The Portland daily press., 1901-02-04
The Funeral Pageant in London
Saturday.
Spectacle One Never To
Be Forgotten.
Kings and Princes of Europe
Follow Queens Body.

London, February at has been
great reign" spoke Mr.. Balfour in his
eulozy tefore the House Of Commons,
land It has a happy ending"
All London and Thousands from re-
motest villages OF the kingdom paid their
final homage to the Queen today in her
capital; and afsursdly as Mr.. Balfour
said, the end of her reign which is now
passed into history, was happy.
Deep solsmnity rIlsd all hearts. There
was reminiscent grlef--the fesling that
one OF the empires great institutions
was missing, but no snch sorrow as
surrounded the collins OF Lincoln and
Garnsld, cut oil before their work was
done.
Exery one felt the inevitable death
had dsalt kindly with their sovereign;
that her passing had teen as happy as Ter
life useful.
All business ceased, even the drinking
houses closing their doors during the
day. The newspapers suspended publica-
tion, aud life In London, like the rest OF
ths empire, turns1 from Its customary
channels ana was focused upon thres
milsa OF WeJt End Streets, where the
eotiin containing the body which was
now merely a symbol Of Victoria's self
whom often before Lond oners had
chesred, assembled as they were today,
but on occasion OF rejoicing.
The popular mourning was lass general
and ostsntatiOus than it wonld have
been In the United States. The multi
haI
whols ceremonial, including the mass
ing of $1,000 troops and the entertain
ment of all the visiting personages, was
an admirabls exampls Of organization.
The King aud Queen in special au
dience granted Ambassador Choate and
Secretary of Embassy white, after the
conclusion OF the services at Windsor,
expressed themselves as profoundly
touched by the manifestations of sympa-
thy In America,
Already the political phases of this
occasion are being discussed. The re-
markAbls prsdo ninAnce or Germans and
German influence is noteworthy. En-
peror William s officers, sol1iers and sail
crs were more conspicuous In all the cere-
Inenies than were thoss OF all the other
nations together. This has had the effect
of popularizing Germany with the people,
who recently regarded her at their most
menaoing enemy.
Tonight the Queens body lies in the
Albert chapel at Windsor, guarded faith
fully, waiting the last rites. Within the
castle is brilliantly lighted. Three kings
and heads Of principaIities with special
represen tatives, left Windsor after lunch
ing at ths castle.
1t was at Windsor that the only bitches
in the elaborate programme Of the day
occurred, and these added to rather than
detrsctsd from the dramatic and pa
snetic Interest. Inc first ana most strik
ing was the utter intraotabillty OF the
horses attached to the gun carriage bear
inx the coffin. The alarm and ehagrin
OF the King and Emperor who had hur-
rled up TO ascertain the cause OF delay in
tie procession, leaving windsor station,
was ratsnt upon their oounteanOes. The
horses struggled In their traces and tn
coffin was almost thrown from the gun
carriage.
Lord Roberts asked the King for per-
mission to take out the horses and sub
stitute for them 'jackies," who had
come up from Portsmouth as guard Of
honor.
This suggestion was quickly sanctioned
ana the last time Victoria body was
borns before her SUBJECTS, 1t was by her
royal handmen who at an opportune
moment saved the situation.
The other hitch occurred daring this
religious part OF the ceremony. Ihs
trembling yoics OF the Archbishop OF
who 10 almost blind had
scarcely endei the fnal benedicsion be- |
fore he turned to 80 up the altar st ps. |
His sight and strength failed him and |
he tottered, CROPPED ana was on the point |
OF falling when the Archbishop Of York, |
WI ho had been standing come distance |
behind him, advAncsd and caught his |
hand and gently led this venerable rre- |
late to the holy table Then they both |
knelt, the greatest dignitaries of Eng
lands church, next in rank to the royal |
blood, their heads flowed upon the purnle |
altar cloth.
While the Archbishop prayed and the
bishops and clergy Ieverently kept their
knees, the King and Emperor William
followed by three other kings, walked
almost hurrle1ly up to the altar rails and /
out into the castle by a private exit.
Their gorgeous suits followed mechanical
ly and kaleidoscope Of cdlor ana royal
ty srrged mp the chancel. Against this
hurrying throng, the coiiin. and kneeling |
figures within the holy enclosure stood
out In contrast. still the Archbishop
prayed and still the gaAly eaprisonsd
princes sought an outlet by which they
might gain the Waterloo chamber in
which the long delayed luncheon was
laid. Almost touching the coffin, they