Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-22
UNIVERSAL SORROW
Expressions of Sympathy at the En-
bassies and Legations.
CARDS At BRITISH AMBASSADORS
Not Yet Known What Action Will
Be Taken Here,
LORD PAUNCEFOTE'S GRIEF

The announcement of the death of Queen
Victoria was received with universal sor-
row at the many foreign embassies and
legations in Washington, and nowhere was
the sentiment of bereavement more directly
or poignantly felt than at the British en-
bassy.
Lord Pauncefote had expected that the
end could not be long deferred and mad
been prepared for the sad intelligence that
the queen was no more. But it came TO
him almost as personal affiction for it
only few months ago that he was the
guest of the queen at Osborne when he
received from her hands his elevation to
the peerage. Aside from this, her majesty
had frequently shown most gracious con
sideratiOn to the ambassador and Lady
Pauncefote, inviting them to Windsor and
to Osborne for visits which were something
more than brief official Exchanges. On The
last occasion when Lord Pauncefote saw
the queen at Osborne she was in excellent
health, considering her years, her mental
faculties keen and observant. She drove
about the palace grounds and conVerScd
freely and pleasantly with the circle of
friends gathered about her, which included,
besides Lord and Lady Pauncefote, Prince
Christian and i number of the members OF
the royal family. The foreign office has
kept the embassy advised by cable of 'hc
progress of the queens condition, and from
these dispatches it became evident some
days ago that the queens death was near
at hand. The ambassador and the mem
bers of his family, as Well as the large
circle of officials about Kim are kcenly
affected by the event. for. TO each one ot
them the queen has been something mole
than a monarch, and has been regarded as
a gentle superior and friend. Official bus-
ness proceeds as usual, for in the eye of the
law the rational existence is in noWise in
terrupted by the death of the sovereign.
But throughout the embassy. and partic-
ularly in the private quarters Of the am
bassador, a sense of deep gloom prevails.
Many Personal skementos.
About the embassy there are many per
sonal mementos of devotion to the queen.
At the head of the main staircase hangs d
superb portrait of mammoth proportions,
showing her majesty soon: after her corona
ton, young, radiant and beautiful. 1t is by
the famous painter Sir GeoEge Hayten,
court painter during the early days of the
Victorian reign, and is a counterpart of that
in the grand corridor at Windsor Palace.
The picture looks down on the reception Sa-
lon of the mbassy, aud is sad reminder
of the event which has Just occurred. In
the ambassadors library hangs another
portrait of the queen, showing her with the
royal diadem on her brow.
The proprieties of the occasion forbid
Lord Pauncefote to speak at this time but
to his large circle of friends he has ex-
pressed his heartfelt sorrow 1t has ap-
pealed to him as msrcifu however, that
the queen should be spared from a pro-
longed illness, and that after her long and
illustrOus career her life should go out
quickly, like the eXtinguishiug of a candle.
Among the British officials there is but one
view to the reign of Victoria They look
upon it as transcending in Importance the
EliZabethan or other eras, and as being
more fraught with great achievements than
any epoch IN English history. But the per-
sOnal character of the queen attracts as
much respect and tribute as the glories of
her reign, for she has given signal ex-
ample of the purity of home life and The
sweetness and virtue of the queen mother.
No Action Yet Arranged.
1t is too early to say what official tribute
the British embassy will bestow upon the
dead sovereign. These formaities must
await the determination of the new king
and his ministers. 1t Is probable the king
will reissue to Lord Pauncefote the ere
dentials of ambassador to Washington. and
the foreign office will announce what the
period of mourning is to be. Whether there
Will be commemorative exercises, similar to
those held in Washington after the death
of the Empress of Austria and of the
King of Italy, will depend upon The in
structons issued from London. In any
event, however, Lord Pauncefote and
those about him are withdrawn for some
time from participation in the social and
of1c1al affairs at the capital.
Sorrow at Germany. Embassy.
The German embassy shares in the uni
versal sorrow, and there is an added senti-
ment of bereavement in the fact that En-
peror William is the grandson OF the dead
queen, and is among those near her during
her last hours. The German ambassador
DE- Won Holleben, gives expression to his
deep grief, and pays tribute of respect
on 1y,,ir
iilustrious reign of the departed queen. The
family ties between the royal houses of
England and Germany were closely united
by the marriage of Queen Victoria's eldest
royal, to Friedrich William of Germany,
afterward Emperor of Germany.
FROM TINS union was born, January 81 |
1859, William the present Emperor of Ger
many So that Queen Victoria has not only
ruled her own empire, but has given Ger
many an emperor. 1t was this relationship
which took the emperor to England i'm
mediately that the queen s. critical condi- |
tion vas announced, and it is a like senti- |
ment which arouses among the German |
officials here u feeling that the queens |
death is loss in which GeIanany shares.
Praise of French and Russians.
At the French embassy, NJ. ICambon. the |
French ambassador spoke OF the exemplary |
qualities of the queen and her service TO
her country. NJ Cambonfs brother, NJ. Paul |
>ambon, is the French ambassador at Lon |
uon, and in this capacity has had frequent
audiences with the queen, and has had an
opportunity to learn the agentleness and
dignity of her character.
Count Caasin the Russian ambassador
spoke in the same Vein of the noble quail |
ties of The queen.
Expressions at the Legations.
Similar expressions were made by Duke
de ARGOS, the Spanish minister, Minister
WI of China. Minister Takahira of Japan
and others in the &oreign service. Indeed,
the sentiments of mingled grief and admra-
ton were universal and sincere. All the
ambassadors ministers and their suites
took early occasion, after receiving word
of the queens death, to call at the British |
embassy and leave their cards Lord
Pauncefote saw only few of his most
intimate associates, and received from them |
personal expressions OF coincidence.
B0OZ INVESTLesATKNGS COMMITTEE.
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