Life — February 13, 1902 — page 23: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Calamity. A PROFOUND melancholy had fall- +> enon the crowds that thronged the streets of London. An expression wet : Tue Royal carriage drove rapidly by. of intense, subdued excitement was noticeable on every face ; an expression noticed only when some great calamity has fallen, or is about to fall, on the nation. The young spoke in whispers, the old were sternly silent, and all moved about in a nervous, strained The Prime Minister and Mr, Chamberlain, manner, which was intensified when the Royal carriage drove rapidly by with grim attendant guards, on its way to Charing Cross, The King and Queen were flying from London ! Now the dull, steady tread of armed hosts was heard approaching. The police had been unable to cope with the enormous, almost silent, masses of citizens, and the military had been called out to clear the streets, “ What is it?” asked a stranger of a Londoner who, with beads of perspira- tion rolling down his face,was standing in a doorway nervously twitching his hands, “Sh-h-h-h-h 1!!!" was the only re- ply he received. Struggling through the ever-increasing throngs to West- minster Bridge, he reached the Parlia- - Lie ment Buildings just as the Prime Minister and Mr. Chamberlain, with hastily packed grips, quickly entered a hansom and drove rapidly away, casting nervous glances right and left. All the other members of both the Lords and Commons had fied an hour before, Every moment the situation was becoming more strenuous ; the very air breathed excitement. Seeing a weeping woman leaning against the bridge, the stranger ap- proached and in an awed whisper asked: “* Madam, for heaven’s sake, tell me what has happened !"” “O, sir,” came the tearful reply, “aven’t you ’eard?’” “Heard what? quick !”” “wy Speak, woman, sir, it’s terrible ! Mr. Kipli busy a-writin’ cf another pome, sir!" ALG. R. 4} can’t always tell ahead just when Iam 135 A Meteorological Valentine. HEN Spring comes back with laughter And music in her voice, You may be sure she's after The lover of her choice: Mer mission, you ean guess Her message is like mine. So take this song and bless it, My own dear Valentine. it; Spring wooes in such a fashion Earth yields at once, but you Perhaps may doubt my passion And wonder if tis true; But should the heart within you Warm to a lyric line, Then let this lover win you To be his Valentine. If Spring returns too car): Of course her fate we She finds her lover surly Likewise his answer—snow. I wonder if I've chosen The proper time to sign Myself as almost frozen Without you, Valentine? Ile Taylter, Doubtful. COLLECTOR : When shall I call again to collect this bill, si Dasuaway: How do I know? I now t— going to be out. [7 3s perhaps just as well that our Constitution doesu’t have to follow the flag. It is a bit delicate for mili- tary service, 4 “THE UNWELCOME MRS, HATCH.” comicbooks.com