New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-04
WESTMINSTER .fBBEY.

II the offer of Mr. Yates Thompson. already
referred 10 in The Tribune, OF Il large sum 10 in
crease the scpulrhrll accommodation of West
! minister Abbey b" accepted. II will continue Il
work Of construction or addition begun Oh that
site nearly thirteen hundred years ago. II is
! not likely to make any marked change in The
visible proportions of the structure. nor to pro-
vide for all the demands which the future may
yIakc upon il: but II will relieve for the time
being a condition of ovcr-tenancy which has
become oppressive and provide that for thoN"
who deserve Il resting place In ihat temple or
/ memory II shall not be- denied them for want
Of room. No such need would exist If the ven
crabc Minister sheltered only the graves and
monuments that deserve to be- there; but
mingled with its immortal dust Is an earthly
weight which no shrine or Inscription or testi
fying cf,,y can preserve from forgetfulness
II that could be- resolved away by some ritual
OF sOrccry without the scandal Of rcndins the
old graves and tearing down the old cntab
lalures. and sweeping away The frctcl Shrin's
and canOpicS aud affairs which cannot preserve
the memory Of those who lie beneath them.
there would remain room enough for all the
immorralS which the race IS likely To- produce
for another term of centuries
But the dead are cngng tenants. and there
are no statutory ordinances of eviction 10 va
cate their chambers. and II more are 10 come
In new room must be made for them. There is
hardly space left for another mortuary tenant
amid the crowd and press the kings and royal
ties have abandoned It long since; George II is
the last sovereign buried there. and of the
earlier ones, except now and then Il figure like
Elizabeth or Henry of GadShill and Agincourt,
they are mostly as shadowy rs the spectral i'm
ages in the gcncalogcS Of India. or the crowned
and mitrcd rctiuucS which move through The
cpoS Of rirdusi. They represent nothing 10 our
period What gives the Abbey its rcnown and
filings an unfading radiance aud glory upon It's
walls is The memory of the uncrown~l who lie
buried there: the poets and steers and SageS
and patriots and warriors. the worthless of Brit
ain from age 10 age since ihr camor and ravage
Of the Baltic pirate echoed upon its coasts and
the drums and horns OF conquest after conquest
were heard IN its cloistcrs and arcades Of
sanctuary. where, on time, with many an
Other "A fugitive queen sat low on The PUSHES
dcsoatc and dismaycd" in shelter of the refuge
which became her grave. II has not gathered
into its still chambers all the rcnown of Eng
lands past generations. for Shakespeare sleeps
nj Stratford and Byron in Ilucknall Church.
and Burns In the soil from which he sprang
its one deathlcss and unfadng flower. and an
endless line of the high deserving among her
sons are couchcd elsewhere under other cnno
pies and arches. including that universal ole
which lifts itself beyond all dreams Of mans
pride and vainglory and desire of remembrance.
even If it remains accessible 10 his hope.
But enough Is sheltered here TO render it the
most imposing shrine and relquary in the
world venerable and holy 10 the children of
Britain in all ages and lands, and not without
its need Of honor and rcnown among all TIE
civilized races Of mankind. Mr. ThompSons
bcncfaciion will doubtless be accepted and his
name commemorltcd in the manner specified
bv him. though he might have left the matter
of celebration to The gratitude and appreciation
Of those who have the majestic old temple Of
memory In their keeping.