New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-27

Inc appearance or New York yesterday
despite the bright sunlight, was sombre and
melancholy. The black hangings on public
buildings, private dwellings, and shops were
extensive and noteworthy. The people who
filled the streets, particularly about the time
the memorial services were to begin i'm the
churches, wore so mournful an air that the
effect was most depressing. Never before in
New York has there been so absolute a cessa-
ton of business; and there seemed to be no
disposition on the part of anyone to use tho
holiday as a time for amusement.
SAD DAY IN NEw-YORK
THE HOURS GIVEN UP ENTIRELY TO GREF-sTREETs
FILLED WITH MoURNFUL THRONGs-sCENEs AT
Z DIFFERENT PoINTs-AN ENTIRE CESSATION OF
BUSINESS.
Silence and sadness rested upon the city yesterday
] Ike pail There was no noise save that made by
the wheels of passenger vehicles the pavements
Great crow DIS thronged the sidewalks but they moved
If IN funeral train The sun shone with intensity
from an unclouded sky, but the brightness Of the
sunlight only deepcned the gloom that oppressed
all. week had elapsed since the life that was so
J warmly cherished had faded out but the lapse OF
time and the contemplation Of the dead Presidents
had not sofened the universal grief The people re-
fused TO be comforted although bowing their heads
in submission The lapse of time had decpened
their love and esteem and larger affection brought
a keener sense Of National and personal loss
The day was a legal holiday, but such holiday as
the city has not seen since the dar,; time of 1865,
when another martyred President greatly
beloved, was carried to his grave. The most
thinking RETAINED from seeking amusement. Even
children, as if impressed with the solemn ty of the
occasion. paused in their play and stared through
windows al draped portraits of the dead Chief,
watched the draped flags and emblens OF mourn
ing as they swayed sorrowfully In the wind. The
thoughts of all turned often toward the closing
scenes of the drama at Cleveland.
Never ia the history cf NewYork was the pulse Of
ITS great business life completely stilled Even
those who accustomed TO ply their small trades
on no idays and Sundays closed their doors and
draped them with the signs of mourning; and not
only this true in the main thorou Oh fares and
business centres, bat in the less freQucnted streets
as well, and in the quarters Of
{ he city where the people are thought
by some to be little capable of feeling. The aspect
of Broadway, which has been in course of decora-
ton for week. singularly imposing and i'm
presSive From nearly every cornice bands of
mourning hung in sweeping folds, windows were
festooned, and the gstening white of columns and
pillars was transformed To sombre black. Ora ped
flags and banners hung from windows OF hoated at
half-nasT on housetops their cheerful colors sadly
out of harmony with the emblems of mourning.
Portraits of the dead President TO be seen on
all sides-suspemded from cornices. hung above
doorways, and in the windows OF shops and dwell
/ ings.
PAUsING BEFORE PORTRAITS.
The great procession of people moved through
the main thoroughfareS if in search of opportu-
nifty to show their love for the Nations lead hero
In these portraits thev found their opportunity and
before them they paused and paid mute homage
Wherever there was picture a group formed. It
did not matter that all had looked upon the same
familiar features moment before in another win
dow. 1ht desired 10 them again. il possessed
with love they could not resist All of the portraits
were draped, and many of them rested upon banks
of flowers or had their frames entwned with deli
3 cate vines At one place on Broadway large por-
Z trait in colOrS was displayed in entrance behind
iron gate II looked strikingy natural and life
Z like. crowd pressed against The iron bars from
4 morning until night. In many windows busts Of
= President Garfield displayed, and now and
q then one could brass bronze
q medallion. In one window III Broadway a bronze
medallion rested against a back ground Of black
and just back of il stood pure white maroe figure
5 of an angel looking smilngly down 1t another
q point large portrait resting bank framed
was inscribed IN vioets A broken column rose, IN
another window, from a pedestal of black. and as
3 cross of smilax on which was hung wreath
aof immortellcs Frequently portraits OF Lincoln
were to be side by side with those of this dead
q Chief Magistrate. The words AT Rest" often met
4 the eye. On the front of the Cooperative Dress
81 Association building IN West Twenty hrd-si. were
the Words Oh. the pity ont" Words of like inn
port were TO be frequently in all the principal
q Their hearts were touched. Many they looked
n upon the portraits were blinded by their tears
g They were not regarded works OF art, but simply
3 as sembiances of one who Is mourned. Here and
4 there draped clock the sidewalk. with the hands
9 indicating the hour that death came, recalled the
& painful end of the long struggle.
The crowds moved along the sidewalks in the
y swelterlng heat-apparenty unconscious of discom-
q fort-all day Many wore mourning badges aud
some had bits of black and white in their hutton
y holes Memorials of all kinds sold at the street
corers-pctures of the Francklyn Gotta ge at Long
= Branch, and of the farmhouse at Mentor, in
which the President Is represented sitting in the
stopped to purchase fac-similes of the Presidents
last letter, written in his weakness with unsteady
s hand TO console ms mother Amid the surroundings
! of the day the letter seemed dOuby pathetic. Few
) allegoIical picture entitled " The Nation Weep
\ ng," also sold on the sidewalks
{ Funeral marches bearing the dead Presidents
s name, short biographies and mourning badges were
& offered and freely purchased.
SCENES IN FIFrH-AvE.
Fifth-ave. and other fashionable streets were
3 scarcely less crowded than Broadway and the
= draped thoroughfares down town. An endless pro-
cesslon of carriages rolled in each direction bearing
8 their occupants 10 some place of prayer In a lew
churches special funeral services were held at IL
o'clock hut such services for the most part were
held at O'clock in the afternoon. There was
scarcely a house of worship where the signs of
mourning, We're not seen. one OF tho
most striking displays that of the Church
OF the Heavenly k,st-iresidcnt Ar.hut'S church.
) 1t had curtain of heavy black broadcloth looped
up against the gray granite columns OF the portioo.
& the curtain and projected into the street. The in
terror also draped with seni-transparent black
material Al the hour appointed for funeral services
4 the avenues We're thrunged. The churches were
crowded. many being within sacred walls for the
first time in years. A solemn stiffness rested upon
: the congregations, for all were mOurners.
l.a., ,s.rla - IL.