Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-05-12
Correspondence OF the Cedar Falls Gazette.
Faneral Ghsequies OF The President a
Chicago.


In our faint description of the honors
to the lste President in our letter to you
yesterday, we wound up with the pro-
ces.ion and the placing of the remains
in The City Hall upon the splendid cat
aialco. Money and labor has not been
epared in making the catafalco and the
rotunda of the City Hall beautiful. The
catafalco stands in the center OF the ro-
tunda. The canopy is of rich black
velvet, lined with white satin with sill
yer fringe. AT each corner stand vases
filled with parc flowers sending forth a
rich, puif9ent perfume. Boquetsof flow
ers, composed of camellias, orange bios
SONS, nj! rare and rich flowers too nu-
merous to mention, are arranged beau
| tifully on the dais around the coffin.-
+! The canopy is wreathed with festoons
Of camellias. and evergreens OF all de-
scriptions. The roof of the catafalco is
made of heavy cloth, with thirty-siX
stars cut out covered with white gauze,
and overthese are placed refiectors which
causes the light to shine through the
stars upon the body below, with beau
tifully soft, yellow, mellow radiance
This memorial is truly magnificent. 1t
is estimated that the flowers in and
around the coffin were worth one thou
sand dollars. ....
At o'clock the doors Of the City Hall
were opened to the public, and from
that tins.until /! O'Clock this evening
a steady stream of visitors has been
passing through the Hall. tits estima-
ted that over 250,010 have viewed the
remains. The rich, the poor, the white,
the black - old and young - walking
side by side, all on the same level. A
nation loved him! The eagerness to
see him for the last time shows how
universal and sincere is tile sorrow of
the people. a placid, calm counten-
ance, and life-like appearance rested
upon the face of Mr.. Lincoln. His face
was somewhat discolored around the
eyes and mouth, from the nature Of his
wound.
During the night the German singers, )
and others, chanted some beautiful
pieces. The one that had the most
thrilling and beautiful effect was by /
about four hundred Germans at mid !
night. They gathered around the east
door. and sang a beautiful dirge. The /
night was dark, with slight sprink- !
ling of rain. Oh, how beautiful, there .
in the stiffness of the night, chanting .
the solemn strains to him who had gone .
to his heavenly rest! Ii listening to .
the beautiful melody we thought we
could hear the choiring cherubims OF
the better world, echoing back the mu- !
steal strains. Ii seemed az if the spirits /
above were weeping around his bier as
those solemn notes were waited OH the |
air. Never can that scene at midnight's .
solemn hour be forgotten After the /
singers had finished, the Brass Band, !
some fifty performers, struck up sol
cmn piece.
As night drew near preparation be-
gan for the departure of the guard OF
honor with the remains for Springfield. !
At Y o'clock the doors of the City Hall |
were closed. \ delegation OF ladies re-
placed the faded with fresh memcntos !
of Flora. The coffin was then closed .
and taken by the Guard of Honor and ,
placed in the hearse. Some three hun .
bred torch bearers encirclcd the hearse, /
and within that circle some two humid !
red and fifty singers sang a solemn fare
we'll dirge. a procession was then
formed and marched to the cars Of the |
St. Louis d Alton r. r. As the re-
mains were being put into the car, the .
Germans chanted several beautiful .
pieces. At half-past nine thecars started /
slowly, without ringing the bell or .
blowing the whistle. As the car passed .
away the band played a dirge-
" FAREWELL farewell! noble Chieftain, fare !
WCH!'
Probably never did the death OF any
one man come TO the hearts of SO many
as IL personal bereavement. He had en- /
shrincd himself in the confidence OF
the people, and their hearts will long |
be draped in sorrow and gloom because /
of his death. Let us bow in humble |
resignation to the Divine purpose and
will.
Weep Columbia weep q be brave:
Shed warm tears o or Lincoln : = ave;