monarchy and concerning its
maintenance as a permanent and powerful institution of the realm.
Whatever might be the abstract ideas held by individuals in times when
Mr. Bradlaugh and Sir Charles Dilke were preaching republicanism and Mr.
Chamberlain was suspected of harbouring the same opinions, it had become
apparent that the subjects of the Queen in Great Britain were
practically a unit in their preference for a constitutional monarchy and
in their personal devotion to the Crown and the Royal family. In
addition to the event having awakened the nation to the strength of its
own sentiment in this regard, it was also believed that an important
influence would be found to have been exerted upon the Prince of
Wales--a steadying sense of responsibility resulting from holding such a
place as he did in the hearts of his countrymen.

THE PUBLIC THANKSGIVING OF THE NATION

The _Illustrated London News_ well embodied this thought in the
following comment: "Doubtless what has occurred during the last few
weeks has also a meaning for the Heir Apparent to the Throne. No man of
the slightest sensibility can witness the emotional effusion of a great
nation towards himself without being deeply impressed with the
responsibilities of his position. The Prince comes back to the British
people from the brink of the tomb, and they who most pathetically
lamented his danger hail his return to health with devout thanksgivings
and acclamations of joy. Can there be a more powerful incentive to that
course of future action which will commend him to their approbation and
their love? That he will recognize and respond to it, we cannot allow
ourselves to doubt." One of the interesting incidents of the illness was
the fact that when the announcement was made that His Royal Highness
might only survive a few hours his obituary was, of course, prepared and
put in type in all the leading newspaper offices in the land to an
extent varying from the pages of a metropolitan daily down to the half
dozen columns of the Provincial press. Proofs of the obituaries were, it
is understood, afterwards collected and sent to the Prince, who had
them pasted into an immense scrap-book at Marlborough House.

The Thanksgiving Day celebration commenced on February 27th at 12
o'clock, when Her Majesty the Queen, accompanied by the Prince and
Princess of Wales and the Princess Beatrice and Prince Albert Victor of
Wales, drove through the gates of Buckingham Palace. The