Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18

sTATK-THE SAD SCENE At THE GRAVE.
The clear wintry sunshine filtered this morn
ing through the multi tinted windows of the
Church of the Covenant and cast subdued
food of color, 'the dim religious light" upon
one Of the most distinguished and sorrow
full assembisges that this city has
seen in many years. From the great
organ, on whose golden pipes the reflected hues
came and went, there issued the vail OF
melody and harmonious grief-speaking sobs
that seemed to wrench themselves out of q
broken heart The spirit Of mourning per-
vaded the sweet-scented atmosphere and even
the bright flowers and fresh green of
the smilax and palm were indicative
only of the end to which all mortality must
sooner or later come. 1t was the funeral of
Walker Blaine. Long before IL O'Clock nearly
all the unreserved seats in the spacious edifice
were fully occupied by public men Of all lands,
| official dignitaries and social celebrities
OF both sexes. Strings of smilax marked
the lines beyond which the general
public could not go, and for fully half an hour
before the sad procession arrived there was
nothing but standing room. During the greater
portion OF this period Mr.. Walter Damrosch
was at the organ, and mis- deft fingers awoke
such musical lamentation as is but rarely heard
THE PRELIMINARY SERVICE AT THE BLAINE
MANSION.
Those who had been specially invited to at
tend the brief preliminary service in the Blaine
mansion we're at Madison place before 10
o'clock. They were quite numerous and IN
ciuded President Harrison and Mrs. Harrison,
Vice President Morton, all the members of the
cabinet, Gov. Robbie of Maine, Ex-Governor
Perhan, Postmaster Marley of Augusta and
number OF intimate friends
A brief prayer by Rev. Teunis s. Hamlin.
ID, last glance at the familiar features of
the dead, few tears, and the lid of the casket
was closed to be opened no more by the hand
of man.
Outside the house there was large crowd of
the alphabetically curious, for whom funerals
have morbid attractions. They were about
equally divided as TO SEX but there was a one
ness of desire to see everything that was going
on. There was no disorder; none was possible,
for a couple OF stalwart policemen were quietly
watchfui.
So numerous were the carriages that il was
deemed necessary to Temporarily change the
route OF the herdics and they were sent around
to 18th street until the cortege had departed
for the church. It was within few minutes
OF II O'Clock when Rev. DR.. Hamlin, bare
headed, preceded the fower-laden, cloth-cov-
cred casket which half dozen honorary pail
bearers bore slowly to the waiting hearse.
Ihen the carriages came up Secretary Blaine,
Mrs. Blaine. James g. Blaine, jr.. and Miss
Margaret Blaine entered the first one and other
which were driven off in solemnly moving pro-
cession. The President and Mrs. Harrison
were in one of the presidential equipages
fourth in the line.
DISTINGUISHED GATHERING IN THE CHURCH
Before the cortege arrived at the church
there was nothing but standing room save for
those in whose behalf provision had been made
Completely filling the north side of the
audience room were Senator'S Rem
rps9ntHtlyaS No
tlceable among them were Senators
Evarts, Eustis, Stanford, Hoar, Plat,
Spooner, Dixon, Coekrell, Mitchell, FarwelI,
Sawyer and CullOm, Speaker Reed, Representa-
tives Dalzell Morrow, Butterworth. Martin.
Post, Hermann, Farquhar, Holman, Mckinley,
sherman, Dingiey and Bland. Later Senators
the other side of the church.
A number of Congressman were misled by
the information, given in q morning paper
that the services at the house would take place
at l1:3O Among others Senator Hawley and
Representatives Boutelle, b. W. Perkins and
NeidrInghaus repaired to the church at about
IL 80 and found the ceremonies almost over
The crowd was SO great that they were unable
to obtain admittance.
Among other national and local notables
present were Civil Service Commissioner
Roosevelt, Gen. Schofield, Hon John A. King
ex-Justice Strong. MIR. NJ W. Calf, MIR. Wick
life Yulee and DIR. I. j. Woodman, who was
CldSsIlldte Oh walker Blaine at Yale.
In the center of the church were seated the
diplomatic corps, the delegates to the inter-
nationa, american conference and members of
the Venezuelan claims commission. In the alb
sence of Mr.. William Z. Curtis, who is execu-
tive officer of the international conference but
who was experimenting the funeral arrange
ments, the delegates were in charge of Capt
John q. Bourke.
TIE SERVICES IN THE CHURCH
The music was filling the church with its
minor plaintiveness when the Rev. Dr. Hamlin
walked slowly up the central aisle repeating in
a smooth, clear voice the oft-heard words COM
menclng with the sentence, Il am the resur-
rection and the life" Behind him
was the casket. and as he made his
arose and remained standing until the
mourners were all seated. The men,
bers of the Blaine household occupied seats
directly in front Of the pulpit and to the right
OF the main aisle. while the seats on the other
side were given to the President and Mrs Har-
rison. Vice President Morton. the members of
the cabinet and their wives and the pail
bearers, who were Messrs. VIM. F. Wharton
John Davis. Sevellon A. Brown, Marcellus Bal,
ley, NJ. l.. Ruth, A. +. jerks, +. b. Loring and
VIM. Haywood.
There was more of hope and less Of grief in
the strains OF the organ as the mourners were
being seated. Wild, thrilling discords gave
place to soft harmonies and the dismal
fantasies OF sorrow were succeeded by the
soothing assurances Of abide with Me-" The
king of instruments was in the hands of a
master.
Secretary Blaine was very much affected.
he shivered slightly and tried to pull his over
coat over his shoulders without rising from his
seat. Emmons Blaine, who was right behind
him, helped him put it on and then the be-
reaved father sat down, the very incarnation of
woe. Almost throughout the entire service his
siivery-crowned head was bowed. Once or
twice he looked up at DR.. Hamlin, who, from
behind screen of palms, plants and flowers
was reading Scriptural consolation, and the
haggard face would be calm Then his ewes
would lower until they saw the black casket
beneath the festooned roses and heaped-up
lilies and violets, and he would sob as though
his heart was broken. Many wept out of SYM
pathy for the great mans grief
The services at the church concluded with
the Lords prayer and the benedction. In the
popular petition the great majority OF those
present joined audibly.
The ushers at the church wero: J. Fenner
Lee, William Z. Curtis, N. L. Anderson. A. C.
Tyler, I. b. NJ Mason, Truxton Beale, Fred
erick Poor, Clifford Richardson, Woodbury.
Blair, Remsen Wbtehouse. Charles Poor. HI II
Wright, I. S. Rodgers, George s. Anderson
Richard Smith and A. F. Magruder.
TIE FLORAL OFFERINGS.
After the funeral party left the church there
was rush of women to more closely inspect
the floral offerings. Some of the finest speci-
mems of the florists art had been taken
to the cemetery, but much that was very beau
tifui had been left ON and around the altar.
Most Of the offerings were wreaths. Roses
vvht 70 and ~al o,~1 -