The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-15
Rev. DR.. McLean's Eloquent
Eulogy of the Dead
Woman'S Traits.
BEAUTIFUL FLORAL TRIBUTES.
Ladies' Organizations Do Honor TO
Their DEPARTS Sister-W Wong
Louie's Sorrow.

The funeral OF Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper
and her daughter Harriet, held at the
First Congre gational Church at the noon
hour yesterday, was one of the most
solemn and we'll attended services known
in the history of the City.
Not only was the church packed to over
flowing, but some idea of the respect in
which the noted founder of local kinder
gartens and her daughter were held may
be gained from the fact that brawny work
men stood inside, even when the rain fell
in light showers, with their heads barren
OF all covering. Nor were their eyes dry
as the faint, sad strains of the funeral an
thems foated out the door and testified
that the last rites had begun.
1t was known that the services would
not begin till the hour of noon, but never
theless the throngs began ito make their
appearance as early as $3.50 O'Clock and by
1I:30 O'Clock, the time the doors were
opened a dense mass of people crowded
the street and sidewalks of Post street for
a block each way.
This vast multitude that assembled at
the First Congregational Church was one
of the most remarkable features. All
classes OF San Francisco society were rep
mourned came from suburban cities and
towns. Thousands of people went to the
church who could not gain admission,
and among them were many representa-
tive men and women of the City. The
police officers had no difficulty in man
aging the crowd and as result travel on
Post street was not suspended Tor any
great length of time.
When the service inside vas completed
and word came out that the caskets were
uncovered the police had all they could do
to prevent q promiscuous crowding into
the church. Finally an order was adopted
to allow all persons desiring to view the
remains to pass in through the door on
Post street, nearest Mason, and to emerge
from another door. the one nearest Powell.
The central doorway was thus kept clear.
After the people, the great majority of
whom were women, had been passing in
and out for more than an hour the null
titude outside had not apparently dimin-
ished. Nearly all preferred to remain I'M
til the caskets were borne from the altar
to the hearses.
At IL o'clock DIR. Mclean delivered a
very brief prayer at the house. MANY of
the friends of the deceased were present,
and took last look at the features they
had learned to know so well.
There was no attempt at decoration at
Mrs. Cooper's residence. Both caskets
lay side by side in the drawing-room.
They were entirely concealed by a floral
mating of chrysanthemums, riolets,
white roses and evergreens.
Besides the mat simple wreath of ever
green's with card attached lay on Mrs.
Cooper's coffin. thread: ITO my mother;
from Louie" Louie was the Chinese SER
want who has been an occupant of Mrs.
Cooper's household for fifteen years. He
attended the church in com pany with
George T. Gaden, and sat well to the front.
His face as near as can be expressed by
the stolid countenance OF an Oriental, told
his realization that he had lost valuable
and trusted friend.
The funeral cortege proceeded from the
residence down Vallejo street to Van
Ness avenue, along Van Ness to Post
street, out thence to the church. There
were required forty carriages to convey
the friends of the dead woman and her
daughter to her destination. The two
hearses conveying the remains were pre-.
coded by five carriages carrying the pail
bearers and nearest friends. Mrs. Coop
er's hearss was first followed by that con-
tanning the daughter.
There was some delay at the church
owing TO the fact that difficulty was expe-
rienced by the police in making passage