The Bemidji pioneer., 1901-01-31

Wis Most Rcspec,ex of All
Women.
Cowes, Isle OF Wight, Jan. %. Queen
Victoria is dead and Edward VII.
reigns.
The greatest event in the memory of
this generation, the most stupendous
change in existing conditions that
could possibly be imagined has taken
place quietly, almost gently, upon the
anniversary Of the death of Queen
Victoria's father, the duke of Kent.
/ The end OF this career, never eaualled
by any woman in the worlds history,
came in q simply-furnished room in Os-
borne house. This most respected Of
all women, living or dead. lay in a
great four-posted bed and made a
skrunken atom whose aged face and
figure were a cruel nockery Of the fair
girl who in 1897 began to rule over
England. Around her were gathered
almost every descendant of her line.
Well
within View of Her Dying Eyes
there hung portrait Of the prince
consort. 1T was he who designed the
room and every part OF the castle. In
scarcely audible words the white haired
bishop Of Winchester prayed beside her
as he had often prayed with his SOW
ereign, for he was her chaplain at
Windsor. With bowed heads the inn
perious ruler Of the German empire
and the man who is now king of Eng
land, the woman who has succeeded to
the title of queen, the princes and
princesses and those of less than royal
designation listened to the bishops
ceaseless prayer Six o'clock passed
The bishop continued his intercession.
One of the younger children asked q
question in shrill, childish treble and
was Immediately silenced. The women
Of the royal family sobbed family and
the men shuffied uneasily.
At exactly $50 Sir James Reid held
up his hand and the people in the room
knew that England
Had Lost Her Queen.
The bishop pronounced the benediction.
The queen passed away quite peaceful
ly She suffered no pain. Those who
were now mourners left the room. a
little of materialism stepped into the
pathetic chamber, for the court ladies'
went busily to work ordering their
mourning from London. The wheels OF
the world We're Jared when the an
nouncement came, but in this palace at
Osborne everything pursued the usual
course. Down in the kitchen they were
cooking huge dinner for an assem-
bIage, the like Of which has seldom
been known in England and the dinner
preparations proceeded just as il Moth
ing had happened.
The body of Queen Victoria was en-
balmed and will probably be taken to
Windsor Saturday The coffin arrived
last evening from London.
We're Hastily Summoned.
It was thought that the queen was
dying earlier in the afternoon and car
riages We're sent to Osborne cottage
and the rectory to bring all the princes
and princesses and the bishop of Win
chester to her bedside. 1t seemed then
very near the end, but when things
looked the worst the queen had one Of
the rallies due to her wonderful con-
stitution, opened her eyes and recog-
nized the prince OF Wales, the princess
and Emperor william. She asked to
see one of her faithful servants, a
member OF the household. He FASTENED
to the room but before he got there
the queen had passed into q fitful sleep.
Four o'clock marked the beginning
of the end. Again the family We're
summoned. and this time the relapse
was not followed by recovery. The
prince of Wales
WAS Very Much Affected
when the doctors at last informed him
that his mother had breathed her last
Emperor William, himself deeply af-
fected. did his best to minister COM
fort to his sorrow-stricken uncle. whose
new dignity he was the first to ac-
From all parts there are still pouring
into Cowes messages of coincidence.
They come from crowned heads, mill
lionaires, tradesmen and paupers, and
are variously addressed to the prince
of Wales and the king of England.
Emperor Williams arrangements are
not settled. His yacht will arrive to-
day, but it is believed he will not de-
part until after the funeral. Several
other royal personages arc likely to be
present at the function, which will
probably be a ceremony never to be
equalled in this century.
The record of the last days of the
reign of Victoria is not easy to tell.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press was the only correspondent adj
mitted to Osborne. and HIS interview
with Sir Arthur Jordan Rigg. private
secretary to the queen, was
The Only Official Version
that has been given out. For several
weeks the queen had been failing. On
week she summoned Lord Rob-
erts and asked him some very search
ing questions regarding the war in
South Africa. On Tuesday she went
for drive, but was seriously affected.
On Wednesday she suffered a naralytic
stroke, accompanied by intense phys
icai weakness. 1t was her first Illness
In all her eighty-one years and she
would not admit It. Then her condition
grew so serious that, against her
wishes. the family was summoned,
When they arrived her reason had |
succumhed to paralysis and