OPINIONS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 196, 15 September 1888, Page 3

OPINIONS.

“ Opinions may be worn on both sides like a leather jerkin.” [Contributed.] DEATH OF A MONARCH. The night is raw and cold, the sky is overcast, not a star visible; the weary hours move slowly on ; those silent black-bosomed woods stand gloomily around yonder stately palace. Silence is at length broken, ah ’ there rushes past a midnight train, a plume of flame, a roar of many wheels on their steel path, shows that the business of the world goes on though a king lies dying within yonder tall and silent castle. Wearily the dawn is welcomed as with empurpled mantle it decks the summer sky; and now the air grows rich with the fragrance of blossoms and the promise of a beautiful day. Hark 1 ’tie the matin bell of the distant village spire, sending its notes of music in swinging tones across the meadows ; now the pheasants begin to trip out of their bushy haunts and appear with a timid boldness on the close-cropped lawns; while lark, nightingale, cuckoo, and wood-pigeon mingle their rival melodies in the groves about the death-bed of a king. Three months before, the icy blasts and whirling snows of winter were the gloomy features in which Nature appeared around the home which the aged father—himself a kingexchanged this life and its scents from that land from whose shores no traveller returns. And who is he that comes down the treeembowered avenue, portfolio under arm ? That is the painter, Anton von Werner ; his business this early morning, to sketch the features of the monarch—after death : well, that is ghastly enough ; but likely to be used for the purpose of statue representation. Still the standard upon the palace roof floats in the morning breeze ; but, see, there it drops to half-mast height. The Emperor Frederick is no more! Mourners are startled from their reveries by the clatter of horses’ hoofs ; for there a squadron of Hussars in scarlet jackets quickly disperse and take possession of all the points of access to the palace area. Here comes a company of infantry, pouring with perspiration, as at the double they have come, the ground almost trembling beneath the swift, but measured, tread of their feet; there, too, make sure work of sealing up all ingress or egress to or from the palace. Dying quietly without pain, and surrounded by his family. The body laid out on an iron bedstead, draped in white linen, covering the lower part of his face; on breast, a laurel wreath; a feet, a boquet of Mareohal Niel roses ; while crossed hands repose on a cavalry sabre. Why place a sword in such a place, in such surroundings? Well, there is accounting for tastes, or fashion. Here in the Hall of Shells, the mourners meet. This Hall is so called from the fact that its walls and vaulted root are most curiously and artistically decorated with every variety of specimens of sea shells, cunningly worked into the likeness of dolphins, mermaids, sea-serpents, and other fantastic denizens of the ocean, the whole suggesting the idea of a gorgeous submarine grotto. Here gather the the throng of Generals, officers of all ranks, and of all uniforms, from spotless white to deep black; privy councillors, chamberlains with golden keys of office at their girdles, hard faced clergymen in black gowns, professors, in robes of red and purple; civic dignitaries, with golden chains ; science with prim, accurate face ; art and literature, sailors and soldiers, and ruites of Kings and Princes, among which the English scarlet predominates. It was a gorgeous spectacle; gold, jewels, color, and association told the sad tale; —the pomp of life; the fleeting, fragile term of existence. Outside the Hall, the array of military grandeur is striking, even sublime : the presenting arms—magical, for effect and precision. The bands burst into a very summer-day storm of music, with the solemn, sweet, rolling thunders of “ Jesus, refuge of my soul.” And now the cortege moves graveward, and the air vibrates with the “Dead March,” the brass instruments, the muffled beat of drums, the tolling of bells, made indeed a vocal sorrow, long to be remembered. Under these trees, chestnut, birch, pine, and lime, whose mingled odours are passing sweet; past these green and extensive terraces, with rose beds, vines, classic statues and fountains throwing the silvery water high in the air, the picturesque crowd of mourners move on. And so on, and into the Church of Peace, at Potsdam, where pendant hangs between marble pillars, paintings on wall and roof, and other adjuncts of royal piety and religious state, the coffin is laid ; .and in silent prayer kneels the Emperor William 11., for a few moments beside the shell wherein lie the remains of his father. BLACK SHEEP. The absolute right to a direct share of legislative power devolving, by mere hereditary succession and without any test or selection, upon some hundreds of persons. Now herein consists the primary weakness of the British House of Lords. It is not a little strange that the lords who seek to remedy the glaring abuses which they and the country complain of, pass by the absolute right of those born in the purple of the aristocratic circles, as of no importance whatever. It is patent to all that high birth does not ensure high talent ; it is well-known that some, not even a few, of the “Lords” are blackguards of a very pronounced type indeed. And so to remedy the present abuses it is the object of the reformers of the Upper House, to introduce by Act persons who are above suspicion such as Judges, Ambassadors, members of the Civil Service, Privy-Councillors, Colonial and Indian Governors, Generals, and Admirals. But the number of those so-called and created life peers is not to exceed five annually. The all-important questions of finance, commerce, engineering, and all other branches of reproductive human activity are never touched upon in the make-believe debates held in the Upper House. And why this should not be so is not difficult to understand, Incompetence. The Lords are summoned by writ to attend each session ; and the Bill provides that in certain objectionable instances, the writ shall cease to issue ; so that the black ones may, must stay at home. BETTER FED THAN TAUGHT.

So at least one would infer from the doings of the Chicagoans. We are told that 200,000 people have poured into the most remarkable city in the world, Chicago. The great centre of the Republican movement; and organisation. Surging crowds fill the streets, the clubs ore all out on parade, bands of music clash in noisy competitions of sound and uproar, and flags and banners float everywhere. The National Republican Committee has found two men of enormous lung power, both gifted with a stentorian utterance, and these control the meetings. Protection, no oppression of the Southern negro, sympathy with Irish Home Rule. Civil Service Reform, the arraignment of President Cleveland for his treachery. Sweeping charges these, but so runs the electioneering bombast. A Mr Johnny O’Erien upon a four-horse, yellowcolored “ Tally-ho, ” coach covered with the emblems of his party, is among the prominent rights in Chicago’s streets. Regiments of farmers wearing huge straw hats, and carrying flails and tin pails march the streets; badges of all hues and styles are worn ; huge flags of blue silk ornamented with letters in silver, miners’ golden pick axes, golden shovels, silver buckets filled with gold to the brim. Members of a large club carry silk umbrellas of red, white and blue. These are brandished aloft in order to raise enthusiasm, A golden gayel costing 800 dollars, and weighing 41ba, presented to one of their chairman, shows how much in earnest these folk are, even in these wild dernonstrationfl.