River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-10-06
A GLrTTERING PAGEANT

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-Down Penn
| sylvania avenue there marched, this
| afternoon, an historical procession,
| marked and eventful in comparison
with the greatest that has passed along
| this thoroughfare, so rich in historical
| association. The city was draped in
mourning. Flags were at half-mast
and bells tolled as the dreary notes Of
| funeral dirges filled the air. Upon the
| houses and at the open windows
| swarmed an eager crowd of spectators.
Upon the sidewalks dense throng
pressed against the ropes employed to
| keep the street clear. As the hearse
| carrying the late president, drawn by
six gray horses, came slowly down the
| avenue, followed by glittering pro-
| cession of guards of honor, there was
much in the scene to recall Inaugural
| ton day. The same troops and the
same gaudy uniforms were in line be-
| hind the president on the 4th of March.
| Then their arms were In position upon
| their shoulders, and they marched to
| the lively time of martial music. To-day
with arms reversed they slowly tramped
| to the wailing measure ola drum. To the
eve, however, the spectacle was bright
| one. The sun shone clear and warm
| upon the nodding plumes and flashing
| uniforms of small host of officials,
] whose presence and numbers so sur
passed in size the small funeral section
| of the procession as to overshadow al
most entirely its sombre character.
| The proceedings in the rotunda were
well arranged Twelve hundred tickets
1 ,ae,,1J n odt cd
without a pass The rotunda, there
fore, was only comfortably filled, and
not crowded The coffin stood as yes
| terday, with the same floral offerings
near it Ranged around the open
space about the coffin were brown
| leather sofas taken from the senate
chamber and the house of representa-
tives. Back of these, in circles reach
ing to the outlying wall, were chairs for
! the invited holders of tickets. Mem
bers of the Army of the Cumberland
stood in the open space about the coffin
as guards of honor. There were no
other guards. The absence of the mil
itary guard of honor was in accordance
with the wishes of Mrs. Gar
| field. The doors of the rotunda
were not well guarded by the police,
that duty being given up to the senate
and house messengers. The hour of
the ceremony was o'clock. After 2
o'clock people began to come in slowly.
| The members of the diplomatic corps
were among the first arrivals. They
were in full uniform, as they were on
the last 4th of March. The principal
legations were represented. The
Chinese, with their yellow hats and red
tassels and purple silk suits, sat by the
side of the Turkish ambassador, con-
spicuous in his red fez and dark blue
uniform, bringing out in strong relief
his swarthy face. At twenty minutes
to 3 there was movement in the
crowd, and then everyone with one
accord arose. Then came in, arm.in-
arm, the two ex-presidents, Grant and
Hayes. They walked in from the sem
ate wing of the capitol directly to seats
placed for them at the foot of the cof-
fin. Both were dressed in black.
Grant looked as stolid as usual, his face
exhibiting no sign. Hayes looked warm
and perspiring. He appeared to be i'll
at ease with Grant, for the latter did
not look at him or speak to him from
the time they entered until they left
the rotunda. While the crowd was
still standing President Arthur came
in, leaning upon the arm of Secretary
Blaine, preceded by five members of
the supreme court, Waite, Miller, Har-
Ian, Matthews, and Strong, and follow
ed by the cabinet, with the exception
of Gen. McVeagh, who was confined to
his house from indisposition. The SUI
preme court judges sat at the head of
the coffin. Next to them sat Arthur
and the cabinet.
ARTHUR
was to-day less nervous and embarras-
sed. There was look of pride and
dignity upon his face as he stood erect
a moment before taking his seat. Phys
ically speaking, he is very handsome
man. Mr. Blaine is much above the
average size, but President Arthur, as
ne stood by his side, reached fully half
head above him. Mr. Blaine looked
badly to-day. His face wore the same
CHASTITY look that shaded Matt. Carpen-
ter's during the year that preceded his
death. All of the cabinet members
faces showed traces of sorrow and deep
chagrin, butssnone showed such q pallid
look of loss and trouble as that worn by
Secretary Blaine. Across from the
cabinet people were the under secreta-
ries at the white house with their fami-
lies. Back of them were
the house members to the
number of fifty or sixty, and the army
officers. The most prominent among
the members were Sam Randall, ex-
speaker, and Kasson, the probable
speaker of the next house, although
| Frank Hiscock, of New York, who sat
near, disputes this claim. Back of the
cabinet sat the senators. Upon the
seats reserved for the members of the
Garfield family sat the wives of the
members Of the cabinet. Mrs. Blaine
sat at one end, with Mrs. Hunt at the
other. All of the ladies were in deep
mourning. Just behind the coffin
stood q chorus of twenty -four voices,
selected from the Philharmonic society,
under the leadership of Prof. Anton
Gloetzener, pupil of List. As the
clock-hands upon the whited aled clock
reached 3, Prof. Gloetzener raised his
hand and the group sang modestly
and with thorough harmony: "To Thee,
Oh Lord, | Yield My Spirit" from the
oratorio of ''Saint Paul" the acoustic
properties of the rotunda are wonder
full
| THE MUSIC
echoed until it filed the space with the
rich, full sounds of an organ. The
ceremonies after were very simple,
and, excepting slight incidents, in good
taste. A selection from the Bible was
read by Rev. DR.. Rankin, then Rev.
Mr.. Errett, of Cincinnati, made prayer.
1t was too long, as it occupied nearly
twenty minutes. The funeral address
itself occupied only fifteen minutes.
1t was delivered by blonde, smooth
faced, boyish-loeking young man, the
pastor of Gen. Garfield's old church.
In the face of this opportunity many an
| older man would have posed and at
tempted some very superior effort.
Not so Mr.. Powers. At the conclusion
of prayer a quiet signal was given by
the hite-gloved undertaken, and the
pail bearers advanced. The sun was
then streaming in through the dome,
bathing the centre in sunlight. During
/ the ceremony bat was constantly
flying about overhead. The pall-bear-
ers quickly seized hold of the coffin and
passed out upon the east front down to