New-York tribune., 1905-10-21
IRVING'S ASHES BURIED
SERVICES IN THE 4BBFY
Notable Men Pay Tribute to the
Great 4ctor-THe Ceremonies

London Oct 2o.-The ashes Of Sir Henry T7zlp,
were buried to-day in Westminster Abbey bast5o
that ether great actor, Garrick and under tho
shadow OF the statue Of Shakespeare. FngIsrd has
paid the highest honor which she besrovys on bnr
dead. The impressive services were conducted -
.he presence OF a congregation which included
many representatives Of the highest official life ~
England. eminent in all the walks OF life and
as many members OF dramatic circles as corr6
fLd standing room in the Abbey King Edward
vas represented by General Sir Dighton P-of,yn
Keeper of the Privy Purse, and the Prince Of
Wales BY Lieutenant Colonel William H P Car
rngton. Controller Of the Princes Household while
the Cabinet Ministers and Ambassadors were pres-
ent n person. Ambassador Reid. who was visiting
IN Scotland. came TO London testify TO America S
regard for the dead tragedan.
Long before the hour set for the service great
crowds gathered around the Abbey. and those hav-
ing cards of admission in their seats as early
as 10 o'clock Those who were unable TO get ad-
rlttance remained about the entrances until the
conclusion OF the ceremony. when. with thousands
Of others they passed through Poets Corner to
see the burial place
The service was simple As the mourners ar
rived Sir Frederick Bridge, the organst of West
Minister played Chopin's Funeral March, fol-
lowed by Purcelrs funeral music. rendered with
t-unpets and trombones- Then came Schubert's
.'NIarche SolenaeIlo." At noon the procession
started from the Chapel of Faith and passed
through the cloisters to the space between the
choir and the sanctuary, where the coffin, covered
with the pail of laure! wreaths was placed on
CatstaIQue During the procession the ca9ir sang
the hymn Brief Life Is Here Our Portion" Then
followed the Psalm. Lord. Thou Hast Been Our
Dwelling Place The Lesson was read by Canon
Duckworth. the sub-dean of Westminster. who
was assisted in the service by Bishop Weldon,
Archdeacon Wilberforce and Canon Heasley Hen
son The anthems We're Crossing the Bar and
..yvesp Ye Not for the Dead" After the anthems
-fa coffin was borne TO the grave as the organ
played the funeral march from ~Coriolanus-
The only rnourners we're Lady Irving and the
sons \ few intimate friends and the pallbearers-
Cir S7uire Bancroft the Earl OF Aberdeen, Lord
r-a-rvson Lord Burnham. Sir Alexander Muir
Mackenzie Beerbohm Tree, Sir Lawrence Alma
Tadena Sir James Dewar. Arthur Wing Pinero
A- B,1rdett-Courts. NJ P; Sir Charles Wyndhan
John Hare, George Alexander and Forbes Robert
sou-foIlowed the coffin to the grave
Of the mass Of foraI pieces sent by friends and
admirers Of Irving. only four had places at the
service. one Of these was cross of lilies from
Queen Alexandra, Bearing the words:
To Sir Henry Irving from the Queen-Into Thy
hands O LORD. into Thy hands!
That the death OF Irving is considered 70 be
national loss is shown by the general mourning
through London. Scores Of thousands Of people
stood in the streets FOR hours around Westminster
ss the only means Of paying a last tribute, while
f-- those who were unable 10 enter the Abbey ser
vices were held in several c..Trches OF the city
The flags on many of the public buildings, IN
Guiding the American Embassy and consulate, were
at half mast and hundreds wore Grape bands and
black ties
Upon his arrival in London from Scotland this
morning Ambassador Reid sent TO the family or
Sir Henry Irving message expressive of his per
EonaI regard and his sincere condolences in behalf
OF the American nation.
Many Of the weekly publications including ! ne
gTecrarar ..T'he SATURDAY. Review and The Out
look have articles expressing regret that the Dean
Of Westminster should have sanctioned Lne puFlal
in Westminster Abbey OF the ashes OF Sir Henry
Irving, and denying 70 IRVING greal4ess aT TbL az
argue thar space ii the Abbey has become 50
limited thst only the nations greatest should ns
buried there. and that f. IS Impossible 10 It5@IG
Irving in that category. some OF LLese i75s al
period as great and perhaps greater whom n9lo-y
would think OF proposing for burial IN the 4pIeSt
and tnat in time 10 come IL VIII be regretted tild'
such hasty decision taken. -
terms Of Irvtngs great talent and personal G cHf{ IL
acue- and repudiare any desire 10 detract from LlS
acknCwIedged merit except as touching TINS q-ss-
lion Of deep national impOrtance-ourlaI IN west
minister abbey.