New-York tribune., 1885-08-09
RESTING AT RIVERSIDE.
THE FUNERAL OF GENERAL GRANT
PROCESSION AND CEREMONIES OF eoA'
EMN SPLENDOR AND BEAUTY

A REVIEW OF THE DAY-scoPE AND MI~''
THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
With a marnifcence of imposing display u
uhich tho whole country lent its aid, with cere-
monies that challenged IN their solemn grandeur
the stored pages Of the past, with reverens
meet 10 crown tho close of great caioo',
the body of General Ulysses S. Grant was piaceu "'
rest Yesterday in the metropolis OF 'no
land whose union he had preserVeu'
every tribute that O grateful, sorrowhe pooy'o
could pay the burial was made worthy Oh III.
glory which the deeds OF tho mighty Cap'ain .
won. In pomp and speDdor on shore ana "a'o wv
final homage of the Republic was PAID 10 MN 70
whom IL owed so much, and with booming artiilery
and clamor of bells. in the presence Oh ie'e,on'
multitudes. the dead General was left TO steep
.m;o scene of beauty such as nature rarely pants
O landscape with
In its proportions, the demonstration of National
respect and honor was colossal Its several features
nv their simple magnitude would have made the
day memorable in the city's annals, even had tney
not been auickened by spirit and meaning VI
lofsness and grandeur. 1t were almost ldie to
attempt 70 compute the numbers OF spectators tnat
peopled the iine of march or OF the soiolery anu
private citizens who made up the great procession.
At n moderate estimate train and boat must have
added halt million to the population OF Manhattan
Island of the Federal aud State troops ana vet-
erans whose military brillIancy gave tue cher splen
dor to the pageant fully 80 900 marched ana Id tne
civilian organizations whose participation adued
largely to its imposing character some lO'ooo men
were included. Such mighty outpourng OF peo-
pie in the streets. such marshalling OF men Ill ohe
array the inhabitants of New-York never saw.
Only to the great demonstration of the French
capital when Victor Hugo was laid to rest could
the observances of yesterday be hkened in their
extent. But there the parallel ends, and the two
occasions can be associated only by the contrasts
they suggest.
The day was surrendered to the solemn ceremony.
Most of the places of pleasure were closed ana
silent like the business places. banks ana OK
changes. The funeral pageant was not mocSed "
the signs of selfishDess and greed. BY every marx
of sorrow that could be shown by public officer and
private citizen with the whole spirit that pervaded
the people one of patriotic decoruln, the soiemn
ceremonies we're invested with dignity that was
not the least part of the significance OF the honors
gratefully paid to the departed commander.
But more than by Its proportions, noble as
they we're, was the demonstration made worthy
to be called great. 1t was the Nations dead tha'
was laid to rest and the Nations chief officers
crowded the funeral train. ii was the great
soldier whose valor and genius had perpetuated
the Republic one and inseparabIe to whom the
last homage was to be given and the lead
ing spirits of the army that had conquered
under him and the army that he had conquered
were there to testify their admiration OF his vaor
and martial glory. 1t was one who had for TWO
terms been the head of Nation at peace and many
distinguished citizens Of that Nation paid their
tribute Of respect to him who had been the First
Citizen among them. And as the world had done
him honor living, as the greatest OF Americans
its other Governments sent ther representatives 10
add International homage to his greatness dead.
Nor was the State left alone to show forth the lofty
appreciation in which the hero was held. 10 MS
bier came priest. rabbi and minister, finding no
bar of church or sect against u united homage to
the high virtues of his character. More eloqueptly
than words could tell the official character Of those
who followed the sombre stateliness of the fu-
neral car bespoke the high Importance
of the occasion. The President OF the
United States the ce-Presdent and members OF
the Cabinet former Cabinet Minister'S; honorable
Judges of the Nations highest courts Senators and
Representatives, from the Federal Congress; two
ex-Presdents of the Republic; the Governor OF
New-York; and Governors from more than dozen
States OF the Union; Ministers from foreign courts
members of the State Legislature; heads OF Gov
erumenta and municipal departments by the score
the Mayors of dozen cities-these guests
of the bereaved family stamped the
ceremony with ndelible significance. And second
only to the official recognition of the day was that
given by the many organizations of veterans who
had served directly under the old General the
delegations from all the business organizations Of
the city, and the clubs aud various bodies from
New-York and other cities, which by long and ar
duous march, testified 10 the sacrifice the people OF
every class were eager to make for the exaltation
of their herO's memory. Completing the solemn
meann .Of the observances of the day. the partici-
patton of the Army and Navy and National Guards
men from many States, crowned the obseqaies with
all the martial pomp due to the military eminence
of the mighty soldier.
ANXIOUS thoughts had for days previous been
directed toward the weather on the funeral day.
The afternoon and evening Of Friday had not gwen
the promise hoped for Of bright sky and balmy
air. Clouds dull with the suggestion OF rain had
fitted across tho heavens. aud at one time timid
drops. sinking quickly into the dust here and there.
sent twnges of apprehension to the hearts of those
who were wishing for faultless day. When
morning broke the sky still showed reluctance to
submit to the undisputed dominion OF the sun. But
the gray clouds with their slight menace OF showers
only served to muffe the rays that might otherwise
have imposed tho burden of oppressive heat upon
the funeral procession. The haze that softened the
blue beauty of the sky seemed to lend suodued
sympathy of color with the spread beneath 1t.
Now and then the whole landscape was lit up with
q flash of gold. as tho August sun shook of the
Aoating,masses fleece that were fain to shield his
face. The air was cool without hint Of chlliness.
and yet the atmosphere contained stimulus that
made perfect marching day for the paraders
With the early hours the city was alive with
crowds Fastening on foot or in vehicles toward
every spot along the long line of march which prom
ised view of the stately pageant. Glitterin9
lines of soldisry lent brilancy here and there to
lower Broadway and stretched bands OF color along
the streets that branched out either side OF the