The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-01-16
A MILLl0NAIRE'S GRIEF.
HOW THE sTANFoRDs MOURN THE
LOSS OF THEIR BOY.
Extr aordinary Manifestations of Sor-
row by N Pacific Coast Family
A Unique Funeral Address.

Extraordinary Nantes ;ntions of sor-
row by n Pacific Coast Family
A Unique Funeral Address.
A recent letter from San Francisco to
the New York Sun, says: The magnii-
cence of the Stanfords' grief over the
death of their son Leland, Jr., has never
been equalled on this coast The per-
formances of the family and their friends
are the theme of talk in every circle
The great wealth of the Stanfords has
attracted to them in this hour of atflic-
ton all the toadies west of the Rocky
mountains and some from the East. Their
grief has not been permitted to slumber
for an instant. Somebody who has had
an ak to grind has been ever at hand
with sonnet, an ode, dirge, song, a
sermon or an Grafton. Silly women who
never saw the lad have written and called
to testify to the family the esteem
in which they held the boy and to dilatc
upon his qualities Portrait painters,
monument builders, dealers in memorial
windows, writers and poets, preachers
and politicians, photographers, boys who
hypocritically pretend to have been i'm
pressed by young Stanford's life, and
scores of Others have made money out
of the family woe.
Leland Stanford, Jr., was an amiablc
boy, not particularly smart or handsome,
whose death was noticeable because of
his prospective earthly riches and the
natural SORROW of his parents The boy
was never strong, and during the greater
part of his life was under the tutorship
of a maid. While in Rome last March
he died, and as soon as his parents could
get to him elaborate public services were
held in that city. Enormous crowds
attended, because it became noised about
that an American Crpsus was in afilic-
ton. Proceeding across the continent
and channel to England, further services
were held in Liverpool before sailing for
America and once in New York the re-
mains were laid in vault for several
months until preparations were complete
for their interment here. While larry
ing in the metropolis monthly services
were held over the remains. On the
journey across the continent special
train was used, and the cars and locomo-
tives were almost buried in Grape.
AS soon after their arrival here as pos
sble, the train was sent on to Stanford's
country seat at Menlo Park, where mag
nifcent vault had been erected, into
which the remains were put. The vault
is a vast and massive structure, made en-
tirely Of stone and iron. Its interior IS
as magnificent as an oriental palace. The
walls are entirely covered with purple
velvet embossed with gold, and the
draperics are rich beyond description,
,ct; &c ho fol
the heaviest bullion The vault is con-
nected with the mansion and the ser
wants quarters by electric wires, and one
or more armed watchmen are continually
on guard in front of its ponderous gates.
But the performance which has made
the most talk and subjected the afflicted
family to the most criticism is that which
took place in Grace Episcopal church IN
der the guise of funeral services, at which
the Rev. J. p. Newman, recently OF New
York, was the principal speaker The
services were thoroughly advertised all
through the city, and naturally enough
the crowd that assembled at the church
was much larger than could get within
the edifce. The floral decorations were
of the most gorgeous description. The
chancel was converted into floral chapel,
and all through the church there were
elaborate pieces made Of the costliest
flowers to be had in America. Not less
than 5000 was expended for flowers
for this occasion alone.
DR.. Newman made long address, in
tended principally to tiatter The parents
which sounded like the rhapsodies of
court chaplain over the remains of de-
parted prince. His address is now in
circulation here as a curiosity, and it is
everywhere pronounced the most fulsome
ever delivered in the Western hemis-
phcrc. No funeral Grafton over Wash
ington, Jefferson, Adams, or Lincoln
contains a 1.-THE of the praise lavished
upon this poor boy, whose only achieve
ment was to die. Newman found that
he had the wisdom and philosophy of a
Bacon. the keen foresight and penetra-
ton of Richelieu, the beauty of Apollo
Belvidere, the artistic taste of Michael
Angelo, the eye of an angel, the forehead
of god, the mental promise of Ham
ilton, the eloquence of a Pitt, the phil
anthrophy of a Peabody, the tenderness
of a Pascal, and the studiousness of
Gibbon; and he predicted that for gen
crations to come the youth Of the coun-
try, recognizing in Leland Stanford, Jr.,
a savior, would visit his tomb for inspir-
alton, and his example would be as a
beacon light to all the nations 1t is
said around town that General Grants
old pastor received $780, for this
precious discourse.
The services just held here were the
fifth celebrated over the remains. 1t is
the intention of the family to have a
grand memorial in March on the ami
versary of the lads death, and thereafter
the day will be commemorated each year
Mr.. Stanford already has several benevo-
lent projects on foot which will be car
ried out in the name of his son. and Mrs
Stanford has given literally to many
charitable institutions in his name.