Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-05
The National Holiday and the Sight
SeerS,

The National Holiday and the Sight
Seers.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WAsHINGToN, November 3O.-The
funeral OF the Vice. President was, in
spite OF the rainy esther, very ira-
posing pageant. The hearse, heavily
draped in black, was drawn by six white
horses. 1t was preceded by a squsdrOn
of cavalry aud followed by bands of mu-
sic and several companies of infantry,
with arms reversed ard dropping ban
ners. Then followed long line of car
riayes, two abreast, containing the reIa-
| tives of the deceased; the President and
his cabinet, the chief-justice and iusti-
ces Otthe supreme court, members of
| the diplomatic corps and citizens. The
bard5 played dirges. The chimes of
the Metropolitan church discoursed fu-
neral marches, while the sullen boom of
the cannon, and the acres of dark UNI.
brellas lifted against the weering heav-
ems, intensified the gloom of the solemn
occasion. AS the hearse passed under
the tall marble statue of Lincoln, it was
impossible to avoid contrast between
the immense gs 5heriDg that had w&ited
an hour in the rair to see the procession.
and the paltry crowd that had started
from this spot, two weeks before, to ser
enade General Grant in oongratUlation
Of the Repub lean victory in the Novem-
Der elections.
The death OF Mr.. WiIson, like the
death Of Chase, Sumner, Greeley and
Seward, serves to mark still more en-
phatieally the wide distinction between
the spublicanism of the past and the
R9E u 1licanism of to-day; between the
Rspublicanism that was inspired with
misaiOn, ead enabled Gy enthusiasm and
the Eondesoript sma'gem of Grant,
Butler, Chandler, rings, relatives ct id
071a'ls genus, glued together by corrup-
ton and the cohesive force OF plumber.
THESE solemn occasions in Washington
are set OF by custom quig9 incOnRfu-
Gus with the idea of mourning. The
Oath OF so distinguished pubic n an
as Mr.. Wilson u the OCCASION Of : ma
tiOnsl holiday. Ine government ot1ices
are all closed, and the hearts of ten
thousand clerks. full Of gratitude to the
HN""ased. speculate hopefully upon the
neurological future, aud wonder WEo
will have the kindness to die very soop
and furnish another b. liday.
Going through the treasury depart
ment on Monday log, your CORE
spondent was met by number OF fe-
male clerks somewhat excited over the
event, who said, almost IN one breath,
Have you heard ofthe Vice-Presiden's
death? On what day do you think he
will be buried? Do you thick We will
have holiday, and that we will be pad
for it?' La! Pm afraid the funeral will
be on Thanksgiving day, and that we
will have but one holiday. But Thanks
giving was the day af'ec, and tie COS
mopolitap, semi 67hexlieRTS pot. pOltrTi
of all States, nations and tongues, COM
posing what Senator Morton calls 'the
best civil service on the planet" had
two holidays.
Corcoran's art gallery WAS open OF
Thanksgiving, and the executive de-
partments being closed it shared with
the rotunda Of the capitol, where the
dead Vice-PIesident reposed in state,
the immense throng OF visitors.
There have teen recent additions to
this gallery, both in statusry aud paint.
ing, and the effect of the whole has been
enhanced by Encouragement. The i'm
mense plaster casts from the Florentien
doors have been removed to the east
hall. A cast of Rienhardt's beautiful
nude Clyte has been placed in the room
containing the statues of the Venuses OF
Thorwaldren, Capoya, and di Nedici.
To my unregulated eye, the CIyte is
more beautiful than any Of them The
large ball OF statuary is now rather
overcrOwded with casts from the most
celebrated antique models. The west
hall contains fine collection of bronzes,
besides rare specimens of ancient armor,
weapons, plate etc.
The additions to the picture gallery
have not been numerous, but there has
been recently hung a picture Of Charlotte
Cordsy, gazing through the bars of her
prison, which always arrests the atten-
ton OF the visitor and holds it long.
The fine nose, sad, heroic eyes, the deli
cate, determined mouth, the grand, pale,
sorrowfui face of the inspired murderess
are triumph Of art in its endeavor 10
catch and hold forever an ideal of dar-
ing, suffering, criminal patriotism. l
could not help thinking, as she looked
with plaintive defiance through the
bars of her prison, that she should have
lived in another age and have been the
wife Of Brutus. He would not have
withheld from her the terrible secret
that aroused the feminine curiosity of
Portia, and che would not have with
held the dagger he carried for Caesar
and for himself.
The contest for the speakership Is be-
coming breathlessly intense. Two can.
didates appear confident Of cleo.
tion-Mr. Randall and Mr.. Kerr,
| had the pleasure of meeting the
latter gentleman this evening. He Is q
qniet, notwithstanding man, and his
manners and presence suggest the idea
Of safety. A prominent member from
the west said to me: '"Write to your pa.
per that Mr.. Kerr will be the speaker.
know, and there can be no doubt about
It." But there seems to be some doubt
abont it, after all; for, since the with
drswal Of Mr.. Weed from the contest,
those who are not the psrtisans of either
Of the prominent candidates seem to-
consider Mr.. Randalps chances as rather
n q b ttar Of Tho