Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-02-04
The Peabody ObseqMicS.

The Peabody ObseqWics.
The Portland papers have been filled.
the past week. with this matter. which it
is hard to cpitonisc in q weekly. The
government have pId great honors to the
distinguished American philanthropist
who had been their citizen for many years.
and who had munifccntly bestowed a
portion of the wealth which he had ac-
CURED among them, for the benefit oftheir
poor. George Peabody was remarkable
man. Born in Massachusetts, he was
eminently self. made man. He never
owned a horse, nor the house he lived in {;
though man OF frugal habits, he was
princely in his charities and gifts. He
was his own Executor, giving away, in
his lifetime. over eight millions of dollars.
The order of his mind was rather con.
sentative. and possibly the associations
OF his later years, in aristocratic circles,
somewhat tainted his views. Though
patriotic and national. he was understood
to be sympathiser with the South, in the
rcbellion-but not Extensively so. Mr.,
Peabody commenced business in England
i'm 1929, and was never natmalized. lie
chose TO remain an American citizen. and
refused all English titles and honors. He
had the choice 10 live private citizen.
but at his death honors are paid 10 his
remains equal to those conferred upon any
potentatc that ever lived. England laid
his body in Westminster Abbey, among
her kings; she deputcd one of the noblest
ships of her navy to take his remains to
his native shores; the highest dignitaries
of the land paid homage 10 the man
while proceedings OF like nature occur
as his remains reach this country. Port
land IS the seaport which has the honor
of receiving the feet which bears his body
TO our shore The pomp and ceremony
attending these obsequies may appear
unscemly to our simple tastes-there may
be little OF true solemnity attending them
but they are worthy of the occasion and
the man.
We visited the city on Saturday, and in
with the Legislature, went down
the harpor in the Revenue Cutter Mahon-
inc 10 view the remains, in state, on board
the Monarch, the English Steamer which
brought the body over,
1t was beautiful sight in the harbor
n the procession Of boats moved with the
remains to the shore. The body was de-
lvered to the custody of the Stale by the
Captain OF the Monarch. in a few APP
remarks. aud received by Gov.
in fitting words.
An imposing procession was then
formed. consisting of the State troops,
marines of tho Monarch, the officers.
admiral Farragat and staff and other dig
nitaries, whchproccedei tn the City Hall,
" Ntlt INC ltlilthlN WIZ wv litNl'Nh a u'
funeral Car was magnitice mt; the City
Hall deliberately and elegantly draped,
and every thing arranged with taste and
appropriateness. The hall was darkened.
aud g,s lights and candles KEEP, burning.
State tro ops did guard duty ill Tuesday,
when. after other funeral solemuities.
the body was delivered 10 the committee
from nauvcrS and Peabody. to be carried
To his native town where other ceremonies
await the remains of the distinguished
man, before they are removed from
mortal gaze.
II i estimated that sixty thousand
people were in Portland on Saturday. and
nearly rs many on Tuesday.