New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-24
iBY CABLE TO TIE TRIBUNE

Jondon Jan est has been a week which
few people in London | imagine, would care to
have over again. Not a few have expressed their
opinion of it by not living. The death roll is
nearly or quite without precedent The depres-
sion among the survivors is altogether uncXampcd.
The influenza and grief for the Duke OF Clarence
contributed each its share 10 the general gloom.
II is singular instance of the force of human
sympathy that a whole Nation has been far less
affected by It's sufcrngs and apprehensions
than by the death of an amablc young man whom
few of them knew by sight 1t is not too much
20 say that the public attention in England has
been almost completely engrosscd by mourning for
him who was heir to the Crown II you look
TO the press as measure of interest. You will find
IL given up largely to descriptions of the proceed
ings in connection with the Dukes death and
funeral, and comment upon them. Cardinal
Manning has share Of space bat he is eclipsed
In death if not in life his astutenrss forsook him
lie chose the wrong moment for departure
The Duke died last week Thursday. The
funeral did not take place till this week on
Wednesday. This long delay NAV have been neces-
sary to enable the Court officials to arrange a
suitable ceremony. The effect of ii surpassed all
ceremony. 1t was dangerous test to apply to
public feeling Few are the occasions on which
community will consent long TO suspend to
interrupt its ordinary life in Difference to the dc
mands of grief This proved to he one Business
continued during this interval, after fashion, but
few other occupations of ordinary times. Theatres
were open after Thursday, but played to more
than half empty benches. All private entertain
ments were abandoned Day after day the papers
published messages of coincidence from all over the
world public and private. IL was remarked that
fewer came from the United States than from
elsewhere. There the obligatory official mes
sage from the President, and another from the
Secretary of State. and some mention, said one
dispatch, of the Dukes death by the chaplain in
PRAYER to the House of Representatives az Wash
ington Beyond this, nothing; except general
declaration of regret, coupled rather curiously
with the statement that the American press showed
great interest in Prince George. No one here
doubts that the American people really synpathized
with the Queen and her family in their
But this is all which il was thought necessary 10
cable about American feeling.
The funeral procession. with the body Of the
late Duke of Clarence, set cat from Sandrineham
and ended al Windsor. Tic arrangements
quiet, in obedience to ~ ruccns wish. Her
Majesty. who has spenU 50 much OF her life in
mourning has a dislike to funeral display. There
was therefore a stern simplicity both at Sandring-
ham and at Windsor 1t was a military burial,
with that added touch OF royal state without
which he who would have been King of England
could not go TO his grave. English Princes at
tended him TO his last Tcposo in 81. Georges
Charel, and with them the representatives. Of the
Dukes royal kin abroad, and many great per-
sOnages Of this realm, none without invitation.
The Prince OF Wales made this last journey with
his son from his Norfolk home to his resting place.
lie stood by tAc bier, pale. composed, rcsoluie
and heartbroken Prince George came with him,
it was thought, somewhat rashy. The scene in
the chapel was solemn and impressive. but not
magnificent, for magntcence was avoided. Per
haps, after all, it was more impressive because
mere paccantry dispensed with 1herH was
a touch of irony in tie recital of TIE dead Princes
titles and dignities by Garter King-at-Arms after
dust had been committed TO dust.
The real spectacle was London. Not in onr
time has the capital of this Empire been seen as
il was seen on Wednesday The trJfic OF the
streets went Oh, but hardly anything else went
on. The City itself closed ito exchanges and It's
warehouses, though not the banks, which could not
legally Shut their doors Elsewhere few shops
were open: none Of the best. Bells were tollinS,
and there emblems of mourning everywhere
and in other cities the SAM. The whole popula-
tion in black There were memorial services
at ST. Pauls and at Westminster Abbey. and in
many another church in England, and the Con
were no orders. except the Lord Chambcrlans
notice which binds nobody What made the dis
play of feeling remarkable the evident fact
that it was spontaneous Nation and Empire
went into mourning of their own accord as u
testimony Of their loyal affection 10 those VINO
reign over them. Their sorrow for lost prince
too sincere for cavil. Their sympathy with
the survivors of his family and with his betrothed
was deeper still
There had been proposal for funeral pro-
cessiOn through London. IL was abandoned, say
those in authority lest the troops might take
cold The troops would have had to keep the streets
on the line of march. The season is bitter, the
influenza rife and the medical advisers Of the
army were against exposure of soldiers 70 these
perils IL would bc impossible to praise too
highly the tender solcitude of the commanders
Of Her Majesty's fore IS for the health OF those
under them How much greater it is than, fer
example, was that OF the officers who allowed
900 Veterans to endure the inclemency OF the
weather from early morning till dark on that
day in February when Sherman was buried N"r
were the Germans more cOnslderate than we "heh
they suffered their regiments to parade Iof Che
funeral Of their great Emperor three years ago
in March, with the mercury not far from zero.
1t has been said by critics of the English army
that it was kept for purposes of parade. 1t can
not be said again Even the hardships OF parade
are not TO be incurred
The English are practical people, and 'heir
sympathy with Princess May seems likely 10 taNe
a practical form. Last weeks Suggestions apou'
handed over to her the sums suDscrlDed ior
wedding presents Grade and hurried. Ihey
have been taken up this week in more con-
sideTatc spirit. The Lord Mayor has suggested
representative meeting to consider the various
plans The leading journal approves. fails 10
see any valid objection to a money gift, and
declares that it would bc unworthy Of the country