The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-10-06
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence-delayed.
Sentember d 1886

Especial orrespondence-delayed1
WASHINGTON, September "a, 1881.
/ Editor Stdtesmdn-This has been
emphatically a Garfield week, for,
since the tolling of the bells aud the
cries Of the newsboys on Monday at
midnight announced that the blow
so much dreaded had at last fallen,
nothing has been thought of but the
dead president. The departments
have been closed, and government
work practically suspended. Busi-
ness has been at complete stand
still, and the only occupation that
has seemed to have any interest for
the populace has been the draping
of the city in mourning, So extern
sively has this practice been OBJ
served that from the humblest and
most poverty-stricken home, with
an old black petticoat draped over
the door, to the more elaborate.de-
coration of the public buildings and
handsome business houses, where
thousands of yards have been used,
the entire city is swathed in black.
The result ia q funeral appearance
most indescribably dismal.
The train bearing the body of the
lamented president reached the city
on Wednesday afternoon, and was
received by the entire populace. The
hearse that bore the body to the
capitol was drawn by six white
horses led by oolored grooms. it
was preceded by companies of mill
tary, bearing furled flags and guns
reversed, and by q large number of
Masonic orders. The carriages con-
tanning President Arthur, tie cabi-
net, the physicians, friends of the
family, and those distinguished per-
sons who accompanied the body
from Elberon, followed.
A catafalque had been prepared
in the rotunda of the capitol, and
the coffin was placed upon it. Presi-
dent Arthur then viewed the re.
mains, after which the doors were
thrown open to the public, and a
stream ofpeople, representing every
age, sex, color and condition that
this most heterogeneous of countries
can produce flowed uniuterruptedly
past the bier night and day, until
Friday noon. Perfect decorum pre-
vailed. Unaffected grief was depic-
ted upon every face, sobs frequently
awoke the echoes OF the vast dome
above, as the sight of the sadly
emaciated form affected some gazer
to an uncomfortable degree. II has
been continually remarked that it is
an indisputable proof of the strongly
characteristic geniality and remark
able abilities of the late president,
that in 80 short time he should
have won such place in the
hearts of the people, that
each one seems to be mourn
ing the loss of q dear personal
friend. Party difference is absolute
ly forgotten. No one remembers
whether he was a Democrat or Re
publican, stalwart or anti-stalwarL;
but all remember that he was
physically intellectually and moral
ly one of the noblest specimens of
purely representative American
manhood, and mourn him as such.
The people never realized the ex-
tent of the. suffering he endured
with such heroism until they beheld
his wasted remains. Not even the
shadow of a resemblance to his no.
BILE form and features seemed to ex-
ist. Few indeed could recognize
him. There was an expression of
agony On his face the sunken eyes
were but partially closed the cheek
bones and nose were painfully
prominent; the tightly .clinched
teeth were plainly visible between
the colorless lips, and the whole face
covered with black discolorations.
People were struck with horror.
The embalming seems to have been
faulty, for by 6 O'Clock ON Thurs
day evening decay had SO far altered
the remains that they were really no
longer q fit spectacle for the i'm
mense throng filing past the bier.
At this hour a rather handsome and
decidedly aggressive looking lady
entered the rotunda, and perceiv-
ing the dreadful change, order
ed one of the four guards, compos-
ed of gentlemen from the army of the
Cumberland, to close the coffin. She
was informed that this could not be
done without orders from the proper
authority s1t must be done-I am
Mrs. Blame, said the lady. Perhaps
this ought to have galvanized the
guard into Immediate submission,
but somehow it did not; he replied
that he was sorry, but that he could
only act under orders from the cabi-
net. The lady left in a hurry, and
shortly orders came from Secretary
Blaine to close the coffin. twas re-
ally time, but the people were in
tensely disappointed. Mrs. Blaine
has been universally criticised on
every side for her assumption of au-
thority. Some of the sarcastically
inclined, are fond of saying that
Mrs. B., ought to have been secreta-
ry of state when Mrs. Hayes was
president. At any rate, the plucky
cuard showed that petticoat govern