Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-03-31
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The Dead Poet.

kilograms from Boston gives an ac-
count of the last solemn rites over the
remains of III. w. Longfellow: The
burial of LoDgfellow this afternoon was
attended with the same simplicity
which characterize his life, and with
the same shrinking from publicity.
The sky was dark, the wind howled a
blast, and violent gusts of snow swirled
about the marsion, contrasting strange
ly with the life whose peaceful tide had
but just ebbed out in gentleness. At
half-pas the family gathered in the
parlor, around the cIsket, having been
joined by Ralph Waldo Emerson,
Oliver Wendell Holmes, George Will
liam Curtis. Prof. Luigi Mont, Prof.
Charles Eliot Norton. Dr. Morrill,
Wyman, William D, Howells, Mrs.
Louis Agassiz, and one OF two neigh
bors. Rev. Samuel Longfellow, the
poests brother, read short selections
of scripture, offered prayer, and spoke
few words IN loving remembrance.
The choir of the First Unitarian church
sang S'Hear, 0 Father" by Barnby, 81
Heard Voice from Heaven" and the
hymn "Softly now the Light of Day"
Then the last look was taken at the
dead face, and the mourners took car
riages for Mount Auburn. The family
lot is situated on ridge path about
ne-eighth of mile from the entrance,
and on an eminence overlooking the
beautiful heights of Arlington and the
city of Cambridge. Two large elms,
there being no other trees in the vicin-
ity, will serve to guide to the spot the
pilgrims who will hereafter seek the
burial-place of the author of Evan
geline." The tomb, situated in the
center of the small Enclosure, was wait
ing, and, as the gates of the cemetery
were kept closed during the day, the
little group were undisturbed as they
surrounded its entrance. The brother
pronounced few words over the bier,
and the wind and snow howled more
dismally than ever as he said: dust
thou art, to dust shalt thou return"
Then the body was laid beside that Of
the second Mrs Longfellow.
The casket was plain and covered
with broadcloth, and bore cluster of
passion flowers. Its plain silver plate
simply said. Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow: born Feb. y, 1907; died
March "a, 1882" The appearance of
the face was peaceful in the extreme,
and bore not trace of suffering. 1t
was the general impression that the
service at Appleton chapel, which was
appointed for $50, was to be in the
proper sense of the word a funeral.
Accordingly the edifce which is stu
ated on the college grounds, and has a
capacity Of perhaps 500, was thronged
half an hour before the time, and
many hundreds turned back despair
| ing of gaining an entrance. The PEG
/ pie were unaware that the interment
was even then taking place half mile
or more away, and for while awaited
the cortege A pail was spread in
front of the altar and at its left stood
the only floral device in the church, a
magnificent Tyre with oae string broken,
composed of tuberoses and calais
The service which, as will be inferred,
was in truth memorial service, be-
gan with singing by the Harvard Glee
| club, thirteen young men with finely
| trained voices
Among the audience were President
Eliot and most of the faculty and stu
dents; DIR. Holmes, Mr.. Emerson Presi-
dent Cham belain of Rowdoin college,
and many clergymen and scholars.
Flags were displayed at halfmast on
the public buildings, and the solemnity
of the occasion was evident throughout
the city.