Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-09-27
Testimonial to the Nations
Beloved Dead.
Doing Honor to the Memory Of
JamaS A, Garfield.
The City-The Procession-Its Feat.
ures -Decoxations-Th Liter
ary Exercises-Notes.

A nd ptty, Ike net0 born babe,
Striding the blast Of Heavens cherubim-hOrS'd
Upon the sigttless couriers Of the air,
Shall blotg the horrid deed in epe1y eye,
That tears shall dropn the lcind"
Impressive obsequies of the late lamented
President took place in this city yesterday,
witnessed and participated in by the largest
mento. Business of every kind was entirely
suspended throughout the city. all business
places. together with the shops, Courts, etc.,
were closed, and all joined in the sorrowful
ceremonies of the day. Thousands of people
came to the city from the surrounding towns
and country and mingled in the general ex-
preston of grief which was felt and exhibited
by all. The day was cool and pleasant. but
a strong north wind prevailed. which some-
what interfered with the drapings and the
carrying of flags and emblems The city
wore an appearance of deep mourning on
every hand, and spirit of general and sin
cere sorrow pervaded the entire community.
The mourning decorations which have been
added from day to day since the announce
ment of the death of President Garfield
seemed yesterday, as viewed along the vari
ons thoroughfares and streets, to cover all
business places and nearly all dwellings.
Many of the drapings are very elaborate,
and display great variety and taste in arrange
ment.
THE LEADING FEATURES
Were the use of white and black as streamers
and in festoons, with rosettes of black, black
and white, or white only also loops of white
and black, composed of Grape, tulle and satin.
These are everywhere to be seen; upon bust
ness fronts and awnings, upon dwellings and
porches, and in show-windows and the in
terror of business places and homes.
National shields in mourning, with evergreen
wreaths and festoons, are frequent in
the decorations. Prominent among these
mourning emblems were also everywhere to
be seen portraits of the deceased President,
surrounded with festoons and devices in
Grape and frequently accompanied with words
expressive of the sadness of the day and the
nations loss. Flags were seen at half mast
wherever there was flagstaff, and numerous
others were displayed extending from
porches and windows. Many of these, in
addition to being displayed at half mast,
were reefed with Grape, or were given a
border of black. Others had black breadth
across the bottom, top, or at the end, and
many were spangled with black rosettes and
silver stars in the blue field.
DECORATIONS OF THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The decoration of the State Capitol build
ing, executed by George Boyne, under direc-
ton of Secretary of State Burns, is exceed
ingly elaborate, unique in design and was the
subject of universal admiration and compli-
ment. The somber decorations were so ar
ranged that instead of covering or hiding the
architectural beauties of the interior dome,
they aided in developing the ornamentation
of both the dome and the rotunda, turning
the whole into a cenotaph, the effect of which
upon the arrival of the procession, was placed
in the center Of the rotunda, giving the en-
tire scene the impressiveness of
BEAUTIFUL MoRTUARY CHAPEL.
The upper portion of these decorations was
in the form of canopy, with circular CEN
terpiece six feet in diameter suspended from
the summit of the dome, and at hight of
about eighty feet above the floor of the
rotuuda To this centerpiece are attached
wide streamers of alternate black and white,
covering the entire circle, with loopings Of
black cord and tassels within around the top.
These streamers extend down and outward to
the balustrade, and the interior of the can.
opy thus formed is bedecked with silver stars,
which sparkle from the light of the dim
burning gas-jets below. AT the balustrade
these streamers are held back by national
shields, in mourning. The inner face of the
balustrade is covered with black, over which
are large loops of white drapery suspended
from black silver rosettes with pendants-the
upper half of the black groundwork being
ornamented with silver stars representing the
several States. Passing out beneath this
ornamentation the streamers are continued
to the cornice which crowns the pilasters
and arches surrounding the rotunda.
From each point of contact upon the cornice
are hung festoons of evergreen and black, re.
ceiving the ends of the streamers. and ex,
tending so as to encircle the entire rotunda
The lower parts of the festoons are brought
together with black and white tablets, each
faced with a silver star. In front of the four
large alcoves of the rotunda are placed foul
candelabra, eight feet in height, properly fur
nished, and with beautiful wreaths of delicate
flowers suspended upon the staffs. Upon the
sixteen pilasters surrounding the rotunda are
large black and white pendants of Grape sus
pended from the ornamental branch brackets
and extending nearly to the floor.
Upon the eastern side of the rotunda the
entrance to the Supreme Court is closed by 9
background of cloth, upon which large
portrait of the deceased President is placed
Over it are the words,
GIN MENoRIAM,"
And beneath is suspended silver sta,
surrounded by wreath of immortelle. The
whole field of black is heavily draped with
soft, somber materials, and with good effect
The mosaic pavement in the rotunda CORE.
spends and gives additional effect to the
mourning drapings, and the appearance Of
being part of the general design.
The decorations upon the outside Of the
dome are also extensive, and are visible from
long distance. The pillars of the cupola are
entwined with black and white, and the base
with plain black. The outer side of the up.
per balustrade is covered with black and
festooned in white. The lower part of the
columns are encircled with smooth drawn,
black, and having large esilverstarsatt the center
upon each. Around the base of the dome is
wide band, across which are white stripes