Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-07-26
THE DEAD PRINCE.


Prince Imperial Of France are ended.
The body rests now in the little church
of St. Mary at Chiselhurst, by the side
of the dust of Napoleon III. A day OF
mourning ard of woe it has been, not
only in the pretty little Kentish village
of Chiselhurst, but in the whole of Eng
land. Queen Victoria mourned with
the bereaved Empress, and many thous-
ands of English women wept to-day
though they were not present. Never
has the death of prince caused so
much grief. To explain the reason why
this is so is difficult; but the human
heart loves to grieve at times as well as
to laugh.
In my dispatch last night l described
the funeral cortege as it assed over the
hills beyond Woodwich and wended its
way toward Chiselhurst, where the EN-
press awaited the homebringing of her
dead boy. How solemn, how impress
i've was the scene, and what strange
thoughts were brought TO the mind,
thinking of the grief stricken mother,
who had seen her boy prince, around
whom clustered so many beautiful hopes,
waiting to receive the body slain SO re-
morselessly by Zulu assegais On the
On the 27lh Of February last the young
Prince left Southampton for Zululand,
anxious to strengthen the ties of friend
ship with England. On the day pre-
vious to his departure he was admitted
to an interview with Her Majesty Queen
Victoria, who presented him at parting
with diamond ring in token of her
good wishes. The day before be left
| Chisehurst he went 20 the little church
of St. Mary and prayed over the tomb
of the father by whose side he was laid
SO solemnly today.
The troops detailed to take part in
the funeral parade assembled on Wood
wich Common in review order at an
early hour this morning. The column
was formed in the following manner
A troop of the Fifth Royal Irish Lam
GERS; the riding establishment of the
Royal Artillery the mounted band Of
the ROYAL Artillery; three batteries, nine
Founders, of the Royal Horse Artillery,
one battery, isixteen Founders, of the
Royal Artillery; service wagon with
thirty rounds of ammunition per gun;
the cadets of the Royal Military Acad-
emy. On arriving at Chiselhurst Com
mon they halted near the north entrance
TO Camden Place, forming the guard of
honor and firing party. The first bat
talon Of the Twenty-third Fusiliers also
sent one company under the command
of an officer to form guard of honor at
Chiselhurst. This regiment it may be
noted, distinguished itself at Waterloo
against the great Napoleon. Strange,
that the heir Of the Bonaparts was es-
corted to his last resting place by the
troops OF his great ancestors greatest
enemy.
The poor Empress was prey to
overwhelming grief on the arrival Of
the body at Camden House last night.
1t was supposed that she had retired to
the seclusion of her boudoir, but, on the
contrary, having e!uded her sympathiz-
ing friends, she had silently gone into
the room set apart as mortuary cham
Der. No sooner had the coffin entered
the door than a shrek revealed the
presence of the bereaved mother She
was led away weeping bitterly. AT
midnight, she again descended to the
room Of death and lay PROSTATE, kissing
the plate and moaning the name "Lou
is." She remained thus four hours,
when she sunk into sleep from utter
exhaustion. At seven o'clock this morn
ing she was again found kneeling at the
cotfins side. M. Rouher and others re-
nained outside fearful of the consequent
ces of such intensity of grief. AT nine
o'clock, however the Empress was won
dertully firm. She took a last look at
the dead face, and then, with all the
piteous passion OF hopeless sorrow, kiss
ed the name on the coffin plate in token
of everlasting farewell. Friends of her
youth aud of tie days Of her greatness
gently led her out of the room.
After the mournful vigil at Camden
Place, in the Chapelle Ardent, the day,
so memorable in the chequered history
Of the 5onapartes, broke cloudy, threat
ening rain. Chiselhurst Common, from
an early hour, began to be thronged
with visitors, who came to see how the
bitter sorrow of the Bonapartes was ex-
pressed. Special trains from London
brought vast crowds of people as early
as hair past seven in the morning, in
cludiug great numbers Of French The
Common was crowded with people from
the neighboring villages. Numerous
vehicles were drawn up along the route
of the funeral, from the stately gates Of
Camden place to the little Roman Cath
olic chapel in an obscure part of the
village, embosomcd amid grand old
trees, now in the full glory Of their foli-
age. A body of workmen from Paris
breakfas,ed at the house, and were per
mitted to view the body. They then
assisted in draping the gateway near
the lodge in large drab coloied hang
ings, bearing the imperial cipher IN"
and crossed palm branches. Early in
the day the venders Of photographs
made their appearance among the
crowds which thronged the common.
They offered for sale photographs of
the dead Prince and his English home
at Camden place, Of the dead Emperor
Napoleon III, and of the Empress Eu
genie. They also hawked about gilt
medals, with violet ribbons attached,
having on one side the bust and name
of the dead Prince, and on the other