Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-06-01
GLADSTONE RESTS.
All London Joins in Paying Tribute
to England's Greatest
Statesman.

London, May 2S.-With simple but i'm
pressive ceremonies the mortal remains
Of William Ewart Gladstone, Englands
Grand Old Man." were today laid to
rest in the statesmen's corner of West
minister abbey. Admission to the abbey
was strictly by card, but lines three deep
of metropolitan police were unable to re-
strain the masses from crowding up to
the very doors of the historic edifice, and
there was something especially affecting
IN the intended quietness of the last tok-
EMS of respect paid to the deceased, and
the widespread sympathy which convert
er a simple ceremony into an imposing
public function.
Inside the abbey all ranks and condi-
tions of society were represented, the
humble employees and tenants from Ha-
warden rubbing shoulders with the men
Of eminence who represented the govern
ment, the houses Of Parliament and for
eign courts.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, the
Duke of Portland, Lord Salisbury, Ar
thur Balfour, Joseph Chamberlain, the
Earl of Rosebery and Sir William Yer
non HarcOurt, the ambassadors of the
United States, France Russia, Germany
and Austria and the ministers of Italy,
Denmark and the Netherlands were
among those occupying places inside the
chancel rail, while the nave was literally
packed with eminent representatives of
the church, literature, science and art.
The principal mourners were gathered
about the coffin. These included Mrs.
Gladstone, supported on the arm of her
son, the Rev. Stephen Gladstone, Herbert
Gladstone and Mrs. Drew. the daughter
IF the deceased. In spite Of the fact that
the sending of wreaths and flowers had
been depreca ted, the coffin was almost
hidden beneath 4 mass of beautiful floral
offerings.
Shortly before the commencement of
the funeral services Gen. Henry l..
Gardiner, the Queens equerry, stepped
forward and placed on the coffin the
beautiful wreath of white and yellow
flowers which had been sent by the
Queen. Attached to it was a sheet of
black-edged note paper, bearing the in
scrlptlon, "A mark of respect from Vic
torla, K. |. Among the the pallbearers
were the Prince of Wales, Arthur Bal
four and the Earl of Rosebery.
The bishop OF London was present. but
the service was conducted chiefly by Dean
Bradley. assisted by the sub-dean of
Westminster and the precentor. First q
psalm was chanted, next the dean read
the appointed lesson, and there followed
new anthem especially composed for the
occasion. The entire effect was eminently
plaintive and beautiful and all of those
present were yisibly affected.
The coffin, which is of dark highly
polished wood. was then lowered into the
grave, which is located close by the
graves of Pitt, Chatham and Palmerston.
Meanwhile the whole assembage joined
the choir in singing q hymn. the benedic-
ton was pronounced. and to the solemn
strains of the dead march the ceremony
came to an end.
His grave is beside that of his lifelong
adversary, Benjamin Disraeli Lord Bea-
consfeld), whose marble effigy looks
down upon it decked with the regalia
which Gladstone had refused. Two pos
sible future kings of Great Britain
walked beside the great commoner's cof-
fin and all the nobility and learning of
the state surrounded it, though the wish
Of the deceased had been for simplicity.