New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-12
'VTHE EARL MARSHAL"
D,,r1rs AND PERSONALITY OF THIS
cri>,D D1cNYYARY OF THE BRITISH
REALM, WHO HAD CHARGE OF
CLApsTONE's STATE FUNERAL.


with the Obseauies Of Gladstone was that which
took place on the arrival OF the bo2y OF the
rlustrous statesman In London from liawarden.
when II was officially surrendered by his
two sons Herbert and Henry. on hchaf OF
the Gladstone family, TO the Earl Marshal as
representative Of the British nation. the traiis-
fer took place at = o'clock In the morning IN the
dirnly lighted underground railroad station au
Joining the Palace Of Westminster, with when !"
is connected by a subterranean passage. AS the
ordinary passenger traffic had ceased for the
night there were strangers present. AS
soon as the coffin had been removed from the
railroad car il was placed on the platform OF
the station and the lid was unscrewed, II being
the duty of the Earl Marshal to assure himself
that the body which was about TO lie In state In
Westminster Hall. to receive the rare honor or
a national funeral and then TO be entombed in
the Abbey of Westminster was really that or
the Grand Old Man. The Earl Marshal. VINO
was attended by the various kinss-a arms
heralds and pursuivants arrayed not IN their
gold embroidered tabards but merely in black
frock coats and ordinary high silk hats, there
upon satisfied himself ~ the identity OF the
body and. being the last person in the world to
gaze upon the noble features Of the most emf
nent OF all the Premiers Of Queen Victoria s
reign. caused the lid Of the coffin to be screwed
down again and sealed with the national arms
of the Kingdom.
Inasmuch as a good deal OF curiosity has been
expressed not only In this country. but even in
England itself as TO the title OF Earl Marshal,
a dignitary who is seldom heard OF save In con-
nection with some great state function such as
the one which has just taken place in West
minister Abbey IL may be as well TO explain that
the office Of Earl Marshal is one OF the most an
cient and grandest that have survived the disap-
pcarance Of feudalism. In the days OF the Nor
man and Plan,agenet kings the three principal
Gienitaries Of the realm were the Lord High
Chancellor the Lord High Constable and the
Earl Marshal. The office Of Lord High Constable
abolished in the reign OF Queen Elizabeth,
since which tine no Constable has been ap-
pointed, save for one day only 10 attend at cor
Cnations. 1t was the great Duke Of Wellington
who officiated Lord High Constable at the
coronation OF Queen Victoria and who. as such.
bore before her the great Sword Of State
In olden times the Earl Marshal enjoyed the
superintendent Of tournaments jousts and
trials by combat. Moreover as President OF the
Court of Chivalry, title which he still retains.
he regarded as chief arbter and judge In all
questions of honor OF his former duties and pre-
negatives he today retains that OF making the
public proclamations Of war and peace as well as
of the accession and death OF the sovereign. Be
sides this he - in conjunction with his stan OF
kings arms. heralds and pursuivan.s respon-
sbe for the granting Of armorial bearings. az
well as for the arrangement and conduct Of all
great state functions. such as. for instance cor
onations. national funerals state interviews be-
tween foreign sovereigns. and, In fact Of all
Grand ceremonies that partake more Of a ma
tonal than Of n mere court character
PREMIER PEER OF GREAT BRITAIN
The first English noble TO bear the title Of Earl
Marshal was Thomas Earl Of Norfolk eldest son
Of King Edward by his second marriage King
Richard III created his descendant Sir John
Howard both Duke Of Norfolk and Earl Mar
shall about the time Of the discovery Of Amer
lea by Columbus. King Henry VIII as Duke Of
York, filled the Office OF Earl Marshal until his
accession to the throne. being the twenty ninth
holder Of the Office. But it was not until the
reign Of King Charles ii that the dignity was
made hereditary in the family Of Henry Howard
the sixth Earl of Norfolk
The present Duke Of Norfolk is the y-ninth
Earl Marshal OF England. besides being the
Premier Duke. the Premier Earl and the
Premier Peer 81 the realm, and az such ranking
Immediately after the princes OF the blood royal
In spite Of all these dignities, the present Duke
Of Norfolk is the most modest. quiet and unas-
Stunning of men. Slight in stature and below
rather than above middle height with a rather
vnkempt beard. bushy black hair, and weighing
probably about one hundred and forty pounds
at the very most. he Is just about the last per-
in the world whom a stranger would set
down as being the recognized head Of all that is