, 1901-02-07
LAST FUNERAL CEREMONIES
OF THE GREATEST OF QUEENS

white satin, on the corners CT which
CLEANED the royal arms.
Across the pail the royal standard
was draped and IA large crown of gold,
encrusted with jewels, rested at the
head of the coffin. which was at the
end of the gun carriage, just over the
CUR.
On the foot of the coffin were two
smaller crowns with Il gold jeweled
scepter lying between them. The eight
horses which drew the gun carriage
were almost concealed beneath their
rich harnesses. A large bow of purple
was attached to the coffin. This was
the only symbol of mourning.
Around the coffin walked the stall
wart bearers. non-comnissioned Off
GERS of the guard and household caval-
ry, and on either side We're the Queens
equerries, lords in waiting and physi-
clans. All the uniforms were covered
with long lark cloaks.
The spectacle was so quickly past
that the spectators hardly realized it
or had time to bare their heads, or
comprehend the details when a group
of magniticently attired horsemen, with
sparkling helmets and coats, mounted
on beautiful chargers. was before them.
Immediately after the company about
the coffin three royal mourners rode
abreast. King Edward VII. was the
central figure of the three, but no less
ostentatious a person was seen in the
procession.
A black chapeau, with a plume of
white feathers. was On his head. and
Il long black cloak was buttoned
around him and hung down over the
big, black horse which he was riding.
| Tho I-f.Nrs, ia, tar f,-. ,,r.A .r,... az.
and
He looked straight ahead. apparently
at the IL carriage on which was the
body of the sovereign, whose glory and
responsibilities he had inherited. He
did not see, or gave no sign of seeing.
the long ranks of soldiers hedging back
the populace about him.
The windows crowded with black
bonneted women, the multitudes of I'M
covered heads, the purple draperies
and the green wreaths everywhere, he
passed like n man alone. who looked
like he cared not for the world about
him and the sentiment his presence in
spired was only sympathy and pity.
The people seemed to see in the King
IL of themselves, and the deep muir
murs which arose here and there car
ried a note of sorrow IL love almost
as deep as the expressions which greet
ed the passage of the coffin of their
Queen.
Beside King Edward rode Emperor
William, his nephew and %neighbor.
The unique. commanding figure of the
German emperor could not for a mo-
ment be mistaken. He looked every
inch n soldier and the commander of
men. His imperial majesty glanced
right and left as he rode inc his hand
was frequently raised to the red and
white feathers hanging over his hat,
as he responded TO salutes. Emperor
William also wore n black cloak over
his British field marshars uniform,
and the splendid white charger be-
meath him pranced up and down, CIV
ing his majesty an opportunity to dis
play fine horsemanship.
On the kings left rode his brother,
the duke of Connaught, n man Of sol
dierly appearance, almost unnoticed
and unrecognized by the people.
In the second rank. behind. rode two
more sovereigns, the kings of Greece
and Portugal, both glittering with
gold lace.
There followed n dazzling array of
members of royal families, numbering
about forty in all. and riding three
abreast. So close were they together
hiiu ~ iui'hiN wv my l""' 'hh' h''i
viduals. prospective rulers of empires,
kingdoms and p~rincipalities, could not
be distinguished.
The next section of the procession in
cluded the six royal carriages.
A far from numerous military es-
cort, including a deputation from the
Queens German dragoon regiment,
composed Ii last section of the pro-
cession.
Ten minutes after the coffin appeared
the funera procession had passed and
the music of the dirges drifted back
across st. James park.
For an hour before the arrival of the
procession Paddington station was the
center of striking scenes There We're
assembled there, clad in glittering COS
tunes. the ambassadors, ministers and
representatives of every civilized
try on the globe. Mingled with them