Evening star., 1900-06-30

during the nineteenth century may have
attracted some people. but from the tone
of the conversation and the reverent de-
meanor of the people it was quite evident
that those who waited in the glare of the
sunshine were present to testify their deep
respect for the noble wife of one Of Brit
aims greatest statesmen.
By 1890 the attendance had materially
increased The abbey Itself was crowded
with well-known people of the political and
social word, representatives of the queen
and the Prince of Wales being present. The
service was of a most impressive charac-
ter,its form being as nearly possible SINH
lar to that followed on the occasion of the
funeral of her distinguished husband
whose desire it was that Mrs. Gladstone
should be by his side in their last resting
place.
Only the nave of the abbey was set aside
for the use of the genera! public, and all
the available space was taken up soon
as the doors were open. At l o'clock the
coffin was carried through the cloister to
the northwest door, and was received by
conducted the service. The abbey bell
ceased to sound its monotonous message
of death, and then the stiffness was broken
by the choristers' sweet rendering of the
opening sentences. The music soft at first
became louder and more distinct as the
procession of mourners accompanying the
coffin advanced toward the altar rails, and
the scene was indeed solemn and grand in
its smp icity.
The psalms were chanted to Purcell's
music, and the anthem Their Bodies Rest
in Peace" was followed by the hymn
Rock of Ages sung most impressively
by the whole congregation:
Praise to the Holiest in the Height
was sung the body was borne to the
Voice of Jesus Say was rendered from
Goss' setting
The service concluded by Sir Frederick
Bridge playing the Dead March and
c-I~,
vast congregation quietly departed from
the abbey, leaving the body of the devoted
wife lying beside her beloved husband
1t was all very simple, but grand like
the lives of the two who lie now side by
side in the abbey.
A Great Improvement.
The Central London railway. about which
have written on former occasions is to be
opened by the Prince of Wales on Wednes-
day next. The line introduces perhaps
the greatest improvement the metropolis
has ever seen in it's local means of COM
munication. The line passes underground
through double tunnel between the bank
and Shepherds Bush-a distance of about
six miles-and will at once enormously re-
lieve the crowding of passenger traffic
along the chief metropolitan highway-that
namely formed by Cheapside, Holborn and
Oxford street. The rails run at an aver
age depth of eighty feet below the road
way. and at the Mansion House they are
associated with splendid subways. enabling
pedestrians to negotiate the very difficult
crossings here without eneountering the
dangers and delays of the street traffic.
Electric propulsion is to be employed. It
is proposed to run over 300 trains per day.
each accommodating :sdO passengers, and
fares will be almost absurdly low. The
rolling stock, including the engines. and
most of the electric appliances, come from
the United States. shorter underground
electric railway has existed for some years
urbs and the new line crosses at Oxford
Circus yet another that L. being construct
ed between Waterloo and Baker street.
with a station in Trafalgar Square, so that
soon London will be nearly as well served
with means of getting about quickly as
New York.
Apropos of what wrote recently about
women finding new profe ;sions in this conn
try, as we'll as in America, may mention
another Forthcoming in this direction.
Fills n Long Felt Want. .
have just had a chat with a lady whose
profession is interesting and apparently
lucrative. Just now she is very busy. She
undertakes to find houses, rooms, flats,
house boats, shooting boxes-in fact. every
kind of pied terre for the jaded Londoner
to fly to after the fatigues OF the summer in
town. Il have Just been for three days
near Henley she said. fitting out a bun
salow for Lady -. / found what l
thought suitable place-several, in fact
they We're inspected: one was selected and
1 have just installed the servants. after
seeing to the furnishing. the garden. the hir-
ing of a trap and the purchasing of house
dog" Lady - will go down on Monday.
will be met at the station by the pony cart,
and will find charming summer residence
ready to her hand. This lady also ar
ranges Outings" a smaller scale. She
is off to Yorkshire on Monday to take rooms
for a party of four high school mstresses.
They have modest needs-life on farm
milk, eggs, butter, bed room apiece and
common sitting room. For busy people
such help as Miss - supplies is invaluable
and is certainly worth the outlay. Il am
arranging bicycle tour for two ladies in
Britanny," she said. '"They have told me
the route they would like, length of time
they want to be out. and l am taking
rooms at the inns. etc This is done by
correspondence in this case, and as 1 hap
pen to know every yard of the route it IS
comparatively easy" While I was talking
a letter arrived asking for a tour in Switz-
erand to be arranged for two girls and
their brothers-length of tour, so much;
cost so much-and 1 left Miss - deep in
calculation and time tables.
L. H MOORE.