New-York tribune., 1882-02-28
THE SERVICES WE'LL BEFIlTING THE OC-
CASION.
In TELEGRArM TO TmE TRIBUNR.l

oulogy upon James A. Garfield we're spoken to-day
b. James c. Blaine, his friend of many years and
the chief of his Cabinet, and with to-day probably
the name and fame of the murdered President pass
peacefully into history. The natural desire 10 near
60 famous and popular a leader as MIR. Blame was
augmented by the recollection of the intimate per-
sonal and political relations of the two men and
curiosity to hear what the one would say OF the
Other All the entrances to the Capitol were sur
r,unded with people, who had come in the vain
bonc of gaining admission some way. The
weather was prOpltious for the man without
ticket He coull at least stand in COM
fort outside the great white Capitol, IN the
bright, mild sunshine of a late February
dav and see the famous soldiers and sailors
in their uniforms and the less famous but more re-
snlendent dplomaists, entering the building, and
watch the stream OF equipages with their wheels
Cltcrng in the sunshine, that for two hours swept
over the broad stretches of asphaltum ut the base OF
the buiding-the whole making scene of hustle
and brightness which marked the day with red
letter in the calendar OF Washington. The flags
were at half mast on all the pubhc buildings, and
many business houses and all the departments were
closed at o'clock. People began TO arrive at the
Capitol before o'clock At 10 o'clock, the hour
fixed for the opening of the entrances TO the build
ing there was crowd present large enough to I'LL
almost every seat provided for spectators, and
when they were admitted rush was made for
3le Uouse wing The arrangements for
admitting the spectators by classcs-the Diplomatic
Corps at one entrance. the members of Congress at
another and the mass of spectators at another
were all admirably made, were indeed all the ar
rangements of the dav.
The hall of the House presented little change
from its normal appearance except in the dense
crowd that filed every seat in the galleries and
packed all the doorways. Anyone who has never
seen the Capitol can easily portray the hail of the
House of Representatives. to his minds eye 10y I'M
.atiuing long square reservoir, III which the Con-
grcssmcn sit and rising from its edge on all sides
the soping benches for the people. Overhead is
glass ceiling. divided up by thick beams of glded
w,U,-. .s..,ed with paintings OF Inc coats OF
arms of the states. There is something in the shape
OF this long reservoir below ard the slopng benches
that recalls the old pictures of the Pool of SLOAN"
In the troubling OF the waters " done there month
after month AMI year alter year, and III the impo-
tent and sick folk that often watch it, the parallel
is complete bui as for the healing to be found in
thcm that is perhaps another matter
The ladies present were almost without exception
dressed in black, as good taste would naturally die
Ia. and doubtless did in most cases. But the re
quest previously made that this rule should be OBJ
served was not needed by all. There several
gay costumes that stood out against the monotone
OF black with a startling effect. One light blue silk
CLEANED lll" a star i'll the gallery almost directly
opposite the Speakers de k and here and there
q lady who had evidently come to Washing
ton in the capacity of bride and
did not propose to abdicatc her bonnet
OIL any occasion. There was one opera cloak flung
gayly on the parapet Of the gallery, and 1t was OBJ
served that where fur-lined cloaks draped the
gallery edge, as they did here and there, the fur
lining was turned unostentatiOusly but firmly out
ward As rule, however the dress of the spccta-
tors like their behavior, was decOrOus throughout.
This long sweep OF black around the galleries left
ltle OF the life of color in the spectacle, but ii
furnished a fitting back ground TO what was to be
solemn occasion. There were no decorations of any
kind in the hal except large portrait of Carried.
Tie floor presented a rarely Orderly appearance.
All the litter of papers and documents. that whiten
every desk when the House Is in session, had been
cleared away. Three rows of desks had
been cleared away either hand Of the Speaker to
make room for the President, Cabinet, Senate and
Diplomatic Corp and chairs had been put i'll the
corners of the hall back Of the members seats for
,ucmb Is of the Ohio Legislature and other special
guests. The galleries were filed, and many OF the
members seats were occupied fully an hour and
half before The hour set for the exercises to begin
and the buzz Of conversation Gilel the hail. while
1hc Marine Band, stationed outside in the corridor
back of the Speakers desk played at intervals ap
out Of harmony in its struggle out Of the arches and
into tn hall.
The first distinguished guests to arrive were al
most equally yenerable-George Bancroft and
". ". CorcoraD. They met as soon
as they had entered by Congressman
S. :. Cox and Edward Clark, the architect of the
Capitol aud escorted 10 seats i'll the front semi-cir
cleof ar-chairs reserved for the most distinguished
guests. Cyrus W. Field, the protector Of the Gar
field Fund. sat Mr. COIcOran's right hand, next
10 the seat afterward taken by the President, which
was in the middle aisle. Among the noted people
in the galleries were George William Curtis, who
"a in the Presidents gallery, and Henry James, jr.,
who sat in the Diplomatic gallery and talked
through the netting with Miss Dodge o. Gail Ham
ilro -, in the Presidents gallery. Mrs. Blaine was
in the front row of tie latter gallery and was
dressed in black. few minutes before - the
doors opposite the Speaker opened, and there
was glitter Of cpauet5 and swords. 1t
wa. the httle delegation of officers who have
received the thanks of Congress by name for SER
wees in the Geld-Gencra Sherman at the head
with doughty little "Phl' Sheridan at his sde
then the towering form of General Hancock. fol-
lowed by General Howard and General Meigs hen
came similar delegation OF Nava officers headed
by Admiral Porter. All wore Grape In few mo-
Ilen.s more members of the Diplomatic Corps began
10 hle in slowly from the door 1t the right hand OF
The Speakers desk. They were arTayed III all the
tinsel Of cour uniforms and made a brilliant spec
Lice. NT Allen. the Hawaiian Minister, the Dean
Of the Corps with broad red ribbon across his
waistcoat, led the way. He was followed by Mr..
Preston, the Haytan Minister, man bearing
marked resemblance TO the late General Burnside.
hlr. West, tue British Minister, wore
. coat emblazoned with gold, while II.
&c Wlamoy, the Russian Charge, was fairly