New-York tribune., 1885-02-19
FUNERAL OF DIR. DAMROSCH.
THE OPERA HOUSE DRAPED IN MOURNING.
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES IN HONOR OF THE DEAD
MUSICIAN.

MUSICIAN.
Never perhaps since it was built has the Nero.
ooIitan Opera House been occupied by greater
number OF people than were gathered WITHIN ils
mournfully draped walls yesterday aftertophn, on
Some perhaps were drawn by curiosity, DuI tne
greater number came with their hearts full OF
sorrow to pay last tribute TO the dead musician,
Leopold Damroseh he hour tOr ImS bonrs earsr
large crowd besieged the broadway entrance vi ..o
Opera House. Many of them were without tickcts y.
carry Them in: Others purchased tickets at high
rate from or two spectators INTO whose hahus
some few tickets had mysterlously 1ound thelr way
As the crowd thickened the rush became lntoleraDe
and many women were obliged to hght thelr way
back TO the open air, for the outer doors had pee
opened BY this time and the yestbnle was nd tbe
slow task of admitting those WHO had tiie isns 80 ~
enter while keeping out those less fortunate. WA was
bepnn By half past 3 the whole house was luii
Not only was every seat filed but all the boxes
were crowded and every inch OF standing Iooln
Occupied The Them 6 bs D1 and gaess
draped with heavy folds of black CLOTH lie slige
was set with dark interior scene the black marble
ing dresses of the Oratorio Society and Opera House
chorus. who filled the entire stage A.
In the centre. and immediately In front OF t@he @
footl ghts was an immense floral design sent by IN"
orchestra it fanked on each side by two other
smaller floral tributes. while around the black S
draped bier, which occupied the centre OIL the
orchestra were ranged stlll other floral Tyres ana
designs sent by various musical bodies, including
the PHILHARMONIC the Arion the OTatorio, tnc tue
those sent by the chorus and the artists OF the
Opera House .,;, j.,
The bagnoirboxes on the south side were SSfceupled
by the principal artists. including Frau MateIna.
FranIen Kraus Fraulen Brandt. Frauein Belly. Herr
Schott, Herr and Frau Robinson, Herr Staqdlgl
Herr Koege and Herr Udvardi. The stockholders
boxes were all occupied. chiefly by ladies' lncind-
ing Mrs George Henry Warren. Mrs: Robert Goelet,
Evcs Ts oSiSn Ms j. oa'R % Roosevelt S Mrs H. L. Eoose!e
Mrs. J. II. Roosevelt Mrs. Z. e. Haven, Mrs. >. =;
Parrish, Mrs. Remsen and the Misses hensen' ana
Mrs. Henry Clews
Shortly after o'clock the solemn strains of the
organ rose and hush fell on the wn0le mouse.
around the central entrance and procession slowly
entered and moved down the aisle, IL was headed
by Edmund c. stanton and Z. F. Hyde. Then came
the directors of the Opera E0use, James A. Koose-
welt, George Henry Warren, Robert Goelet. George
Griswod Haven J; G. Parrish and Adrian lselin'
They fSOyea X se De
Morris Reno. Frank Roosevelt, J. w. Roosevelt,
j. j. Higgnson. the Rev; Dr. Marvin r. Vincent,
L. NJ Bates, Cornelius n. Bliss George Jones. {. &.
Bcaman, j. II. Durham. Richard Delaheid' ". H.
Draper, Z, F. Hyde, George Merritt and r: T.:
Draper The directors OF the QTatCrl1 socletYy
followed, including the Rev. W. Ii. Cooke, +. h.
James G. r. Bingham, j. j. Wilson, IL Seligman.
W. Il. Tuthill and Alexander u. Wood. linen came
simple wreath and branch of PALM 1t was followed
by the rhalia Theatre company. The BODY had
been met at the Fortiethst. entrance by these
representatives of the societies with which Dr
Damr0sch had been connected, and 10y members OF
various other musical bodies. including the Arl0h'
the LlederkTanZ, the Newark Harmonic ana the
Nyack Choral Societies.
BY an unfortunate oversight, or The unWlsdonl
of the managers, the foremost mnslcal organization
in the United States was excluded from all partlci-
patton in the funeral. This was the lhiharmonlc
Society of which DR.. Damroscll had for one season
been conductor. meeting of the directors held on
Tuesday evening disclosed that not one of them
had received ticket to the funeral, although
tickets had been sent TO the LiederkIanz ana Aron
Societies, as well to those with wnch tie dead
musician was connected. Finding Their way TO
attendance in a body or individually thus blocked,
the directors cOntented themselves by ordering the
purchase of a line floral tribute the expression OF
the respect of the society for distinguished
musician and former officer.
slowly the procession moved down the aisle. ana
the members took their places IN the seats reserved
for them Immediately around the bier, on which
the coffin was laid by its bearers large wreath
was thrown over one end OF IT, When az had
taken their seats the Oratorio Society rose and sang
the mournful "Whcn | too am departed" from
Bach's Passion. The Rev. W. III. Cooke then an
nounced that as for Assistant Bishop
Potter to he present. owing 10 iudispoSiton he had
sent letter which Mr. Cooke proceeded 10 read
LII the course of it DT. Potter SAID:
Iremelnber as though 1t were yesterday the first pub
lie appearance of Dr. DnIosch III this country ana the
ms al am opportune moment when a better taste was
awakening and when there was needed The Wise ana
veop it. How ably he discharged his task;
how steadily he rose to the height OF every
encT.y he iu5trasi what splendid enthusiasm na-
se The intensity of a white heat IN his own breast,
Risdicd a kindred enthusiasm in others. rms
tLc tat as We stand about hs r. to-day figs OF all
remenoeI. lie of those rare men Who had, III
art tie courage Of his opinions and profound iu IN
the triumph of the highest excellence The scsool ot
which lie was disciple the great ma, Ter oi whom &c
WAS in this land, PIe-enlHently the interpreted nave
WniYers TEH I recos2i,ion. But it was otherwise When
Dr. DamrO>ch BEGAN his work IN tins country. Hc had
to encounter IA. disrhst Of those TO wnom what was,
he believed the best and highest III ms ait was at
unin tere,ng and unintelgible He had 10 lace
ignorance and the ridcue OF many and the chilly ind-
ference OF many more. He had 10 deal with deeply
rooted prejudce> and narrow, II not roNiucdl taste
mamiioI obstacles moce bravcly tri-
@Phan Gn arca s~a. Fa"@G s%G Dr. D 6mroe
was great educator. In speaking OF him great ed
ucator have IN mind mat service which he rendered 10
those who, like myself, were un.earhcd aud ignorant
Who through his m>tumcntality, had opened
But may not forget. as recall his great services how
behind Damrosch tie the artist there was DanroscA the
IL is said OF art and OF artists that art does not
necessarily ennObe the artists. But who that knew Dr.
mOdesty, Of his unOcnding integrity, OF his hdel-
ity to duty "a fidelity that douDtirss shortened MS
le,snd OF his unfaing sweetness and benshity OF cD-
acter IL Is Tor such man that We most Oi all mourn
to-day, and II is to the bier of ouch man that would
fan bring the ahect0nate tribute Oi NY respect ana a-
mraton lie has done great work ana be has done 1t
in great and noble May tie memory Of his char
actor ana example be spell in the life OF every friend of
his and every disciple OF his teaching
Mr. Cooke announced that Felix Adler had
fortunately been able to attend and would deliver
an address, and then introduced Henry ard
Beecher who said that it was customary to gather
together to commemorate tie death OF men who
had sacrificed themselves for their country as had
Abraham Lincoln, or those who had touched All the
interests of society, or those who had been known
as great public bencfactOrs here or abroad; but
when had people ever before gathered together with
the profOundest feeling TO express their sOIOw and
admiration for artist not born herc-for a for
eigner--but whose home more here than
III his native landf He had come here ARTIST
he had been the yeast which raised and leavened
the whole OF his ant and had raised uusic5to
the highest position. 1t was great thing for the
sculptor 10 make noble statues: 1t was noble
thing to blend the cooIs of the rainbow canvas;
but 1t greater far to furnish the treasures of
music. The musician was great bcDeiaCtOr lie
sOwed his influence IN every part of society. As
bread and meat carried nutrlnIent TO every part of
IL. L.. IL LII