The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-08-15

VI
and often imprecations, of those in the
rear
TIE CAR OF DEATH.
1t was I O'Clock when the Catafalque
passed through Madison Square. 1t
was the regnant moment Of the day.
For that all waited about that all in
terest centred from that radiated an
influence reaching to deeper, holier
depths human emotion than all the vast
display could go.
There was a long break and open
space before the car of death. The sus-
pense in the presence of that advance
was almost painful. Down that open
channel between the living banks could
be seen the great black plumes upon
the approaching funeral car, the glitter
of the silver trimmings in the sunshine
the purple of the casket that contained
all that is mortal and perishable CT
Grant. Around it the guns of the
guards shone. At every moment, from
pavement to roottop, 10, 900 faces
gazed upon it in the deep silence,
broken only by the soft rumble of the
wheels, the regular cadence of march
ing feet, the slow music of the dirse
timing the steps of the advancing thou
ands.
With the passing of the catafalque
interest perceptibly 1essened, and there
was melting away of the crowds on
the rear of the solid lines that faced the
curbstones. During this time the cranks
had an opportunity to assert themselves,
and they appeared in strong numbers.
One old fellow wore long linen buster
reaching nearly to his heels, and a high
white hat of the Brother Jonathan Or
der. Around his hat was bound great
roll of black cloth, the ends hanging
down nearly to his knees. His arms
were covered with Grape, and he wore
a bandage of the same material around
his neck. He stopped every few steps
and raised his hands to Heaven and
shouted strange and incoherent ex-
clamation in the form of a petition to
the throne of Grace for mercy to the
nation. He seemed to enjoy the at
tention he received as fully as the Rev.
Mr.. Newman did. Another crank per
sisted in kneclng and bowling prayer
in loud tones until the police were OBJ
liged to attend to him. The object Of
all these cranks appeared to be to at
tract attention and achieve notoriety.
THE PRESIDENT AND ESCORT.
After the catafalque came the great
men in carriages. First was the Presi-
dent in a carriage drawn by six horses.
Just as the vehicle swept around into
the procession from Twenty-third street,
where he had taken a carriage from the
ladies' entrance of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, big, fat idiot, mounted upon
a tomato box he had purchased for
seventyfve cents, shouted, "Hoorah
for Grover Cleveland !" The sides of
the box parted from his efforts and he
came down to the pavement with a
sickening thud Of the most approved
pattern. His fall was greeted with de-
risive laughter, which even the solemn
ity of the occasion could not repress.
For solid hour after that the street
was filled with carriages bearing the
notables of the land from the President
Of the nation and the General of armies
down to the New York aldermen and
Committee of Arrangements.
The funeral feature seemed to have
passed away almost entirely, and the
only reminder of it was in the mourning
drapery and the now far away strains
of the dirges up Fifth avenue to the
North. There was eager canvassing of
the people in the carriages, and the
man who was familiar with the faces of
celebrated men and officials had his
hands full. General Sherman in a car
rage alone raised his hat to the hun
dreds of ladies who filled the windows
and covered the roof of the Fifth
avenue Hotel. General Sherman is
always the feature of any demonstration
he takes part in, and, now that Grant
is gone, is probably as close to the af-
fections of the people as any of the
living generals of the great war. The
carriage containing Ex- presidents Hayes
and Arthur attracted attention, and the
variety of comment and remark was at
least amusing. There was good deal
of quiet fun poked at the scores of car
riages containing the stats of the gov
errors of states, and when the sun
shone out very brightly the wagonloads
of grandeur were SO dazzling as to be
almost painful to the eye. Some mis-
takes made in the identity of the men
were laughable. Mahlon Chance was
pointed out as Robert Lincoln, an old |
lady said as that little Bobby we
used to hear about when Lincoln was
alive. God bless him for his fathers
sake"