Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1886-11-24


Leaving the Housc-Arthur's Aversion
to Remains Lying in State-Pathetic
Story of the Dead Generals Love and
Devotion to His Wife.
New YORK, Nov. 22.-The arrangements
for the funeral of the late ex-President
Arthur are being rapidly perfected although
the details are not yet completed. Decorators
began work on the Church of the Heavenly
Rest on Fifth avenue Saturday for the
obsequies of Monday A large American
flag bordered with heavy panels and festoons
of Grape has been draped over the porch and
the chancel, lectern and pulpit will be
swathed in black and gracefully draped
catafalque is being constructed The church
has fine interior and the mourning effects
will be necessarily heightened by cut flowers
and palms.
The casket will not be opened in the church
nor at any time after it leaves the Arthur
residence. All who seek to view the remains
will have to do so at the house Sunday or
very early on Monday morning. Gen Ar
thur was strongly opposed to the custom Of
allowing the remains OF distin ruished people
to lie III state and frequently condemned it.
The commit al will not he said at the church
This will be pronounced by the Rt. Rev. DIR.
Doane, bishop of the diocese of Albany, at
the grave in Rural cemetery in the after
noon.
The following gentlemen have been ap-
pointed to represent the chamber of COM
merce at the funeral: President James NJ.
Brown, ex-Presidents Low and Babcock, and
Vice Presidents Smith and Fiske.
Arthur's devotion to the memory of his
wife has been the theme OF much comment
in the newspapers as well as among his
friends. Every morning a fresh basket Of
flowers was placed by his orders before her
portrait, and in his busiest day Re always
had time to spend q few moments contem-
plating it.
Every Sunday morning President Arthur
walked across Lafayette park to St Johns
church, a little, old-fashioned, brown
building that is known as the
Church Of the Presidents A tender
romance connected this quaint old
church with the presidents wife. In 1855
Ellen Lewis Herndon, the daughter Of the
heroic Capt Herndon of the navy, lived in
Washington with her mother. She was a
beautiful and interesting girl, and one of the
sopranos in st. Johns choir. One Sunday
she sang a solo at the afternoon service. A
young lawyer ITCm new 4OTk uSppSne0 W
be that day in Washington, and had gone
into the church. He heard the touching
voice and saw the singer. The young lawyer
was Chester Arthur, and in 1859 he and
Ellen Herndon were married.
The heroic story Of her father Is well
known After seeing every soul that could
be saved on his sinking ship-the Central
America-in the boats, he went below, and
putting on his uniform as United States
officer went down calamity with his ship. A
monument to commemorate him was erected
at Annapolis while MIR. Arthur was presi-
dent. Mr.. Arthur took his son with him one
day and went quietly to Annapolis. The
father and son stood together before the
shaft with uncovered heads and reverent
words.
His tenderness for his wife's memory and
for everything that was associated with her
was very marked. Her family was much
attached to him and often visited him at the
White House. A small picture of her was
always kept on his mantel. Her death was
sudden. She came from a reception with a
slight cold, which developed into pneumonia
and killed her within two days. All who
knew her speak of her beauty and accom-
plishments. One Of the last acts of President
Arthur before leaving Washington was hav-
ing memorial window placed in st Johns
church to commemorate the wife of his