The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-23 00:00:00

THE IMPERIAL OBSEQUIES.

The funeral of the late Emperor Frederick took
place at Potsdam on Monday. Before the removal of
the remains from Friedrichskron the Imperial family,
including the Empress Augusta, assembled in the
Jasper Gallery, where a short service was conducted.
The procession was then formed, the Knights of the
Order of the Black Eagle walking on each side of the
car, behind wt. ich was the late Emperor's charger.
The best view of the spectacle was obtained (writes
a special correspondent) by those who saw it in the
town. It was possible to reach the Friedenskirche
through the Park, but this plan was happily aban-
doned, and thus the immense crowds were afforded
the opportunity of saying farewell to their beloved
Sovereign. As seen from a window in Obelisken
Strasse the spectacle was one of great magnif cence.
The sun shone out brightly on the trees, clothed in
their full summer green, and on the brilliant lines,
first of the Uhlans of the Guard, who here kept
the route with their band. The great crowds fill-
ing the windows, and thronging the roofs of the
houses and the streets, waited patiently till, at
eleven o'clock, the sound of distant music and the
orders to the troops to stand at attention, gave
evidence that the funeral cortege was approaching,
and it presently appeared in the following order.
In front rode General von Hahnke, with the band
and a company of the Scarlet Hussars of the Guard,
the regiment of the Kaiser William 11. It is impos-
sible to give an adequate picture of the brilliant line
of troops that followed. The Cuirassiers of the Guard
in white tunics with steel helmets and breastplates,
the Uhlans in blue with white or yellow fronts, and
the Hussars in scarlet, made a brave show under the
sun, and the effect of these glancing colours, set off
by the sombre dresses of the crowds around, was
something which could not fail to be long remem-
bered, but which can scarcely be described.
The cavalry was followed by a long line of infantry
companies from the Guard regiments. All the men
wore white duck trousers, and were in full marching
order, carrying their knapsacks, tins, and other cam-
paigning requisites. It seems strange that there was
not artillery in the procession, as at the Emperor
William's funeral, but the military display of picked
horse and foot was not marred on Monday, as it was
on the former occasion, by bitter weather. The
advance body of troops was brought up by Jagers,
who looked very picturesque with their black
plumes, and by a corps of non-commissioned officers
representing all the Prussian line regiments—a
magnificent body of men. Then came the escort
of the Garde du Corps, which was followed by the
Marshals, the clergy, the Court servants, and a
number of pages in beautiful quaint dresses. Next
came the Ministers bearing on satin cushions the
insignia of State. Walking beside them Count Herbert
Bismarck's tall, commanding figure was especially
conspicuous. Immediately after came the funeral
car, drawn by eight black horses. On the coffin was
placed, as at the futeral of the late Emperor's father,
a princely medieval helmet of gold. The coffin and
the car were covered with flowers and wreaths of
laurel. Behind the funeral car was led the Emperor's
favourite bay horse, which, it may be mentioned, he
fed with his own hands on the day he left Charlotten-
burg for Potsdam.
The banner of the Empire was carried by Marshal
Blumenthal, an old and deeply attached friend of the
Emperor, with whom the veteran officer had served
as chief of the staff during the Franco-German War.
At the head of the mourners came the young Kaiser,
having the Prince of Wales on his left and the King
of Saxony on his right hand. The Prince of Wales,
who was attired in the uniform-of a Prussian General,

wore tile star of the Garter and the Black Eagle and
the collar of that illustrious order. The Royal and
Imperial mourners were followed by a brilliant
train of Princes and nobles, General Count von
Moltke being :conspicuous among them; by the
foreign representatives, civil and military ; colonels
representing the German regiments, and the State and
municipal officers. Sir Morell Mackenzie and Dr.
Mark Hovell walked in the procession, and were ob-
jects of much attention by the spectators. As the
funeral car passed deep feeling was manifested by the
people; men were unnerved and tears fell from unac-
customed eyes, while women wept and sobbed with-
out restraint. Never were the heartfelt sorrow and
sympathies of a great nation mourning the loss of a
beloved ruler, expressed with more reverent simplicity
or more solemn and impressive effect.
After a detour through the streets of Potsdam the
cortege finally stopped at the Friedenskirche Gate.
The coffin was borne into the church and placed on a
platform which was carpeted with purple. In front
of the altar at the head of the coffin was the marble
Angel of Peace bearing in her lap a book and
trumpet, this fine work of art, it may be stated, being
placed just over the vault where Frederick William
IV. and his Queen Elizabeth, together with the
late Emperor's two young sons, are interred. Four
tapers and a great cross adorned the altar. In the
left gallery sat the Royal ladies, among whom the
Princess of Wales was conspicuous for her beauty,
which her deep mourning seemed but to enhance.
Chairs were placed in front of the dais, with an aisle
in the middle. The Kaiser and the King of Saxony
sat together in the first row on the right, and on the
left sat the Prince of Wales and Prince Albert Victor,
while the other Royal mourners occupied seats
behind. The rest of the church was filled with officers
and officials of high rank in brilliant uniforms. The
coffin was surrounded by officers of high position, and
at the foot stood the veteran Blumenthal bearing the
banner of the Empire. Two generals with drawn
swords stood at either ride.

While the mourners were taking their seats, the
organ played Beethoven's Funeral March, and the
choir sang a chorale, after which the Court chaplain,
Pastor Knel conducted a short service and offered
up prayer.

The brief and simple service was terminated by the
Court chaplain, who, standing at the head of the coffin
withfittlifted hands, pronounced the Benediction.

A touching and most impressive scene followed. A
chorale was sung by the choir, and a salute fired out-
side, indicating to the public that the funeral service
had been concluded. The Kaiser ascended the plat-
form, followed by the King of Saxony, and both kneel-
ing kissed the coffin. The Emperor remained kneel-
ing for some minutes, his head bowed upon his hands.
The Prince of Wales and other Royal mourners also
advanced and kissed the coffin. Last of all came
Prince Albert Victor, conducting the Princess of Wales
and the Grand Duchess of Baden, all of whom took
the same impressive leave of the remains of their il-
lustrious kinsman. The mourners then slowly re-
tired from the Church, the artillery firing a Roy al
salute at 12-15.

The funeral was in accordance with the express
wishes of the Emperor Frederick, conducted with
great simplicity, and was devoid of the pomp and
ceremony which made the obsequies of the first
Emperor so memorable a spectacle. But everywhere
was exhibited unmistakable tokens that Frederick no
less than his father had gained in the fullest measure
the love and respect of the German people. The feel-
ing with which he was followed to the grave was well
expressed in the motto on the funeral arch in
Potsdam," Ruhe sanft, Kaiser Friedrich."