The Washington herald., 1912-08-19

educated.
1t Is not generally known that pc
riod of more than 100 years elapsed be-
tween the beginning and the finishing OF
Westminster Abbey. It's erection was
begun by Henry III, as a shrine for
the bones of Edward the Confessor.
1t Is in this most ancient Of the
chapels that the coronation chair usual
ly stands. The building went on dur
ing the succeeding reign OF Henry's son
Edward I. and then little was added to
II until the reign Of Henry VII. when
one Of the loveliest pieces of archtec-
ture in the world-Henry Wis chapel
was added to its eastern end. 1t waa
not until the reign Of Charles ii that
the abbey was finished, and the finish
ing touch was put on by no less per
son than the architect Of st. Paufs Q
Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren.
When the Abbey was last in the hands
of the carpenters. mechanics. and dec
orators responsible for its preparation
for a coronation. Canon Wilberforce waa
responsible for the most remarkable
services which had ever taken place
within its walls. He actually held a
smoking service every day, and not only
talked to the workmen in the abbey
cloisters. but gave each member Of his
Informal congregation an ounce OF to-
bacco to smoke Without exception,
Canon wiIberforce, was looked upon by
the abbey workmen as "a jolly good
sort"
greatest care Is taken to prevent visitors
to the Abbey from sitting in the ancient
coronation chair, under which rests the
famous Stone of Scone, but there Is an
actual case on record where a mere
human boy" sat in II one whole night
ard, moreover, slept there. This was a
youth named Peter Abbott, a scholar
o. the famous Westminster School. which
is next door to the Abbey itself.
Being Of an adventurous spirit he made
a bet with a school friend that he would
spend a night in the sacred building and
sit in the famous chair. He secreted
himself after dusk in the Poets Corner
inches, and succeeded in keeping out of
sight until the vergers locked up the
church for the night. Then he went to
the chair. curled himself UP In IT. and
soon was asleep. Being a sturdy chap he
slept soundly all night through until he
was awakened in the morning by the
verger, who, as may be imagined. was
Mortified to See him there.
He was still more Mortified later upon
discovering that not only had the lad
slept In the sacred" chair, but had also
carved his name in IL, and there II may
stin be seen.
Everybody is acquainted with the
legend that the Stone of Scone, which Is
incased in the wooden framework of the
coronation chair. was the stone which
Jacob used at Bethel for a pillow. but
there is another legend with which very
few visitors to the Abbey are acquainted.
II is said that the chair gives out a
sound when the legitimate heir to the
throne sits upon II. In the case OF a pre-
tender II is said to be dumb. The sound
comes, 1t is alleged. not from the frame
work of the chair. but from the Stone Of
Destiny itself.
The most unique sight to be seen in the
Abbey is its stock of waxworks- These
include effigies Of Charles II. Queen Eliz-
abeth, William and Mary. Queen Anne.
among royalties. and OF such notabilities
as the last Duke Of Buckinhamshire
with his wife (who was a daughter of
James II. and who is dressed in her
coronation robes), the great Earl OF
Chatham, in the Identical robes he was
wearing when seized with his last ILL.,
ress in the House Of Lords, and the i'm
mortal Nelson. 'in his habit as he lived"
When Daniel Maclise painted his IA
nous fresco, which visitors to the Abbey
see IN one OF the anterooms OF the
House of Lords. The Death of Nelson"
he borrowed the hat which crowns the
head of this effigy to copy from In
side the lining Of il he discovered Nell
sons eye patch and the stamp in the
crown that was inserted to show that
the great admiral had paid his hat tax
When rising from the table on the eve
of the battle OF Trafalgar. Nelson is re-
ported to have said, Before this time
tomorrow it will be a peerage or West
minister Abbey for me-"
AS matter of fact he is buried in St
Paurs Cathedral, and this efigy Of him
was set up in Westminster Abbey for the
purpose OF drawing sightseers from the
This remarkable collection of waxwork
effigies is contained In the Isiip Chapel
a place to which the public are not ordi-
narily admitted. They are much more in
keeping with the building than would ap-
pear at first blush. for 1t was the prac-
tice for a long period TO carry in the
funeral procession Of notabilities a life
like efigy of the deceased.
King Haakon and Queen Maud of
have reached England on their
annual visit to the latter's mother, Queen
Alexandra. They brought with them the
little Crown Prince Olaf. who was also
born in England at Appleton House,
nine years ago, while the
princely pair were on a visit to his Dan
ish grandmother and British grand
father.
Young Olaf continues to be the idol Of
the Norwegian people. over whom he will
rule some day. He is a real boy. full OF
life and of mischief. but he has a kind
heart and a good disposition. Besides,
he dresses wholly in Norwegian clothes
and has learned to speak the Morse
language. He Is a Norwegian boy only
by adoption. When the Norwegians
tired of being yoked to Sweden and
playing second fiddle in the dual mon
archy they declared independence seven
years ago and set up a government of
their own. They are a very democratic
people and many favored a republic.
but the monarchy habit was strong and
II was determined to have a King After
looking over the royal families of Eu-
rope-for, of course. they must have a
sovereign of royal blood-they picked
out Prince Charles. the second son of
King Frederick VIII OF Denmark.