The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
SHABBY STATE FUNERALS.
PECULI1RTrIES or OFFICIAL MOURN
NO IN HSNHfNGTON.
Roortah Manners apd InmpHroprInte Dress
-EIonors that nte Directed without the
Ala of "a Sensitive Understanding.

( Roortah Manners aph tn"pHroprinte Dress
rIornrs that me- Directed without the
+ Ala Of "a Sensitive Understanding.
( W,stirNGToN May 1O.-Funcrnls Of state
in this country nro not the impressive affairs
thnt they are intoudcd to 10, ami there il I'M
doubtedly growing sentiment In both Houses
Of Congress in favor OF their abolition. The
c,rnmoaies in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday
last orcr the remains OF Senator Book lacked
every essential element OF improssiveness. and
were the cause OF much adverse comment on
.hc absurdity OF Americans attempting to ape
tho nirs OF ROYALTY. There we're n great many
rnu-rS that contributed TO tho absence Of So
cmuity and dignity on tho occasion, and some
OF them might he removed by the exercise Of n
little tloughtfUlnoss and care on tho rnrt OF
tho particpants Little fault can be found
with the officials having tho details Of tho GER
emonies In charge the trouble lics more at tho
door of tho spectators and the official r'ournerS.
ltistru also. that the main attributes Tor
IN impressive funeral service nre absent from
tho Capitol building. Tho various doorwnyS
are so narrow that no imposing procession can
pass through Thorn. and 1t requires the agility
ofacrobais Tor the policemen to convey a coffin
through tho narrow entrance into the Senate
chamber or the hall Of the House. funeral in
tho Capitol building pnrtakes in no sense OF tho
character Of popular show of grief or the
passing away of an honOrcd statesman. Tho
galleries have such small seHting capacity
that no one can gain admission except by IA
Vor OF u Congre~sman's card. and these arc al
ways eagerly sought for by the members OF
his family and hiS intimate friends. These
people regard tho funeral ceremonies that arc
attended by all the distinguished mon in Off
cal life. as a sort of holiday show. aad they 80
to the Capitol in much the same spirit that
they exhibit in going to n theatte or n circus.
These favored few pre"mpt all the spaces in
tho galleries at an early hour. and 1t is imuos
sihlr for tho publc Mt largo TO get within sight
or hearins distance of what is taking place.
Tho guests who are invited to u state funeral
include is n general ruc tho members of tho
two Houses OF Congress- tho Justices Of the
Supreme Court, the members of tho Diplomatic
Corps the President Of the United States AMI
the members OF his Cabinet, and the imniodi-
ate family OF the deceased. The arrangements
for seating this large number Of persons are
necessarily so hasty and crude as to rob the
occasion Of that dignity and sulemnty which
is supposed to surround 1t; In order to make
room for al the guests the Senators are re-
Chairs are PLACED in the spaces behind Tho
desks. and one side OF the chamber is left en-
tir"Iy for tho accommodation of those invited
Tho guests arrive in the order OF their sup,
posed official precrGence. and all goes well
until about the time that the nem-
beers OF the House are announced. 1nrn
the disorder usually begins AMI lasts until tho
conclusion Of the ceremonies. t he Congress-
men flock In through tho narrow doorway, and
always refuse to occupy the Seats which are
asSie cd to hem 10y the ushers. Members Of
the House have for several years had gliey-
ance against tho Senate. declaring that they
never receive the lIomlnenco to which they
are entitled on rublic occasions. They there
lore kee'I n sharp lookout for their own COM
fort. and as soon as they enter the senate
chamber cndeavor to &c, the most desirable
seats regardless Of the wishes Of the officials
having charge OF the arrauEements. When
they reach row Of chairs. instead of passing
down to the end and making room for those
hehnd them. The advance statesmen generally
drop into the first chairs they rench. thus raus-
ing lively STAMPEDE in the rear. which in u
lew moments renders inoperative all tho prep
aratiUns mude tor good order ana d"corunl.
Another noticeable feature OF those public
funeral ceremonies l. that the Participants in
OF dress. In the senate the officials having
Immediate chGrIe Oi the ceremonies attire
themselves in becoming manner and wear
suitable mourning badges and decorations,
but in the House even this concession is en-
tirely lost sight Of. On tho day that tho funera!
ceremonies over the body OF the late Chief
Justice " aite wore held in the House 81 Repre-
the official in charge Of all the ar
who was notably conspicuous to
everybody during the entire service. having Oc-
cGsion to rush up and down the aisle and in
and about the seats constantly. was atiired in
by gentlemen whom on fishing or hunting eN-
pedition.
and even the usually runct'l!ous ,dipomats
are very little more consil-rnte in this regard
tnan. was tho snuii- coiorrd o. .a!. On tho day
of Mr.. Beck's funeral the President was pres
ent accompanied hy al the members OF his
Cabinet. eXceGt Attornoyi;;Gener4i, Miller ana
mon occupied chairs placed down in front of
the presiding officers desk md directly Oppo-
site tho members OF Mr.. Beck- family. Tho
was placed In the aisle between these two rows
q chairs. The President ami his advisers were
and ali eyes We're turned nron item NJ It vas was
noticeable that these DISTINGUISHED men
had paid no attention. whn'crcr 10 eli !
rcrnel. bnt appeared in the customary
every day attire. Mr. blaine, il is true, who is
was altogether in black. including a weed uuon /
his ha' but as for tn" others. tHev were /
dressed lust ms the would be al any time: Ner. /
were not particular 10 soc that thoy were
hla X. President Harrison set hi stan a good !
Fin" 70 ~ ra hanEi" oretnry WinInm
who sat next TO Mr. Blaine. wore M ordinary |
dark cVtHwar coat and dark graz, gloves, Soc |
looked light, md Mr.. Tracy hG one black
glove on, and carried til" ,"the AIr Wana- !
ali times, generally affecting the STYLE OF, /
country paisOn. wore n small black butterfly |
'rnTat and r. gloves. Uncle jeremiah I;usk, |
The ilehi of he He"i Departments who sat Mt /
Inc lower ENC OF the row. w"ro 10 gloves at ALL
y was nerha as pcarIyGorort in this point
VI tLl'lH'l'S tS WtTb MS collPHEUtS.
he members Of tho Diplomatic Corns. for |
whose cOmiOI, special ARRANGEMENTS Iva been !
made. d .d not seem disposed to pay auy par
tlcu!ar Respect to tho memory of Senator ,
Lock. M eutiro row Of chairs was Reserved |
inr their acrommOdn' ion. but only seven Of |
them deemed the occasion Of sufficient in !
Torrance 10. be noticed. Three OF tho w",e .
members Of tho Japanese legation. III" only /
distinguished diplomats resent were The |
Minister'S from England and Swift. orand. I
'"norhi.Y I'll" Dip OmHiS are very pEnCtiiOus |
abolt accounting Invitations OF an official char
meier, ana their absence from the Beck OD-e-
Hules was very conspicuous and n subject Of
general comment. Il is cutie probable that
Mr. Beck had very TOW friends or a'uuHln!-
anr"S among tn" mombcrs of tho DIPLOMATIC
ofpS. u" NhS n mEn opposed to show and
pro,enca Of any sort. and did not hold very
ilGh opinion OF the necessity OF k"entng rem
leSen'a'lNeS OF tue Hi'ed states In foreign
countries; eNGant cOnsus for business pur-
noses ana probably failed to see also the value
o, inc large nllnlher o! representatives. OF for
elEll tIgV"rnm"ntS who reside in Washington.
ono tact that added much to the general
feeling thht III. funeral ceremonies were OF nm
unlmrrns-lye and perfunctory character WAS
the very brief and unsvmpathotic service con
Quoted by the Clergyman. The Chaplain OF
me senate II man who pUEsnSsR~ n metallic
voice ana manner that Is not Mt all attractive
10 people, particularly those who are not vol
hcGuaiEtcl win him. His office is rather an
~ GmhlOnB one at best uS thp Sanntnrs cnra