The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-01-30
A Congrestman's Funeral.

When q Congressman dies at Wash
ington while Congress is IN session, it
is customary to hold the funeral services
at the cspisol, as in the recent instances
OF the late Representatives Hartridge
and Schleicher. To give our readers
an idea of the manner In which this i'm
pressive ceremony is conducted, we
append the following description of the
scene connected NTH Mr.. Schleicher's
funeral: ."-s % ...
The government in all its branches,
legislative, Judicial and executive, met
in the hall of the Housefat IL O'Clock.
The House met ard adjourned, and the
Senate soon afterward receiving the
formal message Of the House, adjourned
too. .-
The House met at o'clock. The
Speaker, with white saah over his shoul-
der, fastened by a rosette Of black and
white, took his seat before thronged
desks and filled seats, and gave q single
rap with his gavel. The swinging doors
were pushed oper. "A tall; white-headed
man walked in, 80 often the head of this
procession, and behind him, two and
two, came the Senate, the sergeantat-
arms, French, 1eading,a rpeete of black
and white for some inscrutable. reason
on his shoulder. The aoor-kseper turn
ed. "Mr. Speaker" heSshouted, as q
man must to be heard oneihunored feet:
The, Speaker AROSE. sc The Senate of
the United Statelbn said Field, as the
head of the procession ipasses abreast
aThe Senate of the United States, y
said the. Speaker, like an echo, and his
hammer fell with . single sharp tap as
the pausing proces sion moved on. The
House arose, and, through its standing
ranks, the Senate passed to its seats.
Before those seats in o. cuving line,
were the green chairs set to the left and
right of the Speaker for the federal ju-
dietary and the federal executive. Buc-
cesaiyely there came the same simple,
announcement "Mr. Speaker, the
Supreme Court of the United States ;"
and "Mr. Speaker, the Psesiflent of the
United States I" and each tims the gayel
fell the House and Senate arose and
first, q. FL , Of men In silk gowns, rust
linz somewhat, and then another OF men
in overcoats, Just from out doors, step
ped to their seats. ..,.-,..p.,--..-.-
: There was mo announcement at the
next approach. = Fhs doors we're held
back, and the idoork per ady anced and
turned and walked before the pail
bearers, with long white scarfs., Behind
them men walked with q heavy burden,
flower: r:coyered,. and behind them 1.-The
dead mans delegation, the associates OF
hisso Official life.Ps The great audienee'
rose. Ilhe, eoffn S7RasJ slowly lowered,
The niourners and thepan bearers sat
in the SeaSs left tEsm The gavel fell.
The crowded ranks sat again, and the
chapIainof the House, fisihg inthe high
marble desk, beganE MIjamthe resnr.. =.
rection r apa r Rpssls rsstRPe fspassaEe Ileay the
ehaplahrsimple service. There #as "a
in1rressiveness in The bold absence OF
music, in the gayel and the mace behind
him, the notebooks and pencilb OF the
official reporters below. 1t was, never u
theless, the Senate and House~af Rep
resentatives in joint session assembled.
It was sn soon over No word was said,
Men stepped forward and raised the
coffin. Behind it The guests OF the
House followed in the order they had
entered-the President and the cabinet,
the Supreme Court, and the Senate.
The House adjourned. The public
f1neral WAS over