" put in a man of con-
eifiatory countenance who sat Sehind
me, "aii the same, you can't deny that
us an imposing sight"
It's imposing enough as ole"
admitted the iconoclast, but IL you
look at IL separate-like, it's only a lor
OF 'uman beings like you and me
dressed up in uniforms and riding by
on 'orses- But, 'Ulloi Why, I'll be
Dggered If there amt Freddy 'Opkins
lin as married my cousin-a-riding
by IN the Lancers! That's i'm on the
whistle 'orse with the black mustache
Fred-O! Fred 'Opkins! How are
You, Freddy? See, 'e's a-loolling this
way What yer Fredi How goes Ii,
sonnyf See i'm nod? He looked up
and nodded, e did. Now e is what |
call fine-looking chap. Fancy is
being ere too! Well, I'm jiggered!
nsust tell EN- at 'ome as see Fred
'opkins in the procession, and that e
looked up and nodded-not bit proud
Ike"
Just at this moment the sound of dis
taM cheering from the west increased
pexeeptfbly in volume. 1t was no
Longer mere cheering, but the almost
ffenzfed shout of a multitude swayed
Dy some great emotion. 1t was can
sasfous. 1t seemed to run along the
lines like kindling fire. 1t grew nearer
-hoarSer-louder-till it was almost
upon as Leaning forward with out
stretched head, looked westward
along the Strand. The great street it
cen seemed palpitating with excite
nent The houses seemed to resemble
avenues OF trees, every leaf of which
was human being, all quivering-iike
The leaves OF forest in a storm-un-
der some supreme agitation.
And thn> amid mi, ;r1;o-x oe
hands and fiuttering handkerchiefs, a
string of carriages swept by. No one
stayed to notice the mechanical. al
most automatic, backward and forward
swayfng of the royal Processes.
Even the prince, the ever-popular
prince. was deemed scarce worthy a
glance by the eager. hungry eyes that
sought only the one central figure of
that little lonely old woman who sat
there, queenly OF mien, and none the