The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-08

around the grave was completely enshrouded
with flags, so as to conceal it from view. The
ground inside was strewn with wild flowers,
and marble bust of Douglas, with a model
of the monument, were placed on pedestals
near the head of the grave.
| The scene of the ceremony was on the shore
of Lake Michigan, within ten feet of the wa
ter. The stands completely surrounded the
tomb, and in the interval between these, far
off to the boundaries of the Douglas estate,
| the audience was massed in solid ranks. The
entire spectacle presented an amphtheatre, of
which the inclined seats formed the sides, and
the open lake the background.
The entry of the Presidential procession
was the first impressive point in the proceed
| ings. A band of music preceded the cortege; a
battalion of Knights Templar succeeded, and
| the representatives of the Masonic fraternity
followed. The latter assembled the stand and
rested Immediately around the base of the
monument, where they prepared to perform
the ancient rites.
Al this point, just before the appearance of
the President the vast crowd broke the ropes
rushed to nearly all parts of the field. Order
was fully restored by the Knights Templar
and Ellsworth Zouaves.
| A light shower fell for few moments, but
finished soon enough to avoid any marring of
the scene.
The President and party, with heads un-
covered, now entered the grounds. The order
Of their progress on foot was particularly no
ticeable; Seward had the Presidents ARM
Welles and Randall walked together; Grant
accompanied Romero ~
At the approach of the procession the au-
dience, as if actuated by one simultaneous
impulse, rose to their feet From the house
tops, where the cars stopped on the shores Of
the lake, from people in windows, in vehicles,
and even in the trees, one long and hearty
huzza assembled The demonstration be-
tokened considerable feeling, being at once
an indication Of enthusiasm at the presence of
the distinguished guests, and an appreciation
of the solemnity of the occasion.
On the lofty platform elevated above the
rest of the assembage was seated the most
important concourse that perhaps ever COL
lected under similar circumstances Most of
the great officials in every department of the
Government surrounded the President. The
youthful sons of Mr.. Douglas were present,
and touchingly reminded every one of the sad
object that had assembled the pilgrims.
The first in the course of the proceedings
was brief but appropriate address by Mayor
Rice. The Masonic Grand Master of illinois,
J. R. Gavin, appeared in front of the stand
and delivered Short touching, and eloquent
address, in which he paid a glowing tribute
to the memory of the illnstrous deceased
both as friend and as Mason, and referred
to the fact that statue will be placed on the
monument, visable to the voyager of this in
land sea as long as starlight and sunbeams
love to dance on its crested pillows
Hba ,lo1, -oJ ~ n
vine blessing upon the ceremony, when the
ceremony of laying the corner stone took place
according to the Masonic Ritual After bless
ing with corn, wine, and oil, the stone was
lowered in its place, while minute guns were
being fired, and the band played a dirge
which seemed to solemnize all hearts,
The Grand Master congratulated those pre-
sent on the fact that there was present no less
person than the President of the United
States, with distinguished heads of depart
ments, and who was, as he had heard and be-
lieved, member of the Masonic fraternity
This remark was applauded by the clapping
of hands.
A prayer was then delivered by the Rev
VIM. H, Milburn, of the Protestant Episco-
pal church, when the orator of the day, Mai
Gen. Dix, addressed the assemblage substan-
TALLY as follows;
Fellow Citizens: The scene in which we are
actors to-day, with all its sure unding circum-
stances and accompanying recolections, has
no parallel in this or any other age We are
assembled within the confines of city num-
berlng over two hundred thousand inhab-
tants distant one thousand miles from the
ocean, where thirty-four years ago nothing
was seen but an unbroken expanse of prairie
on the one side, and the outspread waters of
lake Michigan on the other-both extending
far beyond the compass of the sight; nothing
heard but the voice of the great inland sea,
from the sands on which its waves were
breaking, or the more unwelcome voices of
the savage tribes who roamed over these ma
jestic plains, where, within half the span of
an ordinary life there was one vast solitude,
all is full of activity and progress, and the
treasures of polished civilization, Industry
and the arts display their stores with a boun-
teousness which might we'll be mistaken for
the accumulated surpluses of centuries;
science is teaching the truths which have been
developed by the researches of the past, and
charging the boundaries of human knowledge
by new discoveries; education is universally
difused; and above all, the temples which re-
liglon has reared to the service of God, from
every precinct and almost every street of the
city point their spires to Heaven, as it were
in acknowledgment of the mercful protection
under which it has triumphed over all the
obstacles to its growth and become strong
and self-reliant and prosperous
! Feow-citizens, in no other country of the
present, in no age Of the past. could such a
miracle of civilization have been wrought
And now this great city and the great West,
of which it is by comparison but an incousid-
cradle part, have poured out the tens of thou
sands who stand around me, in mass so ex-
tended that no human voice could reach your
outer ranks. You have come here to render
the homage of your respect to the memory of
one who rose among you to the highest emil
hence for talent and for successful labor in
your service. And the chief magistrate of