Evening journal., 1892-10-12
TENNYSON WITH KINGS.
The Famous Poet Laid to Rest
in Old Westminster.
RANK AND RABBLE PAY RESPECTS.

vast CroWus Assemble AT the histOrlc
Abbey to witness the Imposing Obs,-
quies of England's Late Poet-Laureats.
guished PalI-bearers Head tho Sad Cor
tege.
[By Telegraph to the Evening Journal.1
LONDON, Oct. 12.-Throughout the
night the body of Lord Tennyson lay in
ST. Faiths chapel Westminster Abbey,
the union jack covering the coffin, and a
few trails Of ivy placed by Hallam Ten
nyson. lying loosely over it. The vol
ume of Shakespeare which Tennyson
read on his deathbed was placed with
him in the coffin before the body was
taken from Aldworth.
There was no vigil at the bier of the
great poet during the night. The coffin
/ lay in darkness, save for the feeble
rays from q gas lamp in the neighboring
street which hickered wierdly through
the stained windows. The door was
locked when the family left, after the
coffin had been deposited in the chapel
last evening So it remained until the
opening of the abbey today, when the
vergers arrived and stood guard at the
sacred entrance awaiting the moment
when the coffin should be borne to the
altar trestle.
1t was frosty Autumnal morning. the
rising sun breaking through a haze fiery
red. Soon after daylight people began
to gather around the door of the north
nave, to which admission was to be free
for the public and four hours before the
time for opening the door the neighbor-
hood of this entrance was thronged. 1t
was noticeable that all were dressed in
black and many in deep mourning.
Sorrow as if for a personal friend was
depicted upon all countenances as the
lovers of the pure-minded poet stood
patiently awaiting admission to take
part in the last honors TO his earthly re-
mains.
Meanwhile holders of tickets Of invita-
tion were arriving and being ushered
into the broad sanctuary opening into
the abbey. and long before the ceremony
began the historic edifce was thronged.
Outside thousands fingered, unable TO
obtain entrance, yet unwilling to depart
from near the spot where an event of
such mournful interest to the nation was
in progress.
Distinguished Mourners.
The assemblage in the abbey was q
distinguished one The premier of Eng
land, Mr.. Gladstone, was represented by
Hon. Arthur .Lyttleton the Prince OF
Wales by General Probyn of his house
hold, theDuke of Edinburgh by his private
secretary, Hon. William James Colville
the Duke Of York, heir presumtivo, by
Sir Francis Winton and the British
government by Hon. II. H. Asquith, the
Home secretary. Walter Besant and
many other prominent men of letters
were present
The scene was most impressive. The
abbey choir was covered with a ricf
hanging of purple velvet The nave
was lined on both sides with orphan
boys from the home founded by Genera
Gordon, an institution in which Tenny
soon took a marked sympathetic interest
The boys wore modified Scotch uniform
and carried themselves with military
precision.
But one survivor of BalaEava was
present as the notice given of tn,
funeral was too recent to render possible
the gathering of the veterans from re
mote parts Of the kingdom.
, A Wreath From the Queen.
I At noon the sun burst out in full
I splendor from the haze which ha,
hitherto partially obscured its rays, an'
the interior Of the abbey was gloriousl,
! illuminated, bringing out all tn
4 beauties of the sculpture and carving
r A moment later Sir Henry Ponsonby, tn
1 Queens private secretary, entered st
+ Faiths chapel and on behalf of he
Majesty placed beautiful wreath upol
the coffin. Sir Henry then proceeded q
the dean of Westminster's stall, wher
$ he sat as representative of the Queen
Q The archbishops of Canterbury and Yorl
d occupied sub deans stalls.
r Wagon Loads of Flowers.
z SO many wreaths and other floral tri
Z 4 butes had been sent to the abbey that
2 was impossible to find room for theI
:, with the coffin. They were placed in tn
y Jerusalem chamber and were found
Z, amount to several wagon loads.
y Only few Of the most choice or al
propriate designs were placed near th