Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-15
DIED AUGUST 10, 1891,
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL.
Aged ~ years, 5 months

The floral tributes We're very few in num-
Der and modest in character ! wreath
picked II Elmwood rested on the head of
the c;Sket. and another wreath of ivy from
Mrs Field hung over one corner of the
reading desk, ana Il wreath of roses from
Mrs. Putnam lay upon the floor at the base
of the pulpit.
The services in the church We're very SIM
pie is betitted the nature Of the man. con-
sisting solely OF the Episcopal service for
the dead. There were no services at the
grave.
While the body was being conveyed to its
last resting place in Mt Auburn the church
bells throughout the city tOlled and flags
were displayed at half mast. The grave is
in the center of the family lot which is Il
double one, containing the remains of gen
creations OF Lowel's and Putnans, the latter
being LowelI's only living sisters family.
II is CONSPICUOUS on account of
ITS EXTREME PLAINNESS
and simplicity. No monument marks the
spot and only plain tombs are at the head Of
each grave. The spot which has been Sc
lected for the poets grave, and which, it IS
understood, is Of his own choosing, is ro-
mantically situated under two large Horn
Dean trees one of which is directly at the
foot of the grave and the other on the right
of the head. These trees are never trimmed
and their chief charm is their natural and
weird growth. The lot is III the valley in
the rear of the cemetery and directly in the
shadow of the Longfellow lot on India
Ridge avenue. where rest the remains OF
Americas famous bard. Thus the two
poets who were neighbOrs in life, may be
said TO occupy the same relations i'll death.
The bell in the little chapel OF Mt Auburn
cemetery tolled S0emnly when the hearSe
bearing the remains of the poet, followed
by many carriages, was drawn through the
gates. In the cemetery there was great
crowd gathered. When the cortege
entered the cemetery through the
granite archway, the police cleared
the space about the grave, and none
but the mournerS were allowed
in close proximity there. The long train of
carriages wound around Ash avenue past
the miniature lake and up Fountain avenue,
thence up to the new made grave beside
the luXuriant Horn Beams. About are great
elms and beech trees, and the spot Is one of
the most picturesque in the great cemetery.
The fresh upturned earth was covered with
newly cut tir and golden rod was tnickly
Strewn about. The wide-spreading, tangled
foliage of the Horn Beam trees was held
within bounds by sarlandS of FIR.
The people clambered upon the hill and
sat about the grassy slope as the precious
burden was lifted out by the pail bearers,
aud with uncovered heads the mOurners
stood beneath the waving trees. Bishop
Brooks pronounced tine last prayer which
was the full Episcopal service, for although
Lowell was a Unitarian it was his wish
that the funeral service should be from the
Episcopal service books. Dean William
Lawrence assisted at the grave and
with the pronouncing of the words, Dust
to dust" by Bishop Brooks, the young
grandsons of the dead poet, James
Burnett Lowell and Joseph Burnett, Jr.,
came forward and took part III the final
services. The relatives and mourners then
returned to their carriages and We're driven
away. The grave was filed and the branches
of the Horn Beams We're released and
swayed back TO their natural position over
the last resting place o. the poet