Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1902 — KING EDWARD IS ILL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

KING EDWARD IS ILL.

BRITAIN’S MONARCH UNDERGOES AN OPERATION. Coronation Ceremonies All Indefinite* ly Postponed—Alainiing New. of the King’s Condition Causes the Utmost Consternation Throughout England. The coronalion of King Edwatd YU. has been indefinitely postponed. This startling announcement was made in London Tuesday. The King was found to be suffering from acute perytiphilitis, a form of appendicitis, and an operation was decided upon. This was successfully performed at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon. In the course of the afternoon the bulletin from Buckingham palace announcing dhat the operation had been successful, that a large abscess had been evacuated, and that the King’s condition was satisfactory, was issued and posted at the various points where people congregated. The King treated the idea of the operation very lightly, his great concern being for the disappointment of the people. London 1b Paralyzed. The first news of the renewed illness of the King came from the House of Commons Tuesday, where various court officials gave an intimation that the arrangements for Thursday would better

be suspended forthwith, as the coronation would be postponed indefinitely on account of the indisposition of his majesty. The sudden announcement of the postponement of the coronation, just on the eve of the ceremony, caused the Btmost consternation everywhere. The news spread like wildfire. The tens of thousands of occupants of the streets suddenly stood still under the sudden shock mid gazed at one another In silent dread of what might come next. On Saturday and Sunday society was discussing the reports of the King's Illness and though the circumstantiality, detail and sources from which they came precluded entire disbelief there was a disposition to doubt the stories, and when the positive categorical denial was officially Issued they were dismissed as being unfounded. Hcmorrhoides, apoplexy and lumbago were a few of the King's maladies discussed in the clubs and drawing rooms, and those discussing them recalled the stories how the King even quite receutyl reiterated his belief that he would never be crowned. No Date for Coronation. Ilia majesty, under ordinary conditions, was not looked upon as a good subject for an o|reration, and though the King passed successfully through the ordeal, it is believed that four or five weeks must elapse before he will be able to undergo the arduous labors of the coronation ceremonial. Therefore no date can yet be indicated for carrying out the coronation. The news that something was wrong with the King spread like wildfire at first as a rumor ou the Stock Exchange about noon. It then ran like wildfire through the city. Half an hour later confirmation came In the form of nu official bulletin, which the King's private secretary. Sir Francis Knollys, issued from Buckingham Palaee. The Lord Chamberlain personally took the message to the Lord Mayor, who had it posted on the Mansion House. Great crowds struggled about the bulletin and read the nows with heads uncovered. London was staggered by the suddenness of it all, puarticularly as au absolute denial that his majesty was seriously ill was issued on Saturday by Sir Francis Knollys. Hundreds of dinners, halls nnd entertainments were indefinitely postponed, the invitations that had been issued being hurriedly withdrawn. There will be no public entertainments until the King is out of danger and no elaborate private affairs. The preparations for the festivities ended as suddenly ns if death had intervened. London had never been so gay, had never planned so many or so extensive entertainments. Now all these are ended nnd a feeling of gloom and sadness Is over the whole city. No date is now intimated for the coronation, but it will be several weeks ore the King recovers, if he ever does. It is known that the King is not strong. His liver nnd stomach have been disordered for several years, while it is strongly suspected that he Is suffering from Bright's disease. With a num in the physical condition of the King it is sinister that the greatest physicians in the land decided to operate on him. It means that the King is very gravely ill, despite the thinly veiled official bulletins.

KING EDWARD VII.