Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-24

road. the military drawn up In rigid line
| the picturesque group OF mounted mar
shals in gray, the crowds on the nli'-
sides and as close up TO the square NJ
the guard would allow them 20 come, inc
open grave, the fiower-decked MOUNDS IN
the square. the broad river, moaning
restlessly, the green hills casting tne
long shadows Of evening. their tops
glistening with the gold OF sunset al
these entered into a picture OF rare
beauty. and many a man ana woman
must have felt IL fitting that the funeral
time of the fair Daughter OF the Con-
federacy should be an hour so peaceful.
and that she should lie down TO sleep IN
a spot so beautiful.
The hearse was halted at the south
eastern entrance 10 the square, the vet
Grams being drawn up close on all sides.
The Davis section had been enclosed
and the entrances were closely guarded
by the police The flowers had teen ar
ranged as far as possible near the grave,
but they also covered the vacant Let on
the other side of the spot where the
President lies.
ON THE LEFT OF HER FATHER.
Miss Davis sleeps on the left of the
fondly. A brick vault had been built at
the bottom of the grave, which was lined
with white linen and decorated with
flowers At the head of the grave stood
giant palmetto tree. brought by the
South Carolina delegation from the Isle
OF Palms. near Charleston. The grave Of
President Davis had also been covered
with flowers. and the occasion might well
have been one of national pride rather
than of funeral rite.
THE LAST KISS.
Only the honorary pall-bearers were al
lowed inside the enclosure at first. the
veterans forming a Gordon round the
section. Then the Daughters of the Con-
federacy were admitted, but just as DR..
Carmichael was about to begin 10 read
the committal prayers, Mrs. Davis stole
silently TO the graveside. leading upon
the arm Of Colonel Anderson. and touch
ing scene was then enacted The casket
lay upon the rests above the open grave,
and at her request it was opened, that
she might look upon her daughters face
for the last time. Mrs. Hayes was with
her, and together they knelt upon the
grass, and, STOPPING over the open cas-
ket. kissed the cheek of the dead one,
mingling their tears and giving vent TO
their bursting hearts.
During the tender prayers with which
the burial service closes, Mrs. Davis sat
close to the open grave. while Mrs. Hayes
knelt at her side, and clasped in each
others arms, they sobbed silently until
the service closed and the Denediction
had been given. A pretty feature Of the
closing service was the admirable render
ing by the Webb Quartette of Barnby's
I'll haf
final blessing.
After the funeral party had left the
grave the casket was sealed In the case
in which it was brought TO Richmond,
and the grave was bricked over. filled in.
The flowers were then arranged upon and
about 1t. and the crowd slowly dwindled
away.
THE GRAVE AT NIGHTFALL.
The pageant had passed and night had
descended on the place where had oc-
Cured one of the most impressive of cere-
monies. Around the spot where lies the
body of the first and last President OF
the Confederacy had gathered the rep
resentatives OF the Southern States.
single star shone down on the fair sec
ton. The change that had taken place
I'm few hours was not more vivid than
that which had taken place far down the
bluff, where rolls the james. All about
the things that seemed commonplace
enough during the day assumed an un-
canny aspect. Even then there were
straggers about the grave. The scene
was one that awakened the mind to a
sense of mutability and decline. The
roses always fade. The lights are put
out The music dies away. The new
age supersedes the old, and neither knows
nor cares for it. The new age PUSHES
on the scene, with youthful vigor and
impetuous tumult. But to those who
have not, perhaps. long to stay. and 10
whom. whatever their future, this tumult
is unsympathetic and insignificant. the
way grows darker and loneler, as we lay
our garlands of eternal farewell on the
grave of Winnie Davis.
~.