The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-02-27
In MEMORIAM.

death of Pic Mono, and was a dis
play to be remembered, and we offer
no excuses to our readers by sparing
much of our space in condensing
from the New Orleans papers, some
account of this mortuary celebra-
tom
SIN spite of the very bad weather
which prevailed yesterday, the cere
monies in commemoration Of the
death of his Holiness Pope Plus IN
were held in accordance with the an.
nounced programme, and were par
Iticipated in by the great mass of the
population Of the city, irrespective of
creed or caste.
| At 9 O'Clock A. NJ. a solemn re-
aniem mass was celebrated at the
Cathedral. Long before the appoin.
ted hour dense crowd had gathered
in front of the church, and when the
doors were opened there was an ea
ger rush for the interior. The press
of people Was so great that several
persons were quite severely bruised,
and neither the reception committee-
men aor the policemen stationed at
the doors could restrain the eager
throng.
In less than fifteen minutes the
nave, aisles and galleries were filled
with people, and every available seat
was occupied, not even standing
room being left.
was in the highest degree an impos-
ing one. The drspings were most
elaborate and tasteful. The gale
ries we're hung with broad strips of
serge bordered with yellow. The
sable curtains extended entirely
around the nave.
At each pillar on the background,
formed by clusters of national flags,
furled, the Papal flag predominating,
was suspended the representation of
the Papal escutcheon, and in the in
tervals between the pillars were me-
dallions marked with the Pontiical
insignia, the keys ofSt. Peter. Sim
liar decorations were observed over
the sanctuary.
THE cATAFALQUE.
In the midst Of the nave was the
catafslque, erected in memory of the
deceased Pontiff.
The structure was designed by
Mr.. James Freret, assisted by Mr..
J. A. d'Hemecourt, and did credit to
these architects. The DECORATIONS
were by Messrs. Segras Hum
brecht. The tomb stood upon a
broad high plinth, under canopy Of
serge bordered with yellow, and sur
mounted BY cross. The tomb was
hung with purple velvet, and sur
rounded with burning tapers. At
the bead was bust of the deceased
Pontiff, and at the foot golden
wreaths. On each corner stood the
figures of angels robed in white
Four steps led up to the tomb; on
the first was the Priests black cap;
on the second the Bishops mitre;
on the third the red hat of CarGi-
nal, and the topmost step the Papal
Tiara. Suspended over the canopy
was halo emblamatic of the glory
of the Holy Ghost.
10 the aisle Immediately in front
of the catafalque was posted q de-
tachment made up of members of
Batteries A, B and C, Louisiana
Field ARTILLERY, composing the guard
OF honor, under the command of
Lieut.. j. o. Augustin, and a colder
was also stationed at each corner Of
the catafalque.
Upon the sides of the Catafalque
were the following Inscriptions re-
ferring TO events in the reign of the
Pope: "Colleg. Americana" "Im.
mac. Conception, 1854" "Hierar
CHA Anglia" "Concil vaticum,
1862" Hierarchia Americana
"Colleg. Anglia"
The full and graphic account of
1ne celeoratlon ana the meeting OF
the people, one hundred thousand
strong, irrespective of creed and
caste, in the Crescent City, fills the
space of many solid columns of all
the City journals, and we regret that
we have only spare space to give the
opening address of j. B. LATTE, and
the Preamble to the Resolutions, as
drawn up by the Chairman of the
Committee, the gifted and venerable
Charles Gayarre.
Mr.. LAFITTE,
Chairman Of the Committee of Ar