The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-02-04
A %MILLl0NAlRES GRIEF.
HOW TIE sTAHFoRDs' MOURN THE
8 LOSS OF THEIR BOY.
Extraordinary Manifestations OF Sor'
rowaby a Pacific Coast Family
,o Cunoro1 AddrauS.

A~~~
Extraordinary Manifestations OF Sor.
rowaby q Pacific Coast Family
A Unique Funeral Address.
A recent letter from San Francisco to
the New York Sun, says: The magnif-
cence Of the Stanfords' grief over the
death of their son Leland, Jr., has never
been eoualled 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 aftlic'
ton all the toadies west of the Rocky
mountains and some from the East. Their
grief has not been permitted to slumbel
for on instant. Somebody who has had
an ak to grind has been ever at hand
with q sonnet, an ode, a dirge, q song. q
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 dilate
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 on amiablo
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 tutorshir
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 Cresus was in atflic'
ton. Proceeding across the continent
and channel to England, further service:
were held in Liverpool before sailing fol
America, and once in New York the re-
mains were laid in q vault for severa
months until preparations were complete
for their interment here. While tarry'
ing in the metropolis monthly services
were held we the remains. On the
Journey across the continent a special
train was used, and the cars and locomo'
tiycs were almost buried in Grape.
As soon after their arrival here as pos
sible, the train was sent on to Stanford:
country seat at Mcnlo Park, where a mag
n%iicent vault had been erected, int
which the remains were put. The vault
is o vast and massive structure, made en-
tirely of stone and iron. Its interior il
as magnificent as m oriental palace. Thu
walls are entirely covered with purple
velvet embossed with gold, and thu
draperies are rich beyond description
consisting of the costliest fabrics and
the heaviest bullion. The vault is con
nectcd with the mansion and the ser
wants quarters by electric wires, and ont
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 I'm
der the guisc of funeral services, OF which
the Rev. J. P. Newman, recently OF New
York, was the principal speaker. Thu
services were thoroughly advertised al
through the city, and naturally enough
the crowd that assembled at the church
was much larger than could get within
the cdifce. The floral decorations wer'
of the most gorgeous description. Thu
chanccl was converted into floral chapel
and oil through the church there wer'
elaborate pieces made of the costlies'
flowers to be had in America. Not les:
than $50, 900 was expended for flower:
for this occasion alone.
Dr.. Newman made q long address, in
tended principally to hatter the parents,
which sounded like the rhapsodies of {
court chaplain over the remains of q de
parted prince. His address is now in
circulation here as q curiosity, and it j;
everywhere pronounced the most fulsomt
ever delivered in the Western hemis
phcre. No funeral grafton over Wash
%ington, Jefferson, Adams, or Lincoln
contains a 1.-THE of the praise lavisheo
upon this poor boy, whose only achieve
ment was to die. Newman found thai
he had the wisdom and philosophy of
Bacon. the keen foresight and pcnetra'
ton of a Richclicu, the beauty of Apollo
Belvidcre, the artistic taste of Hlichae
Angelo, the eye of an angel, the forehead
of a god, the mental promise of a Ham
ilton, the eloquencc 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 cJln'
try, recognizing in Leland Stanford, Jr.,
a savior, would visit his tomb for inspir'
alton, and his example would be as {
beacon light to all the nations. 1t i
said around town hat General Grant:
old pastor received so 1000 for this
precious discourse.
The services just held here were thu
fifth celebrated over the remains. 1t i:
the intention of the family to have
grand memorial in March on the ami
versary of the lads death, and thcrcafte'
the day will be commcmorated each year
Mr.. Stanford already has several bencvo
lent projects on foot which will be car
1ied out in the name of his son, and Mrs
Stanford has given literally to many
charitable institutions in his name.