Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-15
CHAPTER V.-Continued.


The bells of ST. Clement Danes burst out,
telling the notes of a slow hymn-tune-
Eastward. In a window of the Daily News.
there was big sheet of paper. written over
in large blue-pencil letters with the words:
War with Russia"
Westward. in the facade of the National
Liberal Club, there was square, "hite
space exhibited to the public inscribed with
the words In charcoal: War with France
and Germany"
..I s'y." said a work-girl to her lover,
there's q blooming Frenchman a-looking
at the placard. Can't you tell by the squint
of him."
"Oh, don't show him to me or I'll go
straight for him." said Bill; "a Frenchman
mykes me SICK
But the girls remark ives passed on;
eyes were directed toward monsieur. He
turned white, finding himself at the mercy
of the crowd. But no harm was done to
him; he was only quietly but persistently
hustled. till he reached a comparatively
empty by-street, dripping with the sweats
of fear.
The exhibition of gratuitous notices
in windows and at doors was the or
der of the day. Old habits of Stole
silence seemed for the moment to have
Europe, it was felt, had drifted-drifted
from the old moorings-into what new
seas and ATTITUDES? At GatuS place in the
Strand was written up in huge letters;
dow of some foreign faddist in Soho APP
peared these words: Russia is the Natural
Ally of England" and in HoIborn at the
First Avenue Hotel, which was richly dec
GRATED with British and American flags.
these words: 'One Blood, One Race, one
Speech
A little street arab in half an hour at
tanned to sudden wealth; he was news
paper boy. and had in his hand a bundle of
three Stars. In moment of inspiration
Harry Tibbles. damned against one of the
lions In Trafalgar Square, nimbly flung and
twisted himself on to the pedestal and
held aloft his Stars. Thousands of eyes
turned upon him He took from his pocket
Il match, 'and deliberately applied the flame
to the papers. Pointing to the smoke and
fame, he cried in his Shrillest cockney:
That's the French So much for them
Thereupon he turned and pointed upward
to the statue of Nelson. A shout of cheers
at once filled the square, While the urchin
was bombarded with hail of pennies SIX
pences, shillings till he could no longer
gather them up. When he had been lifted
down and coddled by the laughing crowd,
an old gentleman got from MIN his ad-
dress, and promised to remember him ''ir'-
but at "if' he stopped.
Down by St Stephens some cheers were
making themselves heard. 1t was O'Clock
in crawling carriages, one by one.
Mr.. T. P. O'Connor stood up, leaning for
ward In his cab. bowling on each side, like
royalty. One man shouted Strike hard
Tay Pay!" And another: Don't spare
them.' Mr.. UConnor drove out his large
fist, and shook 1t IN fearful menace al the
sun.
The round orb OF Mr.. Chamberlain's eye
glass was all that could be distinctly rnssde
out of him, but behind it his face seemed
Radamanthine in its sternness, ashen in It's
palior. A profound silence fell upon the
people as he passed.
Within the house itself the benches were
soon crowded, all but the treasury ana
front opposition benches. Prayers were
read. So far there was no sign of impa-
thence or emotion. There were Questions
though there was nobody to answer them;
there was also a light railway bill for some
where to be reported and the house calmly
proceeded to the business in hand
1t was a place of stately traditions; the
exhibition of emotion had always been for
eign to 1t. Even when the elementary pas
sions OF humanity broke through, and
swept like whirlwinds within its walls, it
had known how to comport itself with
dignity Impossible TO the other senates of
the world.
No one. observing its outward aspect
during that half hour, could have dreamed
that the nation 1t had led so long from
greatness to greatness stood on the very
brink of swift and Iinal ruin
The speaker put the question whether
the railway bill should be reported. Only
two labor members rose To oppose IT, Tie
speaker said presently:
II think the ayes have IT,
The thing was done. All eyes cast fur
tive glances III the direction of the spot
behind the speakers chair. At that mo-
rnent the form of Mr. Balfour was seen adj
yancing slowly toward the ministerial
bench.
Behind him, In strange topsy-turvey-
dom of party. came Sir William Hercout,
talking to Mr.. Chamberlain, and Mr.. AS
rxyHf GrEs m
followed. Then 1t was seen with a thrill,
born of the certainty now OF calamity,
that the Prince OF Wales had just quietly
walked into the peers gallery. imnedla tely
followed by Lords Salisbury, Rosebery aud
the Duke OF Devonslaire. Peering through
the gratings of the ladies' gallery were Mrs.
Gladstone, the Duchess OF York and 9TH
ers, while the Italian and American AM
bassadors sat in the places reserved for
diplomats.
Below, In the body Of the chamber. was
not sound. except a faint scratching OF
the pen OF the clerk to the house. Yonder,
in the press gallery, the alert prcssfuen held
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