Feeling in Scotland

Edinburgh

Flags flew half-mast high in the sunshine yesterday, at the Castle, the City Chambers, public institutions, hotels, and other buildings. They were the outward expressions of the profound sorrow which the citizens, one and all, felt at the loss of the loved and venerated Sovereign of these realms. In other ways this feeling of grief was manifested. There was a general opinion that with the nation in mourning it would be unseemly if the mere ordinary affairs of life should not be suspended for the moment, and all engagements of a pleasurable nature indefinitely postponed. Many meetings were in this way put off; the Court of Session and the Stock Exchange met and adjourned, and the University and the public schools of all grades also closed their doors for the day. Naturally the decease of the Queen was the chief topic of conversation, though the tendency of human nature to look ahead even under such circumstances was also shown in the speculations that were indulged in as to the proceedings of the Privy Council, the title which the new King was likely to adopt, and as to the day he would be proclaimed at the Cross of Edinburgh. Without waiting to a Lord Chamberlain’s order, many citizens of Edinburgh appeared in mourning. Princes Street was crowded in the afternoon both with ladies and gentlemen, and the number of the former wearing black was quite remarkable. The gentlemen for the most part had put on black neckties. Many of the shop windows along Princes Street and other thoroughfares displayed mourning goods and the demand which was made for them is said to have been very great. In the afternoon, on instructions from the War Office, a minute-gun salute of eighty-one rounds – one gun for every year of the Queen’s age – was fired from Edinburgh Castle. A detachment of the Royal Artillery from Leith Fort formed the firing party, with Captain Arnold and Lieutenant Thomson in charge. Many people thought it would have been more appropriate if the Queen’s death had been made known to the community by the firing of the guns, and that the “salute” yesterday afternoon was rather belated. The booming of the guns was heard all over the town. At the Council Chambers the blinds were drawn and instructions were given to have the front of the buildings draped in mourning. The same will be done with the Corporation stalls in St Giles’ Cathedral against the official service which will be held in that edifice on the funeral day of the Queen. In anticipation of the proclamation ceremony tomorrow workmen were engaged all day in flooring over the cellarage left exposed when the arcading was removed, in order that the barricades in front of the Exchange may be removed and the whole be made safely available for the processionists, of whom a considerable body is expected. Thinking that the proclamation might be made yesterday, a large crowd of people gathered round the Mercat Cross about half-past eleven, and waited until twelve struck on St Giles’. As there was, of course, no appearance of the officials usually associated with such ceremonies, the people gradually dispersed. In the course of the day several addresses from public bodies were transmitted by telegraph to Lord Balfour for presentation to the Prince of Wales and Royal Family, including one from the German residents in Edinburgh and Leith, and a touching tribute of goodwill arrived in the city from the French branch of the Franco-Scottish Society.

The Scotsman, 24th January 1901

Wikipedia Article

• Queen Victoria

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