Ellsworth American., 1875-12-02
Cores ,Jondence.
Letter II ON Washington
wAs .HINGToN. Nov. a4th.

sauhe>s-hc h' IL looked so strong, this sialwart
man. and bor, so little trace of his former ILL
ness, until Iii, last attack, that death seemed
very far from him. and to human ken his pros
pect for the "three-score years and ten were
better than with many younger man. but now
his hour had struck, and none could stav his
going either by offices of friendship or medical
| skill. Well for him that he could 90 so easily
\ and painlessly,
| Immediately the city put on it, mourning
array. and from the Government buildings
| tloated the bright-hued flag at half-mast. while
trimmings Of black bedecked the editices be-
| low-the Washington House. where the dead
man had made his home for so many sessions.
was suitably put in mourning. and the grand
old Capitol told its tale of sorrow in cgibe
black-letter at every point.
| The disgusting details of the autopsy being
over, the body lay in state in the Rotunda Of
the Capitol on Thursday, forming a strange
contrast 10 the Thanksgiving holiday, and all
day constant stream Of people were passing
I by il. The immense roomj was appropriately
decorated with flags draped about the walls.
lcoped from the pictures by black bands. with
black intermingled in the most effective man.
ner all about, giving a Scautiful appearance (if
one may Use that word in such connection).
and in the centre, on a huge cataialque. wa,
the coffin containing all that remained Of Henry
I Wilson. The coffin was of rosewood with
heavy silver handles. and large plate with the
name and dates inscribed upon it. The body
rested upon white satin lining with heavy
silver fringe. and was a'iired in a ,uit of black
with shoes of patent leather. the plate glass
cover Of the coffin allowing the whole figure to
be seen; one hand lay al hi, side. while the
other was placed across the breast inside the
coat. in an easy. natural po>ition-ihc face was
little worn by suffering. hat recognizable.
/ although somewhat discolored and changed in
look, by the partly-opcncd mouth. The cN-
preston wa, peaceful and happy. a, if the dead
man only slept for a season. undi>lufbcd by the
turmoil about him. Was he unconscious Of
alls
Beautiful flowers were upon and around the
coffin. making the drcary scene a. bright a,
possible by their presence and at the head and
foot stood soldiers a. fixed as statues. never
moving an eyciid 4, far a, could b. seen-thc
crowd went by them continually. and iosil-d
against them, rudcly or not a. the case might
be-, and still they stood. ruu,ionlcs, a, the
corpse they guarded. wonder 20 all who
looked Al them.
Il wac estimated that filly twenty thousand
people visited the corpse that daS. and looked
at the body: but there wa, no disturbance. all
seemingly hu,hcd TO reverence by the sigh. .
and to forget that noise could be made. .uch
was the influence Of il.
| The next day appointed for the funeral SEP
vices was one Of the rainiesi imaginable. but
very early the crowd wendcd it, WAY 20 the
T Capitol, and by the hour named for the service
there was hardly space for stray mouse. had
mouse inclined 10 be present.
The President. the supreme Court ru>iling
In the robes Of Office, the Diplomatic Corps
headed by Sir Edward Thornton. the variou,
associations of the District with the senator,
and Representatives IN the city, made goodly
show, and the members ol the Mas>achu.cti,
Committee added by their uniforms 10 the pic
ture>que appearance Of the senate Hal.
The Hall itself wa- drapcd in dc,l.-, black
about the corniccs Of the gallcric, and door.
with fold OF Grape abou, the Nlcc-Prs~idcut',
desk and chair, in front Of which wa. placed
the CatAfalque bearing The coffin .aI.
pathetic sight. indeed. 20 sec the g.rra: men
Of the country assembled 10 10 honor 10 him.
80 lately their peer, and now dcaI in their
mid>i. only waiting for the Last word. o. D.
said, TO be borne nom among them forever
Here no gaudy flag rested the cye bat ali va
mourning, and the deep hush In tho room al
"a 10 the solcinnty Of the scene, q. the body
was brought in. preceded by Rev. Byron sun
vlrri4uf lhar.fafn q Ia. ,.f...
words Of the burial service. The sermon. by
Rev. DR.. Rankin Of the Congregational
Church, where Mr.. Wilson was constant A.
tendant, was one Of hi. finest efforts and well
suited to the time and place. In a portion Of
IT. . parallel was drawn between the two di>-
tingu>hcd ION. Of Mas.schu.cti.. Sumner and
Wilson, both dying here. and buried from the
same place, 80 similar in death. - di,.imiar in
life and advantages. Yet both the outsrowth Of
New England sOil. and both had done 80 much
, for the country and for humanity in their d.f-
fcrent WAYS. The Rev. gentleman wa, very
happy in his words, and was listened 10 with
/ great attention by the crowd within. The
/ brother Of Mr. Wilson. with his wife. and
! few mourners were seated near the body. and
appeared overcome with grief at the great los,
which had 50 suddenly fallen upon them, and
the whole company were deeply impressed by
/ the sorrow of the occasion, and u the benedio-
tion wa, pronounced. and the Nice-President
carried from hi place, 4 new warning Of the
uncertainty Of life was felt by ALL apparently,
and the vacant chair" with il, sable adorn-
ings. told it, tale to the living that he who had
filled II had gone out TO return no more.
The crowd outside waited, 4, a crowd usual
ly does. gocd-naturedly. and bore the di.com-
fort graciou,y, amusing Itself By counting UNI
orellas, and such other diversion. as the time
and place suggested, TO be finally rewarded by
the sight Of procession. which would have
been imposing under bright sky. but as the
rain kept falling the glory was din, and it
seemed more than the funeral of a man. but a.
# all hope was going with him. and the grand
hearse with its Fix horses and black acquire
nenis symbolic Of more than ordinary sorrow
The bands played their mournful tunes, the
chimes ehimed their saddest. bell. tolled their
dreariest, and with it all, came the shrieking
ofthe engine, and Henry Wilson, dead, left the
city which lad honored him living, and now
nOurned for him in diving.