The record-union., 1893-01-31
Special to the REcozp-UN1ox.
ceased.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Blaine could
not have private funeral. The surging
waves of public interest swept over the
barriers and made his private funeral one
of the most impressive public demonstra-
tions. The most eminent men in the
nation stood around the bier.
All business in the National Capital
was suspended during the service.
The presence of the President, Cabinet,
Supreme Judges, high officials of Con-
gress and Dipolomatic Corps was not
more significant than the homage of the
waiting crowds who in respectful silence
lined the streets through which the
funeral cortege passed.
The parlor on the second floor, where
the body lay, was fairly embowered in
floral tributes from prominent people
from all parts of the country, from Presi-
dent Harrison down. The Presidents
tribute was a wreath of orchids and roses,
placed on the coffin.
The President entered first, accompa-
MED by Mrs. Mckee, and following them
came officials of the Executive, Legis-
lative and Judicial Departments, the
EABAChAAb4S wi po anu ObLlGIS W AO Oy llGS
of kindred, friendship or association were
entitled to the privilege of being present
at the final rites OF the distinguished
statesman.
The parlOrs were not able to contain all
who received invitations. Even the
house was too small, and many perforce
remained in carriages, which filled the
adjacent streets, extending along Penn
sylvania avenue, in front ofthe Treasury,
the War, State and Navy buildings. A
concourse of several thousand occupied
Lafayette Square, opposite the Blaine
mansion, and the doors and windows of
adjacent houses were thronged with spec
tators.
marked air of decorous solemnity at
tended even the outside demonstrations.
AS the hour for the services arrived the
mourners, including the members of the
family, grouped around the casket, the
remainder of those present standing, as
there was not room for chairs.
The simple service of prayer constituted
the rites. Rev. Dr. Hamlin, standing be-
side the casket, delivered in a low tone
the Presbyterian service for the dead.
Walter Damrosch, meantime, touching
the keys of The piano to the notes of a
slow dirge. DR.. Hamlin thanked God
that life ended only that Immortality
might begin. He sought the Almighty
for comfort to the members of the stricken
household.
This ended the brief but impressive
service. The casket was closed and ten
derly borne to the hearse, and the process
sion slowly wended its way to the Church
of the Covenant
The street outside was thronged with
spectators, who reverently DOTTED their
hats as the cortege passed.
Following the hearse were the pail
bearers: Senators Frye and Hale of
Maine and Morgan of Alabama; Repre-
sentatiYes Reed and BoutelIe of Maine.
Hit of Illinois and Bingham of Pennsvl-
vania, General Thomas Ewing of Ohio.
John Hay of Washington, Joseph II.
Manley of Maine, Almet f. jerks of
Brooklyn and p. V. P. Ely of Boston.
Then came the members ofthe family. at
tending physicians and the distinguished
guests in due order
AT the church ropes were stretched to
exclude all who were not specially invited.
The funeral procession arrived at the
church at noon and to an improvisation
on the organ, made up of several themes
of hymns which Blaine loved, the dis
tinguished concourse moved slowly up
the aisle and the body was deposited at
the chancel rail.
The services at the church were as
simple as at the house, consisting of the
service for the dead, selections from the
Scriptures and prayer.
Then the funeral procession reformed
and the body was conveyed to Oak Hill
Cemetery and laid to rest.
The decorations at the church were very
rich, and the effective terrace formed bv
the pulpit and rail, separating the organ
gallery from the platform, afforded n
back ground for a striking massing Of
plants and cut flowers. On the ledge of
the pulpit cut flowers were ranged in rib
bon ten or twelve inches in width. Be
low this ribbon, and suspeuding from
across the front and curved sides of the
pulpit, were short festoons of smilax.
The baptismal font at the right of the
pulpit was twined with a smilax robe
and bore in its bowl bunch of harrissi
lilies. Over cut flowers were foliage
plants. At either end of the rail, against
the wall, stood an immense rubber tree.
and towering over all, Immediately be-
hind the reading desk, were two kentias
palms. The front of the organ was COW
cred with curtains of smilax ropes.
draped from the apex of the instrument
to the caudelabra on the side walls of the
organ loft. This decoration was made
under the direction of the public gardener.
and never has been surpassed here in
either prOfusion or effective ensemble.
The space in front of the pulpit in which
tbe coffin lay was entirely covered with
the floral emblems which accompanied
the remains from the house. These were
disposed ofin such IA way as to highten
the effect of the stationary decorations.
Mrs. Blaine was not among the mourn
ers at the church. just before the starting
OF the funeral procession from Lafayette
Square, Mrs. Blaine requested to be left
alone for a few minutes with her dead.
The parlor was cleared for this purpose.
and when Mrs. Blaine emerged she made
her way supported on the arm of her son
and daughter to the room where her hus-
band had died, and their gave way to her
grief in utter prostration. Mrs. Hale and
other sympathizing friends followed her
ministrations were of no avail, and Mrs
Blaine was compelled to remain behind.
At the cemetery, onlthe successive ter