Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-08-20
"EARTH TO EARTH"
The Quiet Burial of Samuel j.
Tilden.
Simple, but Solemn Services.

The funeral OF Mr.. Tilden from his man
sion at Greystone, Saturday morning,
August :, was plain and simple, a. the dead
statesman wished il should be- Yonkers
vas in mourning garb. The shops were
closed and badges OF mourning hung on the
closed doors The people of the village
were out early, vending their way to-
wards the mansion OF their old friend,
where the last marks Of respect were TO he
paid 10 his greatness and his benevolence.
Morning trains brought numbers of dis
tingushed people 60 swell the crowds
which filled the grounds of Grcystone,
waited under the trees until the doors
should be thrown open TO the public and
then filed respectfully into the chamber OF
death to look on the face soon to be shut
out from sight forever.
Within Mr.. Tildens mansion all was
subdued quiet. The dead leader lay in his
coffin in the great drawing room, the walls
windows and entrances of which were
draped in deep black Heavy folds Of
Grape and cashmere hid every vestige Of
color, and the blue-room of Mr., Tildcn's
pride was, for time, a blue room no
more. Between two windows which look
out on the Hudson, whore his yacht lay
tossed by the breakers was the coffin. 1t
was "A rich but plain casket OF Spanish
cedar, covered with rich black silk plush,
and ornamented with oXidized silver
trimmings. A silver plate bore the in
scrIption in plain script, samuel j. Til
den.
Deep down in the tufted white satin lay
the head Of NJ. Tilden, restinga little on
| one side. The body was in full dress, n
high standing collar and white tie encircl-
ed the neck. and fresh flower was in the
buttonhole on the coat lapel. The face
was calm, more so, indeed, than those who
had known Mr.. Tilden during his long
period of illness had seen the countenance
in years. There was no mark of suffering
on il, and il bore no trace of emaciation.
At $3.50 the ceremonies were 10 begin.
At that hour those who wished To take n
last look at Mr.. Tilden came in. Secre
tary Manning came first, leaning on
the arm of Mr.. John Bigelow. The
two gentlemen had been tried and
trusted friends OF the dead man. the one
his political lieutenant the other the
scholarly companion of his retirement and
his biographer. Following them was
President Cleveland and Secretary Endi-
colt Daniel Lamont came next, and
after him solid column. the prominent
members of which were Charles a. Dana,
editor of the san. and Mr.. Tilden's life
long friend and political admirer Samuel
j. Randall; Senator Evarts. Algernon :.
Sullivan. Smtl NJ. Weed, GOV. Hill. VIM
II. Barnum. Gen. Alex Hamilton, and a
large numb, of others of almost equal
prominence from all parts OF the east.
The services were commenced by the
singing of a HYMN, abide with me- by
the choir Of tn Madison avenue Preshy
terrain church. which Mr.. Tilden attended
when in New York.
Rev VIM j. Tucker Of Andover Mass,
a close friend of the family, read the burial
service of the Presbyterian church, and
then delivered n brief address. lie spoke
of the deSolation OF death. 1t divides
friends from those who weep by "A gulf
which ordinary expression cannot cross.
In the case of Mr. Tiden il had done even
more. 1t had ended the existence of IA
great intellect, and of "A mind so great that
few men Of the age had equaled him, while
fewer still, if any indeed, had excelled.
Wisdom, sagacity and honor were the
characteristics of Mr.. Tilden. The rever
end gentlemen briefly spoke of the manner
in which Mr.. Tilden had exemplitied these
human projections, and the lessons TO be
drawn from his life and deeds.
Two more hymns were rendered and
the services were at an end. The glass
cover of the inner coffin was put in place
and the outer coffin sealed. The bearers,
servants OF Mr.. Tiden. lifted their pre-
cious burden 10 the hearse followed by the
honary pallbearers, Samuel j. Randall,
John Bigelow, Daniel Manning, Smith VI.
Weed, Charles a. Dana, DR.. George l..
Miller William Allen Butler, Daniel Ma
gone, j. b. Trevor, DR.. Charles f. Sim
mons and Aaron j. Nanderpoel. Out into
the rain which was falling heavily, the
cortege moved from the residence TO the
depot, where special funeral train had
been prepared. A private car had been
arranged with n catafalque, and three
coaches were filed with the mourners,
members Of the family and public officials.
The special train left Yonkers shortly
before noon. At every station a large
crowd was gathered despite the rain, with
uncovered heads, and many emblems of
mourning were exhibited. The train
reached New Lebanon at l O'Clock and was
met at the depot by nearly the entire
population Of the village. The remains
were conveyed 10 the little Congregation
al church opposite the old Tilden home
stead where services were conducted by
Rev. MIR. Burrill, the pastor. These con
cluded, an opportunity was given TO the
public 10 view the face of the dead. Fully
5.03O persons passed tho coffin and gazed
at the dead statesman. The coffin was
then covered, placed in the hearse, and the
sad procession moved 10 the cemetery.
where, after a prayer, the body was placed
In n vault.