upon as
more or less sensational and little was thought of the attack of
bronchitis at Biarritz in March. There seems small reason to doubt that
the political situation hastened the end though it did not actually
cause the sad event. The conditions of weakness were there; the worry of
a great and urgent responsibility was added to the King's normal work
and subjects of thought. Though the constitutional crisis was probably
not as serious as the press and politicians made out, it must
undoubtedly have had its effect upon a ruler conscientiously devoted to
his duty. On May 5th, it was announced that the King was again ill with
bronchitis and that his condition caused "some anxiety;" a few hours
afterwards it was officially stated that "grave anxiety" was felt; on
May 6th, near midnight, there came the sorrowful announcement of his
physicians that the King had passed away in the presence of Queen
Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal [Duchess
of Fife], Princess Victoria and the Princess Louise [Duchess of Argyll].

So unexpected was any serious or immediate issue of His Majesty's
condition that the Queen was still on the Continent when he was taken
ill and the King himself was transacting state business in an arm-chair
the day before he died. A pathetic incident of the latter date was the
bearing of the well-known purple and gold colours to victory at Kempton
Park Races by "The Witch of the Air." When the news came it was hard to
believe. People throughout the Empire were entirely unprepared. In
Britain, Canada, Australia, etc., public functions and social
arrangements were at once cancelled; black and purple drapings rapidly
covered the important buildings--and many that were even more important
as representing individual and spontaneous feeling--of the British
world; mourning was seen everywhere in the United Kingdom and to a
lesser extent in the other countries; papers appeared universally draped
in black. In Canada, H. E. the Governor-General cabled to Lord Crewe an
official expression of regret--one which was real as well as official:
"The announcement of the death of King Edward VII, which has just
reached Canada, has created universal sorrow. His Majesty's Canadian
Ministers desire that you will convey to His Majesty, King George, and
the members of the Royal family, an assurance that the people of Canada
share in the great grief that has visited them. In discharge of the
duties of his exal