New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-24
LAST HONORs AT THE CAPITAL.


services will be held on Monday next. 3
LAST HONORS AT THE CAPITAL.
FUNERAL SERVICES IN THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAP
IToI-sCRIPTURAL PASSAGES AND PRAYERS
VISIT OF THE STRICKEN MISUNDERSTANDING OF
THE FUNERAL TRAIN.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-It has been day of uni
versal mourning Had the late President died as \
plain Congressman Garfield, with tragic pa I
thetlc concomitants to the sad event. it might have
been said of him that man in this community !
would have left many personal friends to mourn
his departure. From the highest in official and so
cal life to the coachman who drove him out the
servant at his table, all who had in con-
tact with him formed something akin to atiec-
ton for him; and he essentially i
a man of the people, always approach /
able, that repeled. Hence his
personal friends numbered thousands. Therefore
to-day, when his remains to be taken away to
their distant restng-place, each individual in the
vast crowds which witnessed the departure felt that
in some he had right to call himself a
raourner.
Six short months ago the man made his exit !
through theeast doors of the rotunda of the Capitol
the occasion of his Inauguration Presi dent of
the United States. Then 10000 people greeted
him with enthusiastic cheers, bands played their (
loudcst, and great cannon doomed their deepest
thunder. To-day his dust was brought through the
doors, borne by the loving hands Of his Chris
tian fellows in the Church, surrounded
then, by all that was notable and eminent in of
fetal life. and witnessed again by 90 600. But now
there funereal silence In all the vast assem-
blage no voice raised Barred heads were bowed
in silent grief. There was no crowding or rushing
Slowly the morning cortege made its careful way
down the granite steps. Tenderly the casket con-
tanning his mortal remains was lifted into place
The draped flags and drums, the measured cadences
of the funeral march the plaintive melody of
hymn of promise, the slow and orderly wheeling
into line of march, made the contrast with the
event to which all minds reverted startling
than words can find power to depict. The day was
clear and warm. Althoughit had become known that
the easket had been closed and would again be
opened for the public. great crowds assembled early
to the outside of the coffin which contained his
body For hours they fled slowly in and gazed
upon the casket and the flowers. The guards of
honor stood like statues in their places near the
coffin.
MRS. GARFIEIDs SAD VISIT.
At IL o'clock the doors of the rotundG, and o few
moments later those OF the other parts of the Capt.
tol, were closed TO all. Guards placed at in-
tervals in the corridors of the building and hile
all who desired thereafter permitted to go out,
none We're allowed TO enter. There surprise and
some fault finding at first; but when it was said
that the occasion for these precautions the
last visit of the widow to her dead all content
10 let III De as Snc ueSlrcls IN quieI ana privacy.
At twenty minutes past IL two closed
riages drove up to the east lower entrance of the
Senate wing and the occupants alighted and passed
up the private stairway to the Vice-Presldents
room. All the corridors and passageways upon the
main floor of the Senate wing were quickly barred
to all comers, and instructions given by Ser
geant-at-Arms Bright, of the Senate to the en-
ployes and Capitol police on duty to keep them
selves completely hidden in the of the doors
and windows while Mrs. Garfield passed through to
the rotunda. The rotunda itself was entirely
cleared, the guard of honor retiring from
view for the time being In a few
minutes the little procession emerged from the Vice
Presidents room, and passing around through the
east corridor proceeded in the following order
through the silent and desoated main passageway
Of the building: Sergeant-at-Ams Bright leading !;
then followed Mrs. Garfield, leaning upon the arm
of General Swain, Harry Garfield, Mollie Garfield
aud Miss Rockwell Colonel and Mrs Rockwell aud
Attorney-General MacVeagh and Mrs. Swain.
Not sound was heard save the soft
pattering of feet upon the marble floor
as the little company, robed in the sombre gar
ments of deepest mourning passed silently on.
At the threshold her companions stopped, and
when she entered alone the doors closed. Be-
yond that Threshold rank power, curiosity, nor
even imagination, might venture tointrude. The lid
of the casket had been removed. and for twenty
minutes the widow remained by all that earthly
o1 her h0n0red dead. she came out closely VeIled,
and bearing few flowers taken from the offerings
Of affection which had been placed upon the casket,
and taking the arm of General Swain, departed as
silently as she came 1t was fitting that she who
had given up so much that the public might have
Its brief opportunity to pay its tribute of affcc-
ton should for one moment reclaim it TO herself, and
that no eye shonld dare to witness. dare to
hear the sobbings of that widowed heart.
THE RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
fxya1 1olo flad war QH lint
only for the admission Of those who had tickets, or
who by their official positions entitled to enter
For the purpose of taking part in the last ceremonies
Of respect to the deaf President Circles Of chairs
sufficient TO seat perhaps three thousand, had been
placed in position all sides, leaving sisles to
each Of the four entrances to the rotunda. For an
hour only the members of the Army of the Cunber-
land the guards of honor aud few who had dutlesin
connection with the preparations for the ceremonies
were present Then a few ticket holders came IN
and took the seats reserved for them Great crowds
surrounded the DOORS but remained for the most part
In silence. Gradually the throng increased. ROW a
oipomat with his attendants in glittering court
dresses and now society committee in regalias
and plunes in sober black making their appearance,
and in turn taking their places Conversations were
carried on in sabdued tones in whispers
few moments before o'clock the Beauseart
Commandery Of Knights Tcmplar from Baltimore
MED In and deposited q handsome floral tribute to
the dead Presidsrt. A few minutes later a number
Of the members Of the Diplomatic Corps entered and
took the seats assigned to them in tho of the
sofas placed for tis accommodation of the Supreme
Court, the msmhsu Of which soon aftor entered.
ssadsd hy ChtefJaelise Waite. At 2:40 Colonel