The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-01-21
THE D|NGEY OBSEQUES.
An Honor Rarely Accorded a De-
ceased Member of the House
of Representatives.
MAJESTIC IN ITS IMPRESSIVEAESS.
President and Cabinet, embers of the
Diplomatic Corps, of the Supreme Court,
Senate and House of Representatives,
Military and Civil Dignitaries Among
Those Who Paid the Last Honors.

Washington, Jan. IA state flu.
neral, almost majestic In its impress
siveness, was given the late Represent
ative Nelson Dingley at noon, in the
house of representatives, where he has
SO long been such a commanding fig
ure. The president, his cabinet, dis
tinguished members of the diplomatic
corps, members of the supreme court,
senate and house, and distinguished
men in military and civil life were
arranged about MS bier on the floor
of the hall, while the galleries, to
which admission could be obtained
only by card, We're occupied by the
families of those who sat upon the
floor and prominent persons invited
to be present. Some of them, like n
delegation from the New York cham
Der of commerce, had come from n dis
lance to pay their last tribute of re-
spect to the dead statesman. Not
since the late VIM. d. Kelly. of Penn
sylvania, was given a state funeral in
the house during the Eifty-first o
gress, while President Mckinley was
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee, has such an honor been ac-
corded a member of the house.
The remains were laid in state on
the floor of the house under the direc-
ton and care of Sergeant-at-Arms
j. F. Russell, when thousands of peo-
pie pressed forward to take last look
upon a face that had grown familiar
to frcquenters Of the capitol. Some of
these were so intent in their gaze that
the police had almost to use force to
cause them to move on.
During the interval before -, al
most every member of the house who
is in the city came IN and stood for a
moment by the casket with bowed
head and gazed for the last time on
the familiar features. Meantime the
galleries had filled.
Directly in front and across the
aisle. from the presidential party
and in front OF the casket, sat the
large family of the deceased, repre-
StIltllS tultt SVlHtI tllOuS'
Immediately in front of the white
marble rostrum the casket lay banked
on either side with rare and exquisite
flowers which completely concealed
the marble.
Suddenly a deep hush fell upon the
assemblage. Out of the loft in the
rear of the press gallery the notes of
an organ pulsed and echoed through
the hall. 1t was the first time in the
history of the house of representatives
that music had been heard in it. a
quartettc sang impressively Crossing
the Bar.
The beautiful words are by Tenny-
son. beginning:
Sunset and evening star.
And one clear call for me-"
The services were conducted by Rev.
s. NJ. Newman, of the First Congrega-
tional church of this city. assisted by
Rev. DR.. Couden. chaplain of the house.
1t was n very simple service. Rev.
Newman read the 14th chapter of St.
John. lie then spoke of the deep So
leElnity of the occasion and the great
lesson which might Je drawn from the
life which had been finished. All as
sembIed here. he said, to pay their
tribute to one who stood in life as an
example to mankind. Every honora-
bic aspiration and every particle of
manliness was touched by the finger
of this sorrow. he reviewed briefly
the great career of the dead statesman
who. he said. lad at last become the
pure and highest type of an American
citizen. in whom his c~ountrymcn re-
posed honor and confidence.
He concluded with Il feeling tribute
TO the Devoted husband and father,
the loving brother and friend. the
loyal and true hearted citizen and leg
islator and the fearless and faithful
statesman and leader Of his party"
Rev. Cou;len. the blind chaplain of
the house. made 4 u,hing prayer and
the exercises we're concluded with the
singing by the quartctte to the or.
gan's accompaniment of
Jesus. Lover of my Soul"
AN UNHAPPY FAMILY.