Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1901-02-07
OF the Funeral Of the Empress
Augusta.
Recalled by the Ceremonies In Honor o.
Victoria---Another interesting Contribution
From Miss Clara B. Richie.

dead Empress, her head elevated on
a pillow of white satin, flinged with
gold The dark hair was nearly con-
cealed by the dainty, white lace cap,
which framed the peaceful, life-like
face Her long life Of seventy-eight
years had left few traces upon 1t.
Solemnly and reverently the black
line of people passed the oier, now
and again casting wreath before
1t, silently passing out of the Hum
mated chapel by an opposite doorway
and down again into the street
The next day good seat along the
route Of the procession was selling
from ten marks upwards. Every win.
dow and balcony was filed, and the
streets were thronged before 0:30 a. M
so that we made our way with Difficult.
ty to third floor balcony. From the
Palace to Brandenburger Thor, every
thing was drnped In mourning and
flags were floating at half mast. The
day dawned dark and gloomy and for
two and one half hours the multitude
waited. At last the bells on all the
churches rang out, as the procession
came slowly down the street. For
nearly mile we could watch 1t, turn
ing out from the Palace down "Unter
den Linden" We hear the strains oi
Chopin's Funeral March In the dis.
tance, and mounted band draws
nearer. They pass us, followed by nu-
merous regiments and "Vereins," some
riding, others on foot. Now another
band approaches, playing a German
hymn. More regiments follow; again
the melancholy dirge foats by, and
the funeral car appears, royalty dec
GRATED In white, red and gold, bearing
the casket. Over 1t is the coronation
robe and the crown, and covering ala,
a bank Of flowers. Six black horses
draw the gorgeous car, and footmen
walk each side, bearing the canopy.
Walking alone behind 1t, is the Kaiser,
wearing his characteristic expression
OF sternness; erect slowly and majes-
tically hs passes along, and the sun
bursts from the clouds, Transforming
the spectacle into cne OF dazzling bril-
liancy. The King of Saxony comes
next, with the Duke Of Baden, togeth
or with many other representatives Of
Germany's royal families whom we
cannot recognize. Numerous priests,
both Catholic and Protestant, the Court
Minister, Koegel, with the Catholic
bishop Pages follow, and servants Of
the dead Empress. A half hour has
gone quickly by, and the line Of process.
sion has passed on through the Bran
denburg Gate, out through the Thler-
garten. three miles farther to Char
lottenbnrg. There Empress Augusta
was laid in the Mausoleum beside her
husband, the great Kaiser william l..
His beautiful mother, Queen Louise,
whose face has long been familiar In
Art. and her husband, Frederick Will
liam LII, rcpose In the same tomb.
Ncnrly 10 years Empress Augusta
shared with the first Kaiser the hon.
ors that fell TO him, first as Prince,
next as Governor Of POmernnia, later
as Prince Regent, then In 1861 crown.
ed King OF Prussia, on which occasion
he Is said 10 have PUT the crown on
his own head, declaring that he ruled
by the favor of God and no one else"
Ten years later he was destined to
become the ruler OF United Germany.
The nation had not ceased to mourn
, the loss of their beloved Frederick the
Noble, when his mother joined him.
| Since that time the names Of Bismarck,
Won Moitke anu many others, iliustri.
, ous In the reign OF Emperor William 4,
, have, like the Empress Augusta, be.
/ come part of history.
, CLARA b. RITCHIE.
, Tallmadge, o., Feb. g. 1901.