New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-10-15


Brow" Lswis-Imp-, s-ive aud Imposing
Funeral Ceremonirs-The Floral Trib-
u'ss-A sketch If she Life Of the Departed
DosToN, Oct. !, 1874.
r, d, Eiityr Of the ye,o Natioaal Era:
sometimes hold il half sin
To put i'm words the grief feel;
For words, like nature, half reveal
And half conceal the soul within.
-Tennyson.
Oar pen was never commissioned with q
saider--not to say a more unwelcome task
than the one to which it bows. And yet no
life can challenge more general Admiration
or command more profound respect, than
that of Theodosia Louisa Elizabeth Brown
Lewis, late of this city.
Society has seldom, if ever, received 50
terrible shock rs Occasioned by the death
of the aboNe-named lady. We We're gradually
returning from our vacations, and bracing
ourselves for the discharge of our accustomed
duties. Unexpected to find all Of our friends
enjoying their usual health but God had
ordained otherwise. On our arrival we were
Informed that Mrs. Lewis was sick. but we
did not dream that it was sickness unto
death.
Her little daughter of two and one-hali
years had been sick, and the incessant vigi-
lance of a devoted mother, cold contracted
in her loving ministry were more than even
her hale system could withstand. The cold
settled upon The chest and superinduced
rheumatism "n tlse heart, IF which she sub.
sequently died.
On Thursday morning, October lst, she
began, TO fail, but 1t seemed impossible for us
10 persuade ourselves that she was danger.
ously ILL., We thought that she had reachs |
the climacteric point in her sickness, and hoped
for a change for the better. Friday morning
it was apparent that a change had taken
place for the worse. But how could we bring
our increiu,ous hearts Ia believe that that
youig woman, young wife, young mother
Just ripening into perfect manhood-would
soon impoverish us by the withdrawal OF
an intelligent and holy lie?
Saturday dawned beautifully. The still
morning air that kissed the cheek so gently /;
the thin blue clouds, softening rather than
obscuring, the suns rays. so that they rested
down gently upon the earth all pOrterded
the solemn event with which the day was to
end.
Few, very few, knew oi Mrs. Lewis sick.
ness. Only fve DAYS before her womanly
form was seen cliiihg graceful, through oui
streets.
1t was now Saturday afternoon. The at
tending physician reluctantly confessed to
the husband of the dying woman that the
case had circumyented his skill, and that
before another sunrise the spirit of the suf-
ferer would be nj rest. After the sad intel
iisence had been broken to the suspocting
husband, we happened TO be approaching in
the direction OF the home Of the departed,
over which the shadow of a mighty grief
lowered. l saw messengers moving with
alacrity in different directions. Their palld
countenances, their compressed lips, told
that their mission wars a SAL one, for they
went to call the acquaintance OF the family
tn the chamber of death.
IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH.
II was now six o'clock T.. NJ, and few
friends of the family--those most intimate
were in the presence Of the monster, Death.
The dying woman possessed Il great deal OF
strength, and, on account of the acute pain
in the region of the heart, threw her arms
about considerably, tossed her head, and
evidently desired to speak.
All had been done that human skill could
do. 1t was seven O'Clock. To the left of
I'll Y
Smith, Mrs. Temoh; at the foot Miss jamie
son, Lieut. Trotter, and the writer. To the
right of the bed were bowed mother. father,
and husband. The rapid breathing had
ceased The hands rested gently upon the
breast. The eyes, that 50 recently moved
so quickly in their socket, and peered out so
wildly upon the mourning group, were now
full of heavenly peace. The marks of suffer-
ing so recently seated upon her cOuntenance
disappeared. as she turned her face toward
her grieving and weeping kindred, and then,
peacefully and triumphantly, passed on to
God.
.sshe is dead" they said to him. "Come
away;
Kiss her and leave her thy love is clay!"
And they held their breath as they left the
room with shudder. to glance at its stiffness
and gloom.
But he, who loved her too well to dread
The sweet, the stately, and the beautiful
dead.
The wires had already flashed the sad It'd
ings to the loved ones far away, while the
news Of the death Of so noble a woman as
Mrs. Lewis fell among the people as thun-
derbolt from out cloudlcss sky.
Tuesday afternoon, at two O'Clock, was the
time appointed for the funeral ceremonies,
which were to take place at Christs' Church,
Salem street.
At an early hour Tuesday morning the
friends began to gather at the residence OF
deceased's father, Mr.. Richard S. Brown,
Esq, 50 Brighton street. brief service
was held at the house, from which place the
cortege moved for the church, where the
regular funeral ceremonies were to be cele-
brated.
The body lay in the back parlor all FORE
noon. 1t was attired in the wedding suit oil
the deceased, consisting of magnificent
whte-corded silk dress trimmed with lace a
wreath of orange blossoms, and bridal veil.
About her brows and beautiful face