The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1875-05-26
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ate and old Mexican soldiers who had
served under General Breckenridge in the
Mexican and sectional wars.
The church was, Of course filed. IL
was touching TO see the crowd that filed
by the coffin to get last look at the coun-
tenance which was rigid in death, but
which still retained traces oil its nobleness
and excellence White and colored passed
by it, looked upon it, and iain would have
asked for q hair for memory. The face
had assumed a waxen hue. II was yellow
and clsmmy. The eye that had so often
melted IN pity at suffering, or blazed with
eloquent indignation at wrong, was closed,
and the lips that had so often dropped
mama were fixed and compressed. The
sable silvered beard was there still, and
the gray locks nId rus ssusprcss------
Grouped around the coffin, besides the
relatives, stood United States Senators
McCreery and Stevenson, Gov Leslie, Col.
! Howard Smith, James N. Tate, and 9TH
ers of the State Government, while near
oy was the Hon. Geo II. PenHleton, of
Ohio, who had come to paw ais tribute to
his dead friend.
The following gentlemen acted as pslI-
bearers:
d. 1Ohn X. Desna, VIC. Il. breckinridg &c,
Maj. John r. Wiley, Gen. William Preston,
Maj. Frslk K. Hunt, Maj. Mat c. johnson,
Gen. Geo. B. Hodge, Hon. James B. Beck,
:. StOddard Johnston, Col. Jilson P. Johnson,
Mr.. George Burch, Gen. Jas. 2. Robinson,
Maj. Clint. McClarty, Judge Hoke,
Major Semple, A Keene Richards,
When the coffin was conducted to the
cemetery, it is estimated that 10000 per-
sons followed it. Reaching the cemetery.
it was placed in a basin surrounded by q
gentle eminence. which was crowded; even
the trees were filled with spectators. Then
the knights Tempiar took charge Of the
coffin and placed il in a vault belonging
to the johnson family, with their usual
ceremonies.
The Grape worn by the order and by the
pall-bearers was laird upon the coffin, and
then were placed beside it the flowers by
the devoted hands OF woman. The corpse
tfests now under the shadow Of the Clay
monument. with the stony eyes of tlre
statue gazing down upon the pulssless
form. Thus passes away one OF the tall
spirits Of the earth.
learn that he said little Just previous
to his death, only moving his hands TO
press back those who stood BY his bed, as
il his great soul required room for its fight.
and his last look was one Of polite recog~
milton to a friend and relative who had
just entered to see his eyes assume glass
81 aspect, and then retreat under the film
of death. His mind was still clear. In
this way the great Kentuckian passed over
the dark river, bidding adieu to the kind.
friendly figures that still remained on this
side, who. with sobbing hearts and fearful
eyes, watched him disappear in the dim
distance of the dark unknown.
But it is frequently the case that when
genius expires it is filed with familiar
scenes and dwells upon the triumphs and
glories Of fading memory Jacks
wished to cross the river and rest under
the shade Of the trees on the other side;
and when Lee cav the dark battalions
OF death approaching, he felt the need Of
those faithful legions who had assaulted
the heights Of Gettysburg. and who had
stood as an iron line in defense Of Rich
mond His mind wandered back to.his
trusty followers, and, turning 10 q friend,
he said, "Send for A. P. Hill" But
Breckenridge did not call up the. devoted
regiments that had followed him.
1t was pitiful, indeed, that such. 3 spirit
should leave his country under the ban
OF ruthless and avenging faDaticism, with
q resolution OF Congress branding bis
corpse with treason. Ii IS q cruel and
deadly judgment which conviets q man
without arraignment and trial; tits the Ia
tai stroke ofthe adder that givesano warn
ing and shows no mercy. Breckenridge
will live in history when the. memory OF
his prosecutors have rotted, and the seeth-
ing lava of party passion which.has swept
over his grave will, when cooled by time,
be wrought in images to his honor.
A stranger on reaching the town. is at
once filled with the most painful and
somber emotions. The oppressive qpiet
that is almost felt in the streets, and the
draperies Of gloom that hang from, every
window, show that the popular heart has
been wrung by no ordinary suffering.
Every face seems to shed sadness, and
you had only to run your eyes along the
solemn procession that conducted the
corpse to- TIE grave TO see stout forms
shaken with a storm Of sobs and eyes
melting with the tenderness of teams. The
solemn Come ye disconsolate," was sung
BY voices trembling with emotion, the
funeral sermon was preached, the coffin
placed in the hearse. and the black plumes
Of death nodding in the sunlight He
has been laid in his grave, but the atmos-
phere seems still instinct with the spirit
OF the dead statesman, and we feel the
presence and power of departed majesty
as sensibly as the sentinels in Hamlet
recognized the royal soul of the buried
king in the "disembodied spirit that dis
turbed their vigils and wayiaid their
beat" The scene is in strange contrast
with budding nature, about 10 assume
the freshness and beauty Of spring. The
imposing form that few days ago con-
tanned the noblest soul that ever breathed
the air Of Kentucky has been committed
to worms that will gnsw 10 into dust and
rudely riot in its rotten sleep.
1t is a sad commentary upon life and
its vanities. and il is lesson to the am
bilious mind storing itself with the choicest
resources OF learning and seeking to grasp
the fieeting embiens Of temporal great
ness
But for the Christian faith that stands
by the open grave to burst its cerements
and declare that there is resurrection
and life, the untimely marring Of such
a structure in the vigor ofits power would
chill all human aspiration and condemn
mankind 10 the degenerscy OF beasts But
that almighty instinct ofimmortality tells
US that the feverish struggle for the deyel-
opment and enrichment OF the mind ia
not in vain; that the soul unclogged by
its tenement Of clay can soar with even
and unshaken wing to the familiar pres
ence Of a wisdom which far surpasses all