Dowager Empress Frederick, mother of Emperor Wilhelm of Germany, died at Berlin in August. She had been living in practical retirement since the death of her husband, Emperor Frederick, in 1888. She was the oldest child of Queen Victoria. After years of negotiations, the United States and Denmark arranged satisfactory terms, September 2, and the Danish West Indies, three small islands near Porto Rico, will be transferred to this country. The chief object in acquiring these islands was to get possession of the port of St. Thomas, one of the best in the West Indies. The islands are St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. The price paid is a little over $4,000,000. September 2, President and Mrs. McKinley started for the Pan-American Exposition, where the President had arranged to deliver an address on President’s Day, September 5. The address was a notable one, as it outlined McKinley’s national policy for the coming years. Within 24 hours of the deliverance of the famous speech, the President was shot down by the assassin. CHAPTER XXX. THE FUNERAL SERVICE AT BUFFALO. The first funeral service over the remains of President McKinley was held at the Milburn house in Buffalo, Sunday, September 15, at 11 o’clock. At the house only the President’s wife, his relatives, his personal friends, and his official family were gathered for their last farewell. It was simply the funeral of William McKinley, the man. Grief is too weak a word for what Mrs. McKinley suffered. It was not merely the loss of one dear to her. It was the loss of all there was in the world, the one strong arm on which for years she has leaned for support, almost as a child leans upon its mother. There is a story of unwavering patience and devotion in that part of the late President’s life which only has been touched upon, much as has been said about it, and which even those who knew most of its details can hardly grasp, in the all but unparalleled depth of love that it involves. Even in their own sorrow the thoughts of all who were gathered about the dead President’s bier in the room below were going out in pity to her whose desolation was so utter, so far beyond all hope. The extremity of pathos was reached when, before the ceremony, Mrs. McKinley, the poor, grief-crushed widow, had been led into the chamber by her physician, Dr. Rixey, and had sat awhile alone with him who had supported and comforted her through all their years of wedded life. Her support was gone, but she had not broken down. Dry-eyed, she gazed upon him. She fondled his face. She did not seem to realize he was dead. Then she was led away to the head of the stairs, where she could hear the services. The extremity of impressiveness followed when the new President stood beside the casket steeling himself for a look into the face of the dead.