The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-31

chester standing before an altar re-
moved for the occasion from the private
chapel, will read a portion of the SER
vice for the dead. The coffin rests on a
specially erected platform draped with
royal purple, the feet lying to the east.
The head faces the simple altar. Over
the features is thin veil. For a few
hours before this service the public will
be admitted to the room and allowed
to view the remains of the sovereign
who. for so long ruled over them. The
body will rest there until Saturday and
lit is probable that no removal will oc-
cur for ten days.
Queen Victorias body was embalmed
last evening and occupies the center of
the dining room, which is hung with
Itrappings of mourning. Outside two
officers are on guard within two Indl-
an attendants remain in company with
the ladies in waiting, who are constant
ly present. The body is attired in
black. The face is perfectly peaceful
and the remains have been placed with
the arms folded. On the breast rests
beautiful gold cross. The head is in
|clined slightly to the right. All about
repose quantities of beautiful flowers.
the Queen was conferred on her per-
sonal retinue, and such simple and
pathetic scene as marked this afternoon
could hardly have occurred in any
other monarchy All the servants and
tenants were admitted. The footmen
housemaids, coachmen, stable lads and
policemen, filed through the room for
four hours There were no formalities.
1T o,1I 60 iac
who had grown up on the estate an
who regarded Queen Victoria as
friend and patron rather than sover-
eign took their turn, and their grief
was the sorrow of those who had lost a
friend.
DEATH FROM SENILE DECAY.
The correspondent learns that the
cause of the Queens death as officially
given was ''senile decay" The doctors
have adopted this expression as most
suitable and truthful. They attribute
the paralysis which attacked her as
secondary to the general weakness of
her condition, nor is it considered adj
visable, for reasons of state, to init
mate that her intellect was dimmed
from that particular form of the dis
ease.
Details of the dying hours were not
obtainable until last evening. 1t ap-
pears that the Queen was moved on
Sunday from her bed into a small cot
especially built with springs, which was
surrounded by screen. This was to
enable the doctors to reach the patient
easily on both sides which was i'm
possible when she lay in a bed six feet
wide In this small bed she passed
away.
When Emperor William arrived he
rushed in, without taking off his over
coat, to her bedside. and the first words
he said were words of regret that his
mother was unable to come.
Yes" murmured the Queen, IT wish
'yicky' could be here" using a pet
name of her eldest daughter.
On Tuesday afternoon all the family
were in readiness for the end. At 4
o'clock the Prince of Wales was sum-
moned Half an hour later he was
joined by the other members of the
family At o'clock the Duchess of
saying, IT am glad you have come"
AMERICAN SYMPATHY FIRST.
The Bishop of Winchester began to
pray. The Queen slowly sank into I'M
consciousness. At 6:15 the end was
thought to have come The Prince of
Wales and several others walked out
of the room. But the vitality of the
Queen once more won the day. For an
other fifteen minutes, with only the
Princess of Wales and few others
present, the feeble spark of life was
maintained. At $50, with Emperor
William, the Prince and the others
present, death actually came.
Death has softened the face and the
! thin veil conceals no terrible defects.
The hand of the mighty leveler dealt
with her lovingly, and, as the last Wis
itation of nature has been mercifully
mitigated, so also have been the pomp
and glory which accompany the success
sion of the King. Tuesday night neither
he nor his wife would allow their en-
tourage to address them by their cor
rect titles.
Messages of coincidence do not cease
to pour in from all quarters of the
globe. President McKinley's early ca
blegram created a most satisfactory
impression 1t was handed around
among the royal personages at break
fast yesterday morning. with the gem
eral comment that American sympa-
thy was fifty the first to be received