Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-01-20
LINCOLN AND STANTON.
The Great Presidents Steadfastness and Kind
ness.

The Great Presidents SteadfaStneSS and Kind
ness.
One of the old timers Of Virginia is
Gen. A. H. II. Stuart, says the New York
Tribune, He is one of the few men liv-
ing who have recollection of Thomas
Jefferson. In his youth Gen. Stuart was
u frequent visitor at Monticello. While
at natural bridge few days ago, Gen.
Stuart found q formation of rock which
he declares is most striking profile OF
JeferEon's face. 1t has already been
named "Jefferson's profile" aud will be
pointed out to future visitors as ore of
the curiosities of that resort.
Gen. S uart by the way tells of a re-
markable interview which he had with
President Lincoln at Washington, just
before the opening of hostiIities at
Charleston. The Virginia convention
was in session, and had sent a committee
Of which Gen. Stuart was a member to
confer with the president, and if posi-
bic Induce him to adopt a course which
wonld save the country from war. They
had long conference with tho president
and not an altogether satisfactory ole.
AS they were leaving Gen. Stuart with
drew from the other members and asked
permission of the president, to speak to
him alone for Il fee minutes. When
they were by themselves he urged upon
him the policy of blockade South Caro-
lima both from the sea and the land, the
suspension of the mails the revenue
service and railroad travel, and the cut
ting off of all communication of every
description. If you Will do this, Mr..
President, and give the union mon Of the
south time to gather ferca and strength,
and n ba nj Of No
South CaIoliua will stand alone, and her
return to the union will then be ques-
ton only of hours" The presidents re-
ply was given with pathic EMOTION.
Whatever it might be possible to avert
or prevent by any other course / have
sworn to defend the flag of the nation
and to hold up the honor of the nation"
Egyptian Funerals.
funeral in Egypt is indeed strange
sight, and the first one the visitor sees
astonishes him very much. At the head
of the procession marches a corporate
body of blind and a certain number of
men, VINO proceed at quick step, swing
ing themselves from right to left. Behind
them comes the funeral car, or rather a
sort of bier, bearing great red shawl in
which the body Is deposited. At the ex-
tremlty of the bier, on perch, is placed
the turban or the tarbouch of the de-
funct. Two men carry the bier. They
follow with such spirit the movement of
the hsad of the procession, that the
corpse, rocked in every direction, seems
to jump under the shawl that shrouds it.
The women bring up the rear, some on
asses, some on foot. The first row is
formed of weepers, or rather screamers,
who send forth toward heaven at each
step the shrillest tones. The weepers
hold in their hand a handkerchief, with
which they are not sOlicitous of wipIng
their eyes perfectly dry, but which they
pull by two edges behind their head with
esture that wouldibe desperate if it was
not droll. On the arrival at the cemetery
they take the dead body from the bier to
cast it, just as it is, into the grave. The
grand funerals, however, take place with
much moro soIemnity. An i'm portant
parsonage is hardly dead in Egypt before
his acquaintance hurry to the house.
During one or two days they eat and
drink at the expense of the dead, or
rather his heirs, INDUCING in the noisiest
demonstrations. When the hour of the
interment arrives a scene of the widest
character is produced. The slaves and
"obeh oA 1he hou5ehoiu Ihro" themselves
on the corpse and feign determination
to hinder it from passing the threshold.
The lugubrious trsgedy is played con
scientiously; they snatch away the coffin;
they delay each other with blows, and the
most violent and frightful clamor is heard.
At last the procession leaves the house
and repairs to the cemetery, preceded by
cameis loaded with victuals, which are
distributed to The poor, hurrying in crowds
along tie road. All along the road the
mourners and friends of the family fight
for the honor of carrying the bier for a
moment, and thus it passes or bounds
from hand to hand, amid the most fright
full disorder. The interment, ended, every
one returns 10 the house of the dead to
recommence festivities.
- robfan Game o+ uarbls