, 1899-01-17
FUNERAL
IT WAS ALMOST MAJESTIC IN
ITS SOLEM IMPRESSIVE
NESS.
Attended by the President, His Cabi-
net, Distinguished Members of the
Diplomatic Corps, Members of Su-
preme Court, Senate and House
and Prominent Men.

Washington, Jan. ia state fun
eral, almost majestic in its impressive
ness, was given ITO the late Represen-
tative Nelson Dingley at noon today in
the house of representatives, where he
figure.
The president, his cabinet, distin-
guished members of the diplomatic
corps, members of the supreme court,
senate and house and distinguished
men in military and civil life were
ranged about his bier on the floor of
the hall, while the galleries, to which
admission could be obtained only by
card, were occupied by the families of
those who sat upon the floor and prom
inent persons who had been invited to
be present. Some of them, like a dele
CATION from the Ne.T York chamber of
commerce. had come from a distance
to pay their last tribute of respect to
the dead statesman. Not since the late
| William d. Kelly of Pennsylvania was
given a state funeral in the huse during
the Fifty-first congress, while President
Mckinley was chairman OF the ways
and zee committee, has such an hon.
Or been accorded a member of the
house.
The remains were taken from the
Hotel Hamilton to the capitol this
morning at 10 O'Clock and were borne
into the hall of Representatives by a
squad Of capitol police under the direc-
ton of Sergeant-at-Arms Russell. The
ca5ket was placed on a bier in the area
speaker, and for an hour the public,
which would have nc opportunity to
witness the official ceremonies later,
was allowed to view the remains as
they lay in state. Thousands Of people
streamed through the main door down
past the casket and gazet upon the
| calm. serene features Of the dead dur
ing that hour. Some could with diff
Guilty be induced by the police to move
AWAY from the casket.
The house pages and other employees
of the house entered the line and took
a last view OF the revered statesman.
Mr.. Dingley was well loved by the en-
ployes of the house and there were
tears in many eyes.
The decorations of the hall were sim
pie but strikingly beautiful. Palms re-
lieved the rigid corners and palm leaves
arranged in the form of a trefoil plant
ed in wreath of gala leaves tied with
long streamers OF purple adorned the
walls. A cluster of roses n palm
leaves were arranged OF each section
of the brass railing about the rear OF
grafton eliminated about the rostrum
beneath which the remains lay.
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. These included a few of the
most beautiful and most appropriate
floral offerings which had been sent to
the family, a great wreath OF white
roses from the Sons and Daughters OF
Maine, a beautiful piece from the ways
and e committee and a magnifi-
cent mass of American. beauty roses
from the Canadian joint high commits
sion. The only floral piece on the
casket was a cluster of orchids, the gift
OF Mrs. Blaine. At the head OF the
oasket, like a halo above the calm brow
of the great statesman, was a magnifi-
cent wreath of orchids and lilies OF the
valley, tied with deep purple ribbon.
which had been sent by the president.
Out in the waste of seats, while the
body lay in state. a single desk vas
wrapped in black and covered with
roses and lilies.
During the interval before IL, almost
every member OF the house who rs in
the city came in and stood for a mo-
ment by the casket with bowed head
and gazed for the last time ON the IA
miliar features. Meantime the galleries
had filled.
At 11:45 the stream Of people who
had been filing by the bier was inter
rupted. and the members of the house
began seating themselves on the left
Of the main aisle on the chairs reserv-
ed for the family. Speaker Reed call
ed the house to order. An chr OF deep
sadness pervaded the hall as the MEM
bers rose to listen to the brief and SIM
Pile prayer OF the chaplain. The clerk
read In full the RESOLUTIONS adopoed on
Saturday after the announcements Of
Mr.. Dingney's death. Tho clerk Of the
seuahe announced the passage Of stmi-
lar resolutions by the ssnnhe.
immediately afterward the vice pres-
bdant and the senate entered the cham
ber IN q body and were followed b. THE
ttpsoznattc corps, with whom came the
merpbers of the Ameio-Amertcan com
maauton. OF. which M. DtnGley had