The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-15
HON EMPIRE GREN
Reflections of an American
Woman in St. PauIs.
DURING RHODES FUNERAL
Tells of the Development of
the Chartered Companies.

Especial Cor. y. L Evening PoSt-t
London June 14-Yesterday and today
have an odd trick OF merging in the Lon
don mists; and in certain moods and to
certain minds the imperious event Of the
moment is no more real and near than
the shadow cast across two centuries-or
ten. it may be. So l found it when 1
sat above the choir stalls in ST. PauTs.
and looked down on the ranked faces in
the nave, wall of men. forming a sig
nificant transitory monument TO the
memory of Cecil Rhodes. The stately
memorial service must have spoken in
different voices to those who witnessed
ii. Some possibly were able TO feel its
full religious import and not troubled by
any sense Of an ironic prick in the solemn
thanksgiving to God that it has pleased
Thee TO deliver Thy servant Cecil John
Rhodes out Of the miseries of this sinful
world who was so vain o. this
sinful world and his work in it, Many.
doubtless, felt that the ceremonial, which
for all its ecclesiastical forms, had
splendidly secular air. was a fitting civic
commemoration Of the empire builder. A
lover of the human interest in the great
drama would have watched for Chamber
lain's eye-glass, and felt a stir of salts
faction at the sight of Lord Roberts,
alert and vital even in repose, and Mr..
Balfour sidewise in his stall, as if in de-
lightful imitation of his own delightful
caricatures. Finally. an artist would
have gloried in the cross lights and re-
ceding vistas of the shadow; the electric
brilliance making a dazzle of the white
robes in the choir. flashing out the scar
let pomp of mayor and sheriffs against
background of dark woodwork; the cold
outer daylight on the huddled faces In
the nave, and. above all. the jewel-glints
where Richmonds great angels flung
wide their wings in the mosaic. And then
for a heartbeat, 1 think, all the conflict
ing moods were merged, while the band
crashed out in the Dead March,"
tramp as of ali England's armies across
the veldt, a desolation as Of all her slain.
And all the while, one spectator of the
impressive pageant Cwho had gained q
place as a journalist, and therefore pre-
sumably interested in the dongs of to-
day. was wandering far paths enough in
fancy. In these troxbled days the name
of the Chartered Company sets the
thoughts CT most people towards African
troubles. Rhodesian gold mines and the
fatal raid of DR.. Jim. A few historically
minded students might turn instead 10 a
survey of England's great companies
since the days when Elizabeth granted
her charter to that one which was to
make her successor empress of India.
Out of the complication of modern inter-
I folI
thread of my own. 1t lead me away from
the gold workings of Rhodesia. where
treasures which later day prospectors
ancient, unnamed peoples sought the
seek, away from the mystic ruins, tenn
pies OF forgotten worship thick grown
with fig and vine and baobab tree which
, stood already when Solomon's ships voy
aged for the gold Of Ophir. My magma
ton did not turn that way. as it should in
all reason have done. nor linger on the
Royla African Company of the days of
/ Charles Il. nor take hold Of the tense
strife of peasant Africa.
Not so far from st. Pauis gather the
offices of many companies. much as they
did when Charles Lamb wrote and fur
nished much in the fashion which he de-
House THE oakcn wainscott hung with
| pictures of deceased governors and sub
/ governors; huge charts, which subsequent
/ discoveries have antiquated; dusty maps.
/ dim as dreams One of these offices
visited not long since. and though the
/ building is new. found there, mysteri-
ously enough, the unchanged atmosphere.
/ The original abode Of the company was
/ the Excise Office" in Broad street
which later was the very South Sea
/ House. OF which Ella tells and which
persisted By fire. In the present Hudson
Bay House, in Lime street. painted moose
and Indian looked down from the walls
as climbed the stair and when I entered
/ the dim. quiet boardroom it seemed as
though I had broken on a shadowy meet
/ ing OF the first council OF The Honoura-
bic Company Of Merchants Adventures
/ Trading into Hudson's Bay.
The name spells romance, blending ir
/ strange. incongruous harmony thoughts
OF the SHOWS and forests where aoated
the gallant red flag OF the n. B. c.
and OF that England OF the Restoration
I which sent II forth. Standing before ths
beautiful melancholy portrait Of the frsi
governor. looked back 10 the pietur-
esaue beginnings OF the great company
the meetings OF the French pioneers
I Radissou and Groseilliers. with theii
natron Prince Rupert. in those rooms g.
the great Keep Of Windsor. where ths
/ soldier-prince dwelt. secluded among hi'
inventions and his memories the ssttins
forth OF the first ship. the Nonsuch, from
( the Thames. where the kings Fleasur'
barges were moored. towards unknown
currents and drifting ice. Radison- tia
interruptions adventurer. servant of kinf
Louis and King Charles. made strang'
figure enough IN the palace and play oUs'
/ OF the Restoration London. with his mod
ish laced coat. contrasting with his ieath
- breeches and tangled hair he shows
- - .---------- -