A PAGEANT OF SORROW.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 54

A PAGEANT OF SORROW.

By a Banker.

Amongst the most melancholy and impressive spectacles which have ever been enacted on the face of this fair earth was most unquestionably the inexpressibly sorrowful and mournful, though solemn and magnificent, pageant which took pla-ce on the occasion of the last sad voyage of the beloved and revered Queen of the British Empire from the island home where she so peacefully ended her glorious and beneficent reign, to the long home where she la to sleep her last sleep. The sun, which throughout her long reign was ever wont to shine whenever she was called upon to fulfil any great function, with a. recurrence so remarkable that it must have been more than a coincidence, again rendered its customary tribute, though, as if m sorrow, somewhat veiling its splendour. Farther than th? keenest eye could pierce sti etched oat a long and imposing line of poweifu! and majestic battleships, mighty emblems of the massive power of Britain, their half-masted flags mournfully drooping, their colossal deathdealing ordnance piojccting far out from belted turret and ai'moured embiasnre; while their decks and yards weio lined with many thousands of the bravest of the brave, the splendid sailors and soldiers of the Empire.

And now, far off m the distance, slowly approaching nearer and nearer, is heaid the booming of the minute guns, and we know tliat the mournful procession has started. Down the line, tip the line, from ship after ship, thunders forth the salute to the dead, waking the reveiberating echoes in one resounding paean of mourning. Soon, either fiom a distant mrt of the shore, or from one of the mooicd battleships, is wafted over the sea the plaintive wail of a solemn death-dnge, appaien+lv chanted by some unseen chou , a moduin^, uiueiit, so

pathetic, so tearful, and yet, withal, so beautilul, that it could be fancied that angels weie weeping at our loss.

Suddenly a hushed, solemn silence leigns amongst the saddened spectators, tor the mcurnfui procession is approaching. First come a, number of jet black destroyers, fune-leal-lookmg warships, not proceeding at their ordinary terrific speed, but slowly and solemnly gliding forward. Following these comes the vessel bearing the precious remains of the great Sea-Queen, the beloved monarch of a mighty Empire. Shrouded beneath emblazoned standard and silken pall, whereon repose the jewelled insignia of royalty, now for ever laid down, rests, on canopied bier, the casket wherein she sleeps until the Great Day. And as it slowly passes, suppressed bobs tell of tho love and affection we bore her, and of the poignant grief at our loss.

Next comes the royal vessel bearing our King, who now succeeds to such a splendid inheritance; whom may God save, and enable to follow m all things in the steps of her who is gone before. And by his side is the great German Empeior, who by his kindly action m hurrying over to soothe the last hours of our depaited Queen and to do honour to her to the "very last has thrilled the hearts of the entire Empire with the deepest affection towards him.

And now all is. over, and as, with oppressed hearts^ we sanow fully give the last lcok ai d sadly turn away, we feel that our io««; is a wronch indeed.

But, nineteen centaiics «'go, a satt burial tcok plans' infinitely more solemn than thi= For they were taking down from the cio=s, and cairying to His three-days' grave, the body ot the Son of God, who thorgh Creator of all, yet consented xo receive the punishment cue to us And if we will on!" follow Jin b.e- ' c&t^, and spr\e £>ncl obey Him v " n:ny claim thi-t^. tufLvuig anil d^th rs full n d cnmpk'e pxpiahon for cur mis'tcda, the rc:c,J of whu'i on h'gh will be then and there rxnangxd f^r ever.