Evening journal., 1898-07-07
oDD ENcrIsH FTrNrRArs

II is computed that in and around
Westminster Abbey not less than 3 1000
bodies are buried. The long line Of
funerals. stretching back right away to
that of Edward the Confessor, more
than eight centuries ago, affords many
striking scene and many startling
incidents. some of them
throwing a strong and interesting light
on the thoughts and feelings and man
ners OF the past Whatever else may
or may not be predicted concerning the
ceremonial Of Saturday next, It Is safe
TO assume that within the abbey at
least everything will be conducted with
the greatest decorum and order. A fu-
neral that took place here rather more
than a hundred years ago presented
very different state OF things, and was
attended by an accident that was not
only Of a startling and serious charac-
ter, but, II the chroniclers OF the time
may be relied upon, afforded inciden-
tally a curiously callous condition OF
public feeling impressively contrasting
with what would be shown under SINH
lar circumstances In the present day.
1t was the funeral of Elizabeth Percy,
the first duchess of Northumberland.
woman well-known for her charity
and for her patronage OF literature.
She had earnestly requested that her
funeral might be as private as her rank
would admit The people came into
the abbey In such numbers, however.
that the authorities seem to have been
quite overwhelmed, and the clergy and
choir could with only the greatest diff
Guilty make their way from the west
door to St. Nicholas Chapel where
the interment was to take place A
number Of men and boys had Chamber
ed on to the top Of the screen OF st
Edmund's Chapel and the canopy over
the tomb OF John OF Eltham. and as
the funeral procession went ny down
came screen and canopy upon the peo-
pie below. A scene OF indescribable
confusion followed. At that time greatI
personages were always buried by
torchlight, and this funeral seems to'
have taken place at 10 o'clock at night.
The procession was broken up, the SER
vice suspended, the coffin left amid this
ruins of the screen, and the dean OF
tho abbey umorously cleared out OF
tho alarming scene and did not venture
out TO continue the service until after
midnight. In the Annual Register OF
that date the amazing statement Is
made that the ceremony was com
pleted, "amid cries OF Murder raised
by such OF the sufferers as had not
been removed'-two hours and more
after the accident had happened.
Only a few years or so before this
in the Summer Of 1764, that is-an-
other scene even more extraordinary in
its character broke the solemn peace
OF the sacred building. It was at the
funeral OF the aged Poulteney. The
vault lay near the tomb OF Edward j,
over which hung a massive canopy OF
wood On this royal tomb number OF
gentlemen had taken their stand to wit
ness the funeral, when there was a
tgreat thrush OF the crowd toward the
Confessors Chapel, and In a moment OF
unaccountable panic swords We're
drawn, and some Of the gentlemen on
Edwards tomb tore down the rafters
Of the canopy to beat back the mob.
81 Stood" said one who was present,
with many others on the top OF the
tomb. A dreadful conflict en-
sued. Darkness soon closed the scene
This funeral also was at might, and the
darkness must have been due to the
gradual extinction OF the torches and
candles, the weird glare of which must
have added to the terrible impressive
ness of the scene.
OF interrupted funerals In the abbey,
the most remarkable surely must have
been that OF Dryden, 10 the story
quoted-yery dubiously. It is true-by
DIR. johnson in his lives Of the poets
is not a very extraordinary invention.
When Dean Sprat heard of Drydens
death, he sent to the family to say
that he would give a freehold grave
and would forego all fees, and Lord
Halifax offered to pay all expenses OF
the funeral and give $500 for a monu-
ment. This was gladly accepted, and
when the appointed night came the
dean had the abbey lighted up. The
grave opened, the choir at
tending, an anthem ready set
and himself waiting some time
without corpse to bury"
According to the story, the funeral cor
tege had actually been formed, the body
placed In velvet hearse," and eigh-
teen carriages well filed with funeral
guests when the son Of Lord Jeffreys
chanced to come by, expressed his in
dignation that so great a man should
al