The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-15

Sraned in mourning. (By the President.l
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
JOHN W. FOSTER, Secretary OF State.
Burial OF Blaine.
Simple ceremonies characterized James ".
Blaine's funeral at Washington. All buA'
ness was suspended. Mrs. Blaine had de
sired that the funeral Of her husband should
be strictly private. but it became a public
demonstration Of the hig esteem IN which
the Maine statesman was held.
The body lay in the parlor on the second
floor of his residence, amid profuslon OF
floral emblems sent by personal friends and
official associates. The parlor was far too
small to contain the persons VINO hao oeen
invited to the preliminary services at the
house.
The President entered. accompanied by
Mrs. Mckee and Private Secretary Halford
and Lieutenant Parker. The Vice-Presi.
dent was accompanied by Mrs. and Miss
Morton.
Then came tho members Of the Cabinet,
Secretary Of State Foster, Secretary OF
the Treasury Foster and his family,
Secretary Elkins and his family,
Secretary Tracy and his family, Secrs
tary Noble and his family, Postmaster
General Wanamaker and his family, At
tornsy-General Miller and his family, Secre.
tary Rusk and his family, and the Chiof
the funeral of his late associate, Judge La
mar, and accompanied by Mrs. and Miss
Fuller
Tho immediate mourners grouped around
the casket were tbs widow, ber married
daughter, Mrs. Damrosch; Miss Hattie
Blaine, Mr.. James G.. Blaine, Jr., Mrs.
Emmons Blaine, Miss Abigail Dodge Gail
Hamilton), Mr.. Blalne's cousin; Mr.. r. e..
Blaine, brother OF the dead statesman, and
his wife and daughter; Mr.. Hampton Den.
man, of Missouri, cousin OF Mr.. Blaine;
Frank. Henry, Horace and Augustus Stan.
wood, Walter Stinson and Mr.. w. 4. Hatch,
all nephews Of Mr.. Blaine.
Eleven o'clock was the hour named for
the simple service Of prayer which was to
precede the removal Of the body to the
church for the more public rites. The Rev.
DR.. Hamlin, of the Church Of the Covenant,
stood beside the casket and in low tone dc
livered the Presbyterian prayer for the de.
parted soul. As he did so Walter Damrosch
touched the keys Of the piano in slow
dirge. A prayer by DR.. Hamlin completed
the impressive services, and the casket was
closed and borne to the hearse.
Outside thh house the street was thronged
with spectators, who reverently doffsd their
den in the hearse. The cortege then started
for the church.
The pall-bea1ers were Senators Hale and
Frye, Of Maine; Senator Morgan, Of Ala
bama; Representatives Reed and Boutelle.
of Maine; Representative Hit. of Illinois
formerly Mr.. Blaine's Assistant Secretary
Of State); Representative Bingham, of Penn
sylyania, General Thomas Ewing. Of Ohio;
John Hay, Joseph 81. Manley, OF Augusta;
Almet F. jerks, Of Brooklyn, and P. V. 7.
Ely.
enant were rich and effective. The terrace
formed by the pulpit and the rail separating
the organ gallery from the platform afforded
a background for a striking msssins of
plants and cut flowers.
Walter Damrosch pre'ided at the organ,
and played an improvisation Of sacred
melody which Mr.. Blaine, his father-'n-law,
liked.
As the procession reached the aisle all
present arose and remained standing as the
funeral party moved down the aisle.
DR.. HamLn, the pastor, walked at tho
head of the mournerS, and holding IN MS
hand an open book containing the ritual OF
the Presbyterian worship, read as he ad'
vanced selections from the Scriptures
Behind him came tina honorary pall-2ear-
ers, two abreast, Senator'S Hale and Frye,
the representatives Of the dead mans be-
loved State Leading the way.
The body-bearers moved at measured pace
toward the chancsl rail, where they depos.
tied the casket amid the profusion OF
flowers. The family followed the body and
took the front seat on the left, near the
remains.
They knelt with their heads bowed in
prayer, and remained in this attitude Tor
some time.
More distant kinssolk, relatives, ultimate
friends, the President and his Cabinet, and
the other members OF the funeral party who
were at the house came In after the family
and were seated in the paws reserved for
them.
When al were seated the deep tones Of
the organ ceased and Dr.. Haml:n, rising
from his place in the pulpit, began the
church service with the reading OF selections
from the Scriptures.
The reading finished, prayer was offered
by DR.. Hamlln.
Then the funeral procession once more
formed and was soon moving in the dlrec-
ton of Oak Hill Cemetery, headed by
platoon OF police. A great number OF those
who had formed the spectators outside the
church walked along the pavements on either
side of the long line of carriages. Oak Hill
Cemetery is one of the most picturesque
burial grounds in the United States. 1t is
at the summit of Georgetown Heights, over
looking the valley OF Rock Greek, and al.
most under the shadow Of the historic
Georgetown College.
with the exception Of Mrs. Blaine all
the family and the relatives were at
the grave. Behind them stood the Presi-
dent of the United States, the distln-
guished pail bearers. members Of the
Cabinet Vice-President Morton and
many intimate friends and political asso-
ciates. DR.. Hamlin read the simple burial
service Of the Presbyterian Church. This
was followed by an eItenporaneous prayer
and the benediction, and all that was NOR
tai of James Gillespie Blaine was consigned
To earth