Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-10-05
TWO EVENTS IN WASHINGTON.

Garfield's Inauguration and Funeral
L. c. K: My Dear Sir-This year of 1881
will stand prominent in history as having
furnished two extraordinary events in the
United States; one the unusual demonstra-
ton at the Inauguration of President Gar
field; the other. his sad death. 1t has
fallen to my lot to see him inaugurated and
also to see his inanimate remains carried
away from the National capital for
ever. The first event was scene of life;
the last one scene of death. One, the
blush of life exultant, buoyant with every
high and noble impulse; the other the
shadow of death, with every heart subdued
under the ban of great grief. On inaugu-
ration day all hearts were light aud ali faces
beaming. To-day, if any heart Las willed
to put aside its sadness, the resolution has
been overcome in the presence of the funer-
al march. On Inauguration day the very
genius of gladness was visible everywhere.
The buildings were hung in wilderness of
bunting that charmed the eye. Flags huttered
above the glad homes of the people. Ones
eyes could see no end of the happy mani
festation. Houses along the line of march
of the pageant had no windows, doors, or
|
women and children, and from all the
throng there protruded forest of arms with
q bright foliage of waving handkerchiefs.
Multitudes of faces beamed down from such
available spaces as could be found to COM
mand view of the street. They peered
from the forests of bunting that
enveloped the windows, balconies and
improvsed platforms. On the streets
a moving sea of humanity
longed and waited for the pageant to move
and then waved numberless flags and kerr
chiefs until its three hours of brilliancy had
disappeared. And such brilliant display
is seldom seen in any country. The newly
elected President was escorted through the
streets of the national capital by hundreds
of military companies, civic associations,
bands of music, State militiamen and United
States soldiers. This distinguished pageant,
with bright Dress waving plumes and bril-
liant equipage, marched to the time of
martial music and gathered inspiration from
the thousands of beaming faces and autter-
ing kerrhiefs, and the swells of cheers that
ebbed and flowed up and down the sea of
assembled thousands. No happier COM
MERGE of gallantry can be imagined In
spring music from thousands of silver
| throated horns swelled on the breeze to thrill
the nerves of strong men and bring respons-
i've smiles to the faces of beautiful women.
The day passed as rosy dream, of which,
at its close, no trace of discord could be re-
membered. No shadow-nought but the
full sunlight of JOY and peace.
To-day, alas F.! how changed scene passes
before us. The bright colored bunting thai
chung like vine of hope to the windows
walls and house-tops; the flutterine
flags and the bright handkerchief
have all disappeared and their places have
been taken by the emblem of death, the
sombre, sad black. Black cloth to-da,
hangs in profusion from every available
space on buildings and passing vehicles
Like plague, it clings on wherever the eye
may fall 1t has seized the beautiful fas
and it holds fast to the drums and horn
| which the musicians carry 1t futters OF
every breeze like the death angels wing
And the pageant-how changed from the
golden dress is to-day enshrouded in Grape
their brave heads and are carried a
half -mast. The cleaning bayonets are
sheathed and the pieces carried at "revers,
arms" The drums are enclosed in Grape
and the bands play funeral marches. TIL
military companies march to the slow tim
of the funeral dirge. On the faces of tn
assembled thousands are no smiles; bu
tears ale in their places. All exultation, al
enthusiasm has fallen prey to a deep sad
ness. No more sorrowful procession ha
ever been seen on earth Instead of tn
noble Garfield whom we saw on tn
4th of March, riding in his carriage, in tn
prime of life, smiling in happiness, raisin,
his hat to the shouting people
we, to-day, saw but hearse, bearing {
casket covered with loving flowers. Wha
could we do but turn sadly away and refec
that this illustrious man, victim of tn
cruelest fate, had passed from us for a
| time? Roy.