The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-05-03

Il day or two, in this great metropolis -
To a stranger New York presents scenes
Of interest, elsewhere unequaled; but at
this particular crisis of great events, the
Demonstrations in both word and act, are
truly sublime. The news of the Prcsi
dents death struck the people like a ;hun-
derbolt of woe. Every count enance was
saddcned, every heart filed with the
deepest grief.
Scarcely could one believe himself still
residing in New York, so hushed to silent
mourning was this great city. Flags
were Immediately at half-mast; the hum
Of business ceased buildings throughout
the entire city were dressed in Grape; the
badge of mourning was put on, while the
eyes of not II few were moist, for truly
strong men were seen to weep"
But the most imposing and solemn
scene, by far, commenced yesterday,
about l a. NJ, upon the arrival of the
Presidents body. The crowd was i'm
mensG. Streets for many blocks were a
living throng. From windows, balconies
fences, house-tops, and every cminence
were myriads of gazing specta tors, anxious
to catch even a glimpse Of the coffin
which contained the dust of the noble
dead. The funeral car, 50 dark and ricl ;
the horses tina. drew it in sable dress :;
the guard Of honor formal and grave !:
the military escort with trailing bayonets,
and the living mass that followed, all
moving with slow and solemn tread.
was scene Of extraordinary grandeur
and solemnity.
As the procession ncared City Hall.
where the corpse was to be viewed, the
crowd seemed TO increase, until Broad
way became one dense mass of human
beings almost too dense to move.
Reverently and lovingly, the remains
OF the Pres ident were borne TO the inter
Tor Of the Hall, while thousands were
anxiously waiting to view, for the last
time, the face SO lately animated with a
noble soul, but now cold in death.
The cofiin-lid was silently removed by
the undertaken as in the presence of
guardian spirits, and one after another.
in single file, on either side Of the coffin.
move quietly, but rapidly by. This I'M
interrupted line continued twenty-five
hours, when thousands left unable 10 view
the corpse. AS the shades of evening
drew ON the scene became intensely SOL
cmn and impressive.
The streets at midnight were crowded
as upon Holiday.
Etfecting an entrance TO the Hall. be.
tween II and l A. NJ. fortunately no
later) | stood in the rotunla and gaz,d
upon the passing drama, so toucbingly
solemn, with unwontcd reverence and
emotion.
The bell had just tollcd the midnight
hour, and why this vast concour.e of pco-
pie =! A voice seemed to answer: BE.
hold how they loved him !"
Without regard TO profession, stature.
nationality, sex, age or color, one after
another continued to wend his way I'M
the stairs the gas-light imparting a Pc
culiar gloom to the surrounding crane.
until he stood with head uncovered in
the presence of the holy dead. MANY
wonle gladly have fingered here for a
moment, but the waiting thousands with
OUT forbade; a simple glance, ard YOU
fastened ON. One lady, however, paused.
and deposited few howere on the coffin.
while another even impressed kiss upon
the cold forehead of the corpse and be-
dewed it with q tear.
While this living line continued, caus-
ing low hollow sound of footsteps. like
the ripling' of water in a dark place, over
seventy male voices united in solemn
dirge which, performed in the German
tongue down in the rotunda below. mo-
duced in the lofty dome above, sadden-
ing yet thrilling effect.
Thus scene after scene of quiet but
surprising interest engrossed the attention
OF the spectator during the whole of this
mournful occasion.
From accurate observation, it is found
that over one hundred and fifty thousand
persons viewed the corpse lying in state,
while multitude left saddened that they
could not be thus gratiied. Alp. NJ.
the funeral car appeared In front of the
Hall, drawn by sixteen gray horses richly
caparisoned, and soon the remains of the
President were being slowly borne away.
The procession, which consisted of near
ly one hundred thousand people in line,