The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-07
FAMOUS FUNERALS.
Magnificent Pageants in Honor OF Departed
Heroes.
Boston A Advertiser.


To philosopher, of course, the disposition of
the iifeIess human body seems matter of small
moment, but to the great body of the people the
funeral rites and last resting place of one of it's
great heroes are matters of keenest interest. In
view of the approaching oGSeouies of our own
great national hero it will be interesting to recall
the honors paid after death to the remains Of
some oil the great captains Of history.
Two long years were consumed in the formida-
BILE preparations for the funeral of Alexander the
Great Dying at Babylon, he directed that his
body, which was Immediately embalmed with
elaborate care by Egyptian and Chaldean adopts
should be deposited in the Temple Of Jupiter on
an Egyptian oasis. Undeterred by the enormous
distance. the procession set forth, an army of
wOrkmen having been sent forward to repair
the roads and bridges The funeral car
was drawn by sixty four mules, chosen
for their strength and size. speudidly capar
soned. The car itself was of surprising magnif-
cence, the spokes and naveS Of the wheels and
ends of the aXles being covered with gold, the
platform uphOlding a royal pavilion incrusted
with gems, supporting throne and coffin. the
latter of solid gold and filled with costly spices.
But the body never reached its destination.
Ptolemy arrested its progress and buried it at
Alexandria, which city may be said to have itself
proved the enduring monument of the con-
queror
Very different was the funeral of julius Cesar
The circumstances of his death were so tragic
and such enormous crowds gathered to the cere-
mony that they could not be formed into a pro-
cesson, and the different classes of people were
accordingly asked to come together under their
appropriate ins gna in the Field of Mars. The
body of the great Roman was exposed lying
upon a giljed bed covered with scarlet and cloth
OF gold, and placed under magnificent canopy
In the form of a temple.
After the funeral ceremonies were over
question arose where they should burn the body
| Some suggested temple Captoline Hill;
others suggested the Senate house where he had
| fallen. The Senate. less willing to pay him ex-
| traordinary honors proposeda more retired spot
| The discussion was fast becoming dispute,
| when two soldiers, with drawn swords and
| blazing torches in their hands, forced their way
| through the crowd and set fire to the bed In a
| moment there was the widest excitement The
multitude fell to work directly building the
| funeral pyre upon the spot. First they brought
! fagots and then ben ches from the neighboring
| could find and at length as the excitement
grew, the soldiers threw in their arms, the must
clans their instruments, while others stripped
Of the funeral procession. So fierce was the fire
! that 1T spread to the neighborng houses, and
was only with the greatest difficulty extnguished
| AS fitting monument, the people erected to the
| Mighty julius" a lofty column surmounted by
a star
Coming down TO modern times the accounts Of
| the obsequies of the Iron Duke" perhaps the
greatest ever known in England, and the second
| funeral of Napoleon must still be borne freshly
| In mind by many of the veterans of to-day. The
| Duke CT Wellington, after lying in state FIVE
days at Chelsea Hospital was borne TO his last