The Lamar register., 1901-02-06
LAST FUNERAL CEREMONIES
OF THE GREATEST OF QUEENS


cleaned the royal arms
Across the pail the royal standard |
was drapcd and II large crown of gold.
encrusl"d with jewels, rested at the |
head of the coffin, which was at the
end OF the gun carriage, just over the
gun.
On the foot of the coffin were two
smaller crowns with Il gold jeweled
sceptef 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-commissioned otti
GERS of the guard and household caval
ry, and on either side were the Queens
equerrics. lords in waiting and physi-
clans. All the uniforms We're covered
with long dark 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 n group
Of magniiicently 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 n person was seen in the
procession.
A black chapeau. with n plume of
white feathers, was on his head. and
n long black cloak was buttoned
around him and hung down over the
big. black horse which lie was riding.
The Kings familiar face seemed grave
and careworn.
He looked straight ahead, apparently
mt the gun 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 blhck-
bonnctcd women. the multitudcs OF un-
covered heads, the purple drnperies
and the green wreaths everywhere, he
| passed like 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
| one of themselves. and the deep muir
| murs which arose here and there car
ried note of sorrow and love almost
| as deep Ms 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 mo-
ment be mistaken. He looked every
| inch n soldier and the commander of
men. Ills imperial majesty glanced
| right and left as he rode and 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,
aud 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 We're they together
|
viduals, prospective rulers of empires,
Kingdoms and principalitics, could not
be distinguished.
| The next section of the procession in
cluded the six royal carriages.
| A far from numerous military es-
cort, including n deputation from the
Queens German dragoon regiment,
composed the last section of the pro-
ccssion.
Ten minutes after the coffin appeared
the funeral procession had passed and
| the music of the dirges drifted Dack
across st. James park.
| For an hour before the arrival of the
procession Paddington station was the
center of striking scenes. There were
assembled there. clad in glittering cos
tunes, the ambassadors. ministers and
representatives of every civilized coun-
try on the globe. Mingled with them
were the highest officers of the crown.
All were engaged in the work prepara-
| tory to the departure for Windsor.
| Among them. conspicuous because or
| the absence of adornment. dressed in
plain black clothing, was the American
ambassador.
King Edward. Queen Alexandra and
| the duke of Connaught stood grouped
| together as the coffin was borne in and
then they all took seats and the train
started for Windsor.
The funeral services Mt Windsor
were conducted in the Prince Albert
memorial chapel, erected by the Queen
| in memory of her dead husband, by the
| Archbishop of Canterbury and the
bishop of Winchester.
An impressive feature was the king
| of-arms' pronouncement Of the titles
of the deceased. Standing before the
altar he went through the old formula.
ending up with God save the King,
delivered SO forcibly and dramatically
that his hearers started. sunk into n
realization of the change of regime