The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1893-02-07
HONORiAG THE DEAD.
Blaine's Funeral a Most impress.
sive Demonstration The
Most Eminent Men in the
Nation Present.


Mr.. Blaine could not have private
funeral. Every effort was made to
comply with his own understood wish
and with the expressed desire Of hif
family in this regard bu: the surging
wave of public interest swept over the
barriers imposed and made his funeral
one of the most impressive Of
PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS
in honor of the dead. The most en-
inent men in the nation stood around
his bier. All business in the nations
capital was suspended during the
period when the funeral services were
in progress. The presence of the
president and cabinet and supreme
Judges and high officials of congress
and of the diplomatic corps was not
more significant than the homage f
the waiting crowds who in respectful
silence lined the streets which the flu
neral cortege passed. The parlor of
the second floor where the body lay
in its cedar casket closely sealed was
fairly empowered with
FLORAL TRIBUTES
The casket itself rested on huge
bed of roses, violets, palm leaves and
ferns sent by Mrs. Emmons Blaine,
about nine feet long by four feet wide,
the flowers artistically giving the
combination of colors and design of
an oriental rug. A large ship of state
rent by the Knights of Reciprocity
was nearby and around the pedestal
on which the coffin rested and upon
the coffin itself were a wreath of Or
chids and roses from President Harri-
son, a wreath of white roses and
violets from Mrs. Zach. Chandler, a
simple wreath of violets tied with
ribbons from James q. Blaine, jr.
Among Others who sent flowers
were: Mrs. Emmons Blaine, Mrs.
Whitelaw Reid, General Alger,
Secretary Tracy and Mrs. John r.
Mclean. The president entered ac-
companied by Mrs. Mckee and private
Secretary Halford and Lieut.. Parker.
The vice-president was accompanied
by Mrs. and Miss Morton. Then
came the members of the cabinet,
Chief Justice Fuller of the supreme
court, senators and representatives
and their wives aud daughters and
many other distinguished and
WELL KNOWN PERSONS.
Not all of those who had requested
or had received invitations
to the house could obtain admis-
sion to the mansion and many,
per force. remained in the long line
of carriages which filled the adjacent
streets in front of the treasury and
the war, state and navy departments
buildings. There was no disorder or
confusion. A marked air of decorum
and solemnity attended even the out
side demonstrations. The ceremonies
inside the house were impressively
simple. Rev. DR.. Hamlin of the
Church of the Covenant who, stand
ing beside the casket in a low tone
delivered the Presbyterian service for
the departed soul. As he did so Mr..
Walter Damrosch touched the KEYS of
the piano to a slow dirge.
This completed the brief and impress
sive services and the casket was closed
and tenderly borne to the hearse. Sol
emily and in silence the family and
the mourning guests left the house
which has go frequently been invaded
by the angel Of death and the process
sion wendell its way slowly to the
church. Outside the house the street
was thronged with spectators who rev.
erently dotted their hats as the pail
bearers deposited their
SACRED BURDEN
in the hearse, and while the attend
ants temporarily buried it under as
many flowers as could be placed there
in. the cortege started for the church.
The Presbyterian church of the Cow
enant, where Mr.. Blaine was a pew
holder, had been surrounded with a
rope to exclude all not specially in
vited.
1t was exactly at 1890 when the
slow and solemn organ music an
nounced the arrival of of the funeral
party at the door of the church. As
the sad procession moved up the aisle
Mr.. Damrosch, who was at the organ,
played an improvisation made up of
several themes of hymns. which Mr..
Blaine loved. All present rose and
remained standing as the funeral party
moved down the aisle. DR.. Hamlin,
the pastor, walked at the head of the
mourners reading from the ritual of
PRESBYTERIAN worship.