The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-23
CLOSING SCENES.
Last Hours on Earth of England's
Queen Described in Detail.

Cowes. Isle of Wight, Jan. 2S.-Queen
Victoria IS dead, and Edward VII
reigns.
The greatest event in the memory Of
this generation, the most stupendous
change in existing conditions that could
possibly be imagined has taken place
quietly, almost gently, upon the anni-
yversary Of the death Of Queen victoria's
father, the Duke of Kent.
The end of this career. never equaled
by any woman in the worlds history
came in a simply furnished room in
Osborne house This most respected of
all women, living or dead, lay in a great
four-posted bed and made a shrunken
atom whose aged face and figure were
a cruel mockery Of the fair girl who in
1887 began to rule over England.
Around her were gathered almost
every descendant of her line. Well
within view Of her dying eyes there hung
a portrait of the prince consort. It was
he who designed the room and every
words the White-haired Bishop of Win
chester prayed beside her as he had
often prayed with his sovereign, for he
was her chaplain at Windsor. With
bowed heads the imperious ruler of the
German empire and the man who is
now King of England, the woman who
has succeeded to the title of queen, the
princes and princeSseS, and those of less
royal designation, listened to the bish-
ops ceaseless prayer. Six o'clock passed.
The bishop continued his intercession.
one OF the younger Cn1lQTen asked a
question in shrill, childish treble, and
was Immediately silenced- The women
OF the royal family sobbed family and
the men shuff1ed uneasiIy-
At exactly half past Sir James Reid
held up his head. and the people in the
room knew that England had lost her
queen. The bishop pronounced the
benediction.
The queen passed away quite peace
fully She suffered no pain. Those who
We're now mournerS went to their rooms.
A few minutes later the inevitable ele-
ment Of naterialism stepped into this
pathetic chapter of International history
for the court ladies went busily to work
ordering their mourning from London
The wheels of the world were Jared
when the announcement came, but in
this palace at Osborne everything pur-
sued the usual course. Down in the
kitchen they were cooking a huge dinner
for an assemblage the like of which has
seldom been known in England, and the
dinner preparations proceeded just as if
nothing had happened
The body Of Queen Victoria was en-
balmed and will probably be taken to
Windsor Saturday. The coffin arrived
last evening from London.
An incident characteristic of the
queens solicitude for others occurred
two days ago when in one of the inter
walls of consciousness she summoned
strength to Suggest to her dressers who
had been acting as nurses, to take the
opportunity Of getting some fresh air.
Monday afternoon she asked that her
little porneranians spaniel be brought to
her bedroom. Tt was thought that the
queen was dying about 9 o'clock i'm the
evening and carriages We're sent to the
Osborne cottage and the rectory to bring
all the princes and prfncesses and the
Bishop of Winchester to her bedside. It
seemed then very near the end but
when things looked the worst the queen
had one Of the rallies due to her won
derful constitution opened her eyes and
recognized the Prince of Wales. the
princes and Emperor William She
asked to see one of her faithful serv-
ants, a member of the household He
fastened to the room, but before he got
there the queen had passed into a fitful
sleep. Four o'clock marked the begin
ming Of the end. Again the family were
summoned. and this time the relapse
was not followed by recovery. The
Prince Of Wales was very much affected
when the doctors at last informed him
that his mother had breathed her last
Emperor william, himself deeply AFFECT
ed, did his best to minister comfort to
his sorroW-stricken uncle, whose new
dignity he was the first to acknowledge.
From all parts Of the world there are
stiH pouring into COwes message of
coincidence They come from crowned
heads millionaires. tradesmen and
pauperss and are variously addressed to
the Prince Of Wales and the King Of
England.
Emperor Williams arrangements are