The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-13
TENNYSOA'S FUNERAL.
Last Tributes of Respect to Eng
lands Poet Laureate.
AT REST IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.

The fast Poem of the Dead Verse
Writer, Set to Music by Mrs.
Tennyson, Sung by the Choir-A
Distinguished AssembIage Present.
LONDON, Oct. 13.-The assemblage in
Westminster Abbey yesterday at the
funeral of Sir Alfred Tennyson was a
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, the Duke of Edinburgh by his
private secretary, Hon. William James
Colville, the Duke of York, heir pre-
sumptive, by Sir Francis Winton, and
the British government by Hon. H. II.
Asquith, the home secretary. Walter
Besant and many other other prominent
men of letters were present.
Among the most noticeable floral gifts
was wreath sent by Mrs. Gladstone on
behalf of husband and herself. This was
composed of sweet smelling leaves from
the Gladstone gardens at Hawarden, and
was made by Mrs. Gladstone's own
hands.
The queen sent wreath composed Of
laurel leaves tied with broad bow of
white silk ribbon. A card was attached
to the wreath on which, in the queens
own handwriting, were the words: "A
mark Of sincere regard and admiration
from Victoria r. l."
The Pail Bearers.
The coffin was borne on the shoulders
of stalwart men, while the pail bearers,
Mr.. Henry White, secretary of the
American legation; Lord Salisbury, the
very Rev. Henry Montagu Butler, Sir
james Paget, Lord Rosebery and Pro-
fessor F'roude marched on either side,
their fingers just touching the Union
Jack with which the coffin was covered.
The chief mourners followed, headed
by Lady Tennyson and Hallam Tenny-
son, Mrs. Hallam Tennyson, Mrs. Biz
rell, Lionel Tennyson's widow and the
grandchildren OF the dead poet followed
in the order named.
AS the procession moved the deep
toned abbey bell began to toll. When the
procession reached the main door of the
abbey it was received by the dean, the
Very Rev. George Granville Bradley,
Canon Duckworth, Canon Farar and
other members of the clergy.
When the coffin was placed on the rest
just below the altar Canon Duckworth
opened the service for the dead, after
which the choir chanted the nineteenth
psalm.
The lesson of the day was read and the
choir sang Crossing the Bar" Tenny-
sons death poem, which had been set to
music by John Frederick Bridge, or
ganist Of Westminster Abbey.
Tennyson's Last Poem.
Then the choir sang the latest poem
1,Hy ard dill
Voices" the music of which was com
posed by Lady Tennyson. The poem
consists of only ten lines, as follows:
When the dumb hour clothed in black
Brings the dreams about my bed,
Call me not so often back.
Silent voices of the dead, .
Toward the lowland ways behind me,
And tho sunlight that is gone.
Call me farther, silent voices, ...
Forward to the starry track,
Glimmering up the heighths beyond me,
On and always on. ..
Lord Tennyson dictated this poem to
his wife only ten days ago.
After this singing was finished the cof-
fin was relifted and, followed by the
choir, the procession moved to the Poets
Corner, where the pavement had been
raised next the grave of Browning.
The grave was lined with purple and
white cloth. By its side the choral parts
of the service were sung. The remain
der of the service, the committal to the
grave, the prayer and collect, were said
by the dean. Then the hymn, "Holy,
Holy, Lord God Almighty" was sung
and the benediction was pronounced by
the archbishop of Canterbury.