Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-12
GATE CITY GOSSIP.
NATURES TRIBUNE TO THE
GREAT DEAD.


Savannah at the FunerA1-The Military
The Floral OfBerihgs-The Great
GeOrgian's Faith-GoFernor BOynton
Hearing COntests-The Executive
Department.
ATLANTA, March 10.~-Although this
month came in like a gentle lamb, and
gave promise of pleasant weather, we
have had rain and mud and chilling winds
in abundance. Happily, however, the day
chosen for the funeral Of Governor Ste
phens proved an exception, although pre-
ceded and followed by rainy day. Heaven
seems to have favored as that solemn
occasion. At least, oHali sides hear ex,
pressions of this kind, and see evidences
of their sincerity. No day Of the present
week has been suitable in every respect
for the funeral, and Thursday seems to
have been made 80 by some special proyl-
dence.
A lack of cars prevented hundreds of
people IN various parts efthe State from
coming 10 the flIneral. The railroad Off
cials found it utterly out Of their power to
secure sufficient cars to accommodate all.
SAVANNAH's REPRESENTATION,
was gratitied at the high praise given
spirit by our visitors TO the Sesqui-C EN-
tennial, but l am more than gratifled at
the generous praise awarded your grand
representation at the funeral of Governor
| stephens.
Mayor Lester and his associates was
the most notable municipal delegation
from any part of the State, and was as
signed position in the right centre of
| Representatives Hall during the services.
General Henry r. Jackson, the gallant
soldier, the eloquent orator and distin-
guished citizen, never spoke with grander
elOquence or greater power.
Only once since the war, think, has
Georgia cavalry company paraded our
| streets, The Richmond Hussars, Of
Augusta, made d ahe display here when
! Gen. "FitZ" Lee delivered the "Memorial
Day" Oration. The Chatham Artillery
has been here before, never on parade.
! Major Burgess created widespread ex-
citement with his '!bOy sOldiersn' from the
| Savannah Military Academy, and an inn
mense crowd followed them wherever they
went, Old military men said it surpassed
| anything they had ever seen before.
While Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Grif-
I'm and Amerlcus were well represented,
Savannah furnished the great body of the
military, and people wondered, with CRATE
| ftll emotions, that such a large and
splendid display could have come all the
way from Savannah to Join with us in our
tribute to the dead. Not few words of
praise that heard came from trembling
lips, and were made sincere by the testi-
mony of weeping eyes. The Sesqui-Cen-
tennial bound this section to Savannah
with strong cords of affection, but this
Representation, here in the capital city
has cemented the bond with q heartfelt
and lasting gratitude.
THE FLORAL OFFERINGS.
was more than surprised at the num-
Der and rare beauty of the floral designs
sent in from all parts of the State. and
some from other States, one anchor and
wreath wreath coming all the way from New
Augusta city of lovely women and
beautiful flowers-was lavish of her gifts,
The bank OF hOwers from the Stephens
Hose Company occupied a conspicuous
place upon the Clerks desk during
the funeral services, while a magnif-
cent pillow of flowers, with a blue
centre and white letters,
:, GEoRGiA's PATRIOT.
'..........
rested ON the head of the eaaket,
Standing with Bishop BeckWith and
Rev. DIR. Jones at the door OF the tomb, as
Sexton BOnnell slowly swung it on it's
iron hinges, the fading light of day fell
upon that beautiful pillow of flowers,
gave tender shade to the bright blue
ground, and brilliant glow to the white
letters, and the last thing that fixed itself
upon our hearts and minds was the pecv-
liar ana arrikihg parRos and beauty Of the
scene. 1 u .J.@ = ~ n
The ladies of Griffin also sent a beauti-
ful pillow of flowers inscribed
"oUR GOvERNOR,i
*..-.-
that was placed upon the foot of the
coffin, not the head, as stated in my
special. = wealth of floral designs and
fragrant flowers surrounded the casket
while it lay in state in the Senate cham
Der, and bore tender testimony that in the
hearts Of the noble and patriotic women of
Ge9rgia the ''Sage of liberty Hall'' had a
warm pl2fe;
s4XANNAH's MILITARY.
1t is true that the occasion was solemn
one and the visit of the military a deli.
cate One-yet such scenes are not always
as decOrOus as they ought to be. But in
this instance | hear of no complaint. NV
own duties kept me busy elsewhere, but
from all who were near or with the SOL
diery, i hear only praise for their good
conduct.
Ex-Mayor W. A. Huff, of Macon, the
proprietor of the Markham House, tells
me lie never entertained more gentleman
ly and WelFhehayed sallfeTs, and the
Gate City Guard. bear similar testimony
to their conduct at the banquet hall Of
that company. Nothing has ever so deeply
impressed Atlanta with the Importance
of having permanent and well-disciplined
volunteer companies in the capital city of
the State.
pespire Tie fset tkat The Gate City
Guard was ina paiTiallgidis6rgan
condition, Captain Henry Jackson, their
new commander that is to be, generously
put them in condition to entertain the
visiting companies, and Atlanta hOspi-
tality was never more handsomely dis
pensed by a military'o0rps
me cOLoREp MILITARY.
This was not the first time the white
and colored military of the State paraded
together, but II Is probable that the cols
Ored soldier never before behaved as well
or presented as fine an appearance.
1t is due them that public recognition
should be made of this fact, as their
praise was on all lips, even those that had
4ever before given them kindly word or
generous tAoHght. a
From Augusta, Macon, Columbus and
Rome they came, and the e0lOred compas
MES of Atlanta, through the efforts of
Capt. NJ. II. Bentley, formerly of Savan- |
nah, entertained them in hospitable |
manner. In the line OF march they made |
y HliS QltASdi1lsCEs dilN II IT any way DUR |
ing the day they lnisbehayediI haze not
heard of it. GOV. Stephens was their |
friend, and they hOnored him In his final |
0bsequies.
THE DYING HOUR OF COY. STEPHENS. =
There was an important error of pune |
tuation N tne telegraphic report of re- |
marks OF Sidney Herbert at citizens; |
meeting on Sunday. 1t read :'.'No Weep |
ing ones were mourning his Anticipated |
departure last night. He passed away in |
a.stupof,R II should have read: last
night he passed away in stupof." The |
reference to ''nO weeping Ones'' had to do |
with his anticipated death in 1876, when |
he talked freely OF his spiritual condition. |
Governor Stephens seems to have had no |
favorable opportunity to speak on this
subject before he died. His critical con- |
dition came with a giving away of his
mental powers, and he was thus deprived |
of any farewell words to his loved ones. |
or ''last words" for the world at large to
remember
But there can be no question OF his full
preparation for death, as lie had ALWAYS |
lived to die-ready at any moment to Law |
Down his work here and 60 to his rich re- |
ward beyond the grave. He did mot |
believe in death bed scenes or eleventh |
hour repentance. His idea of a complete,
life and finished character was one that |
Kent him nypr nrpnarpd for az, ,.,d,4 /