The Washington herald., 1915-09-02
The Mighty People.
By JOHN ID. BARRY.

by JOHN ID. BARRY
| On my first day in London good manv wear
ago, as was walking along the street becam
conscious OF what | can describe only bv tha
vague and yet significant expression something i,
the air. The activity about me suddenly becam
suspended. People stopped walking as if the,
were definitely going somewhere Manv of tb,
passersby stood at the edge of the sidewalk an,
looked up the street. The atmosphere seemed +,
be charged with expectancy. Then I saw tw,
mounted policemen dash past with splendid i'm
portancc.
| was mystfed curious
Why this silent excitement this mysterious Dor
tent?
looked at the faces of the people about me
| could see no evidences of surprise There was
merely interest eager alert
waited for few minutes to see what would
happen.
Meanwhile, all the traffic was suspended.
FINALLY, | asked a bystander what the matter
Royalty is coming" he replied. In his tone
there was neither approval nor disapproval, but
simple acceptance Of established and easlv rec
ognzed situation.
Five minutes later closed carriage dashed
past, containing very pretty woman, whom |
recognized from photographs as Queen Alexandra.
and stout man, the King.
AS soon as the carriage passed the people turn
cd from the sidewalks and traffic started Lie
flowed on.
had seen the King and Queen receiving one
of the pcrquisites Of ROYALTY
1t seemed, then, as if had been suddenly trans
ported into another period, when royalty was es-
teemcd rs something different from the rest of the
world more than human 10 ,,,I-.
eHactions on those who merely human the
stronger drawing from the weaker, according to
time -honorcd custom.
The clearing OF the way was one of the GUS
toms that survived, N spite of the growth Of the
democratic spirit
No one had found the courage to insist that it
be abolished
1t was protected from attack BY being asso-
lated with ideas that people loved respect for the
authority represented by the sovereign extending
o respect for the sovereign's family. For, later
was told, and | saw for myself, that the same
,learing of the way took place for other royalty |
'cneath the King and Queen
| wondered just how far it extended Did it |
top at first cousins or second cousins, at uncles
'r aunts by marriage?
And | wondered how long the people of Lon
on would endure having their affairs SUSPENDED
hat royalty might pass along the street without
clay or inconvenience swiftly and dramatically.
| also wondered if royalty would be farseeing
nough TO abolish the custom of their own accord
ather than have it taken away
That question l had to answer myself, with
smile. Royalty of the present and royalty of
ne future would hold on to those perqusites as
'ng as they have breath.
And yet can conceive of member of ROYALTY
ctesting that particular perquiste and other per-
usitcs like it and despsing the people for pay
lg it.
Among royalty there must be those who see
lie folly of all such perqusites, the ntolerable in
uity OF their meaning. y
And in accepting such perquisites they must ?
ten feel ashamed. .
But they are those rare exceptions. For roy c
ties are human. And they have the human weak Y '
ess that operates like strength, enabling people [
accept the most unfair advantages in spite of 4
the principles OF right and justice that they 5
I've taken INTO their minds and that in many OF J
cir personal relations they actually live BY g