The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-04-22
Thr Bnllftin,
AN INNOVATION.
Singular Funeral Ceremonies over
the Body of - chicago Lady.
fFrom the Chieago Tribune. 2oth }

Known as Il .Otdl ulsDelltNtF III ftNtuleu
religion of whatever form or kind. These
views Mrs. Stiles had deeply considered,
and finally adopted, so that it was not
without cause that many looked forward
TO some striking peculiaritcs IN the SER
wees over the dead. Nobody was at
all disappointed. Neither clergy.
man nor priest OBLIGATED The only in
sigma o. griei were the tell.tale evidences
OF eyes red with weeping, and even these
were only noticeable at times, and gen
orally, only i'm those who had not come
TO ,hink oil religion as a mere vain,
empty, useless. WORKOUT form. Tue
two parlors III Gen. Stiles house. No.
2G3 Warren avenue, were filled with
kind-hearted friends, while the halls were
thronged with those who could not find
room inside. sympathy may have
moved them all, and doubtless it did,
but the stronger motive OF curiosity was
also present, and not few were on the
very tiptoe OF expectation. A table In
the front parlor and still larger
one in the back parlor were or
namented with beautiful floral designs.
A piano stood open in the front par
lor ready tor use. as will be alter
wards seen. Gen. stiles sat in the back
parlor In large, roomy easy chair.
then conferred with some of those around
him in regard TO the arrangements. Prom
lnent among those who came TO express
their sympathy were Judge McAllister,
Messrs. Murray +. Tuley and John
Lewis, partners OF Gen. stiles, Judge
Wilkinson, Gen. Buiord, j. ID. Ward,
and others. The exercises were to com
mence at O'Clock, but there was some
delay. While waiting, Gen. Stiles took
occasion TO remark that he should be
pleased TO see all present converse freely
aud be as cheerful as possible. There
was no general need tor the remark, for
most OF the ladies had anticipated its
spirit, and had given the reins to their
tongues. Some OF the old.ias hionei
people, however, still chung 10 the old
manner OF looking solemn and even tear
iul. Tor which no doubt many pitied them
in their Utmost hearts. Finally every
thing seemed ready.
GIN. STILES AROSE,
And, ia a clear voice such n he has
p-cd hundreds OF times in appealing TO
the iurics, said:
This viii DC unlike most funerals. II
will be conducted in manner to great
extent different IRON other funerals Yet
in arrangements 1 have thought best,
from what have known 10 be the views
OF my wife iii respect 10 IL III the case OF
her death or my own, and from what
know 20 be the views OF my children, TO
pay some Difference 10 public sentiment.
have not intended to:ignore entirely the
customs OF the people among whom
live. | think | owe some respect 10 the
opinions OF everybody with whom | as
sOciate and live, though they differ radi-
cally from my own. There are some
things ] would like to speak OF. ! don't
know how tar | shall be able 10 control
| my self The fact is, that nature has been
making her demands on me that have
to be responded to, and she may renew
them before get through"
sGen. Stiles then entered upon short
| Biography OF his departed wife, dwell
! ing upon those traits which so eminently
| distinguished her, ard which were SC
| strlkingly brought 10 hight in their
| peaceful, happy lives. In one place he
rave way to tears. But it was only tor
a second. He had gone on 10 say that
! his wife had at first objected TO
| nIs ENTERING The ARMY.
I'VE were newly married. said he
"our honeymoon was not over; indeed
| il never has been over until yesterday
| The recollection OF the past was so full OF
| meaning to him that the tears would
| flow in spite Of his iortitude. Nature hac
renewed the demands upon him that Ia
alluded 10 In the first part of his al
| dress. But it was only moElentary
effect, and he then went on as brave d;
ever.
at was about the close of the war,
| he continued, "or shortly afterwards
that Mrs. Stiles, who had been q membe
of the Presbyterian church, having join
| ed IL when she was 4 child, not because
of any convictions particularly, but be
| cause il was the habit in that country 10
children OF religious parentage TO Joli
the church at an age-it was abou
this time that she began TO consider thu
evidences upon which her opinions hat
| roctod, II thero were any. She became
very thoughtful upon the subject. He
mind was then tending in that direction
in which my own had Travelled, bu
which seduously kept from discussing
with her for fear that she might be de
veloped as | had been developed. Blu
we believed in substantially the same
things, and If on her death-bed she hat
asked me TO pray, as utterly useless as i
seems to me, would have done SO. He
views in year or two changed radically
and it at first caused her great deal O
uneasiness. More than once / though
of Herbert Spencer's remark: No men
tai revolution is accomplished withou
much larceration.'"
Gen. Stiles then went on to say tina
after Mrs. Stiles had passed through tina
period OF uneasiness,
HER NEW CONVICTIONS,
Formed in the clear light OF reason, in
stead of from any undue excitement
caused her no pain or disQuietude wha,
ever. She could not resist the conclu
sion that as to the beginning and end
human mind could not know nothin
with any degree of certainty. 1t Wa
because she had entertained these view!
formed under no spasmOdic influenc'
but with her sober, calm judgement
that ne had not called in the aid of preacl
er or priest, although he should hay
had no elections to calling on ministt
if he had happened to be friend of Mr.
Stiles and himself, and had happened
be present.
I
In once speaking to her about the pc
sibility of her death, of which she SCENE
70 have some premOnition, she had