Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-03-26

The funeral ceremonies Of The lale Post
master General Aaron V. Brown took
place in Washington on Thursday Of last
week. The occasion was one Of great
solemnity, as will be seen from the fol-
lowing interesting account of ii in the
States
liule after nine this morning, the
members of the Cabinet, headed by the
venerable Secretary of Siate-a mourning
group-proceeded to the late residence of
the lamented deceased, TO accompany
them 10 the White House, where they
were to be laid out in state.
The body having been borne to the
White House in plain hearse, the doors
were closed, and the arrangements for
laying out in state having been made in
the east room, in the presence Of those
who accompanied it there, the doors were
thrown open little after 10, and the pub
lie were admitted. Under the main chan
delier, in the centre of the room, and with
its head to the west, lay the coffin, rest
ing on platform about two feet high.
|, was covered with black cloth, richly la
den with silver fringe, and over it were
two pals, one Of finest black velvet, the
dark silk fringe of which rested on the
floor the other Of black cloth, which
hung down not quite so far as the velvet
one, and was bound with silver band
abou, an inch wide, and had in the cor
ners the American eagle in solid silver.
On the coffin, close TO the glass frame
through which the features were visible,
was bouquet of white flowers, emblems
of purity, and across the centre Of the cOf-
fin was laid long wreath of white roses
and raresl flowers, with bows of white
satin ribbon attached to either end, and on
The coffin was silver plate with the
words "Aaron Vale Brown, Postmaster
General, born August Is, 1896, died
March s, 1852"
A, its foot, on the North side, a colored
female servant, dressed in mourning, sat
silent and still and on the other, or south
side, was small table with bible on it,
open at the page containing the Goth
cha pier Of Psalms, and commencing with
the solemn words, "Judge me, oh Lord
The features of the departed had a calm
and placid look the lips were closely
compressed, but the cheeks had that was
ted look which ever characterize the fear
ful disease of which he died. Around
those wasted cheeks were placed, in clus.
ters beautiful flowers, plucked from the
living stem as he had been plucked from
life, and soon 10 fade into dust and ashes
with him.
Around the bier were placed in an oval
form, three rows Of plain chairs, the mir
rors were covered with white muslin, the
bright colors of the rich carpeting were
hidden from view by covering of white,
the heavy curtains fell in darkening folds
over the windows, and through few
panes in the centre window on the north
side the sunlight entered, falling on the
coffin, as if fgurative Of bright immor-
tality for him who lay in it. No change
had been made in the furniture of the
room, except what we have described
above but the subdued light, the dark
pail, the shades thrown over the mirrors,
and the deep silence which reigned, gave
the room the appearance of the interior Of
some grand mausoleum.
| AS the hour for the funeral services
approached, large crowds came to witness
them. Among them were many dlstin-
guished people, Senators, ex-Senalors,
and many dignataries OF the bench and
bar. Athalf past eleven o'clock the clerks
of The Post Office Department, headed by
First Assistant Postmastef General King,
Second Assistant Dundas, and Third AS
sisant Zevely, together with the Sixth
Auditor and his clerks, marched in formal
procession 10 the White House, and there
passed around the remains of their depar-
ted chief. They were then arrayed on
the east side of the room 10 the number
Of two hundred.
Officers of the army and navy Of the
United States and the diplomatic corps
then entered, and were arranged on The
north side Of the East Room. On each
side of them there were heads Of bureaus,
and other government officials. The
pressure became so great within and with
out at this point, that the doors were tem-
porarily closed. Al the south end oI the
Eas, Room the clergy of this and adjoin-
ing cities were seated in semi-circulsr
rows Of chairs, in the rear of the ofcia-
ting clergymen.
On the east side of the room, Senators
and Members of Congress were seated !;
and On the south were seated the Judges
of the Supreme Conn, and United States
Marshal Selden, who entered the room a
few moments before IL o'clock.
On the north side Of the room, the