THE LAST SCENES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18552, 30 November 1925, Page 9

THE LAST SCENES.

gorial of Queen Alexandra. CROWDS SUFFER EXPOSURE TO COLD. King's Message to His Subjects. Tie snow which muffled the foot-treads of the bearers of the 'cflfifl of Queen Alexandra, and gave added beauty to the scenes the Abbey on Friday, made extraordinary demands ' opofl tiw spectators and the soldiers who lined the route of the Dfocession. The people suffered exposure to the intense cold for hofll* k eir determination to P a 7 their last respects to the xjLftA Queen-Mother. Ambulance patrols were kept busy -Hjading to spectators and soldiers who collapsed. . s|fter the lying-in-State, the coffin was removed to Windsor «JL where the burial took place in the presence only of the «Jjj Family and members of the household. lie King, in a message addressed "To My People," says: ujfejny great sorrow I am helped by the flood of sincere and MjtfOtts sympathy reaching me from every quarter of the Bfftfth Empire and indeed from all parts of the world. While ■ jjo deeply grateful for these expressions of good-will, I also Mjbfce that my beloved mother enjoyed the constant warm ifttfion of m Y People. It is such proof of allegiance to my ttioae and family that has given me confidence and strength ' toffy*""' olls days I have had to face in the past fifteen years."

(W tott±~riX*6 ASSOCIATION—COriBIQHT,) jrflUliU 1*» *- 2 ' CXJLB ASSOCIATION.) (geetited November 30tli, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 28. i tajji "Alexandra's funeral, in its yj. Jgipite the lack cf ordered show, yk'ft tribute by the common people. Jvjrtf'the most abiding of to-day'a , iJJWftfft"* iS< that from daybreak, in ■ ||fljW *jsto f through a heavy snow,sßOj fii W bitter evening and far JlJo-iW aiiht, the pilgrimage to the Abbey shrino continued, jnie abreast, stretched for tto-aJltfl Jaway into the thick mist, * were wtable to endure' flf pSffifygk fainted, Ambulances and ware kept busy. ' of pie patient tad passed the or elderly. Many fw JOOlly dtfitted and ill-equipped to pt the xifcottH o£ the bitter weather. J 'white with, sixteen in the 1 aofai&jf the dew-flecked sky became aw OBunflnt jpey, 'tatf from the 4oQ canopyxane is a thickening fall a white mantle which gave a gorgeous -tonea to the loved quean's, funeral, ge eold fMred into one's a vantagefwfyaad few eyen raised umbrellas. fs# whale lfcMTof "the procession was , iaesea of the mournMffShlie, who derived some warmth J§*# *«e ** liberty to move their jfpw *«•% buj the less fortunate troops statues. Quite iip^'a'^* l fainte d from sheer *WJM& %t hundreds of women were ■ *? te ° a is nT>t fe ethem formed tho first SSJi'^M' nan, an avenue soon after

11-Klght Vigil, g \igil had been kept all UMa 'g Palace by Yeomen and Gentlemen-at-arms, e in the tiny chapel was e fragrance of the white. ' upon the altar. las borne to the gunwjar*y of Grenadiers, and as Hth alow and reverent 'P of London recited two King. George, sad-faced *ith head bowed, walked >Wnd the casket, and as •laced on the gun-carriage mourners stood at tho along the snow-covered exandra was borne to the >w serving to muffle the « Titan's Description. «ter Fraser, describing *e, says that he saw tea smiling with grand;ht at Princess Mary's tmtrasted that scene with the King standing a little >ther men, but very near « never moved or lifted *t stood amid the mighty t nation in mourning, ngest of farewells, as ■e all alono and very indeed, ho was. The to stood in wistful sad»eens meanwhile stood a rails, Queen Mary so & in mourning that* few when she entered, service was marked by Nations of emotion, but [legation seemed to find "hymn, "On the BesurS>" chosen by the King 1 over, the King stood a fo the coffin before lie »ed his sons. M**«d tho Abbey two. * time allowed Was very ««ttan's sharp, "Harry log necessary in order t6 t?r. Often women wept » % *a»d many dropped

flowers beneath and in the shadow of the coffin. Evensong was held in another part of the Abbey, the music adding reverence io tho people's homage. At a late hour it was arranged that the Abbey should be open until six o'clock ,on Saturday. ' Upon the 's own flag, bearing the arms of England and Denmark, Tested blossoms of pink and white, forming a cross, while almost covering tho chancel rails were wreaths from Europe's sovereigns. There were great masses of others, but the tributes of the humble found a place also. Burial at Windsor. Ike arrival of the motor hearse with Queen Alexandra's coffin at tho Henry "VHL gate at Windsor at 8.30 o'clock thin morning was witnessed by only a few passers-by, thus showing a regard for the King's wish for privacy and a TnjpTrnnm of interruption of business. Their Majesties motored from London and entered unobserved. At the castle the Union Jack flew at the top of the Btaff till, in accordance with custom, the Boyal Standard was substituted to denote that the King had arrived. j The coflin, still bearing the King's wTeath, was taken into the memorial chapel, where, in the presence of only the Boyal Family and members of the household, the Dean of Windsor read committal prayers. Tho choir sang the anthem, "How Blest Are They," and the hymn, "Now the Labourer's Task is O'er." Then the casket was lowered into the tomb-house, where it will remain till the sarcophagus in St. George's, Chapel is ready to receive Queen Alexandra's and King Edward's coffins.

World's Grief. The newspapers print messages of the scenes of mourning throughout the world. Cities as far apart as Paris and Peking joined with the Empire, constituting a girdle of grief around the whole earth. The theatres, cinemas, and principal resorts were closed for the day. While thousands of people stood shivering in the cold to catch a glimpse of the procession, thousands listened to a special •commemoration service held in Canterbury Cathedral and broadcast throughout England. An idea of the- quantity of the floral tributes is gained from a Paris message reporting an unprecedented shortage of roses, violets, and carnations, whole trainloads having been sent to England to meet the enormous demand. Those remaining in Paris were retailed at 50 per cent, above the usual prices. The Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, the Crown Prince of Eoumania, the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Mary, and Viscount Lascelles dined with their Majesties, at Buckingham Palace last evening. Continental Memorial Services. Eeports f rojn the Continent state that memorial services were held wherever there was a British community.

One of the most touching remembrances on the Continent was the gathering in St. Albans Church, Copenhagen, where the Queen of Denmark, Crown Prince, Koyal Family, Cabinet Ministers, and diplomats were present, after which a salute of sixty guns was fired. Almost every hamlet in Britain had its special service simultaneously with the Abbey's striking ceremony. The villagers at the East Parish Church, Perth were moved by the beautiful rendering of "Ave Maria," and discoverei the singer was Tetfazzini, who was a warm friend of the Queen-Mother. It was noticed that the Admiralty flag in Whitehall alone was not flown at half-mast, and it Was explained that tho flag was governed by the same regulations as an admiral's flag at sea, and was never lowered day or night except ou the death of the reigning monarch.

MEMORIAL SERVICE IN PARIS. TRENCH PREMIER ATTENDS, I ' . (beuteb's telegraxs.) PARIS, November 27. M. Briand had a busy morning with conferences with a view to forming a t Cabinet. He interrupted the discusi sions to attend a memorial service to | Queen Alexandra at tho British Embassy Church. ! CUSTODIAN OP THE ABBEY. SUDDEN DEATH AFTER CEREMONY, (Beccivcd November 29th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 28. Canon Custodian of the Abbey, who arranged tho allotment of 2600 seats at the Abbey and participated in the service in the morning as well as at Evensong, died from a heart attack at his house in the cloisters. ' [Rev. - Herbert Francis Westlake, M.V.0., F.S.A., M.A., was born in 1879, and educated at Christ's Hospital, London, and Pembroke College, Oxford. He had been Minor Canon of Westminster since 1909, and custodian, of the Abbey since* 1910. Ho was responsible for many publications of historical and archaeological nature, many of which dealt with the great Abbey of Westminster itself, and also wrote voluminously for special journals and tho Press generally. He leaves a widow and one son and three daughters.] —_ ! KING'S THANKS. MESSAGE TO GOVERNORGENERAL. (rJLMS ASaOCIATIOH TXLXOKAX.) , WELLINGTON, November 28. The Governor-General has received the following telegram from the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs in reply to a message sent by his Excellency on behalf of New Zealand:— I have it in oommand from his Majesty the King to convey to your Excellency, your Ministers, and the people of New Zealand his grateful thanks for tho expression of warn* sympathy in his great sorrow and for the assurance of loyalty and devotion*"