Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-17
NATIONS TRIBUTE.
State Funeral for Late Mr..
Dingley in National House.
The Remains Will Reach Lewiston
About | O'clock This Afternoon.
Will Lie in State During Aiternoon-Public
Funeral, 10A. NJ, "Wednesday.

washing tOIl, JAIL IVA Stdl- IuAci III,
almost majestic in it's impressiveness.
was given the late Representative Mel
son Dingley, at noon today. in the
House Of Representatives, where he
has so long been such a commanding
figure. 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
ranged about his bier on the floor Of the
hall, While the galleries, to which adj
mission could be obtained only by card,
were occupied by the families OF those
who sat on the floor and other promi-
nent personages invited to be present
Some of them, including a delegation
from the New York Chamber OF Com
merce. has come from distance to pay
their last tribute Of respect to the dead
statesman.
Not since the late William ID. Kelley
of Pennsylvania was given state fun
eral in the House during the 5lst Con-
gress, when President Mckinley was
chairman Of the ways and means COM
mittee, has such an honor been accord
ed member of the House. The re-
mains were taken from Hotel Hamfi
ton to the Capitol, this morning at 10
o'clock. and were borne into the hall
of Representatives by a squad Of Capt.
toll police. under the direction of Ser
geant-at-arms Russell.
the casket was placed in a bier in
the area in front of the marble ros-
trum of the Speaker, and for an hour,
the public, which was to have no OPP
90 ,,,st ,sn1
monies later. was allowed to view the
remains as they lay in state. Thous-
ands of people streamed through the
main door down past the casket and
gazed upon the calm. serene features
of the dead during that hour. Some
could with difficulty 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 beloved by the
employees of the House. and there were
tears in many eyes. The decorations of
the hall We're simple but strikingly
beautiful. Palms relieved the rigid
corners. and palm leaves arranged in
the form of tre-foil planted in
wreaths of galaX leaves tied with long
steamers of purple adorned the walls.
A cluster of roses and palm leaves were
arranged on each section of the brass
railing about the rear of the hall. This
simple scheme of decoration eliminated
about the rostrum beneath which the
remains lay.
Great date palms springing up all
about the rostrum almost blOtted out
the beautiful silk flag behind the
Speakers chair and made "a dense
background of green. Above and across
tine ornate gilded front of the press
gallery. smilax leaves We're festooned.
while just above the clock lowered a
white dove with outspread wings Be
low, Immediately in front of the white
marble rostrum the casket lay. bankedl
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; great wreath of white
roses from the sons and daughters of
Maine, a beautiful piece from the ways
and means committee. and a magnifi-
cent mass of American beauty roses
from the Canadian high joint commits
sion.
About the edge of the casket were
tender purple violets in bed of maiden
hair ferns. The only floral piece on the
casket was a piece of orchids, the gift
of Mrs. Blaine. AT the head of the cas-
ket like halo above the calm brow Of
the great man. was magnificent
wreath of orchids and lilies of the val
ley tied with deep purple ribbons.
which had been sent by the President.
A simple basket of green elder stood at
either end of the decorations. Out in
the waste of seats. while the body lay
in state single desk was wrapped In
black and covered with roses and lilies.
During the interval before IL O'Clock
almost every member of the House
who is in the city came in and stood
for moment by the casket with bowed
head and gazed for the last time on the
familiar features. Many tender and
choking words were murmured and the
deep grief of all was manifest.
Meantime the galleries had filled and
in the various committee rooms ana
Hobbies the distinguished personages In
official life invited to be present were
assembling, the President and cabinet
in the committee room on naval AFFAIRS,
the members Of the supreme court In
their chambers, the diplomatic corps.
the major general Of the army and
senior admiral of the navy. the COM
missioners of the district. in the ways
and means committee: the pall-bearers
and the committee on arrangements in
the House lobby. The Speakers room
was reserved for the family and the
officiating clergymen.
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 LETT OF
the main aisle in the rear Of the chairs
reserved for the family. As the hands
of the clock pointed to noon speaker
Reed attired in a black Prince Albert
suit assembled the rostrum ana called
the House TO order. An air OF deep
sadness pervaded the hall as the MEM !
bers rose to listen to the BRIEF ana SIM
pie prayer Of the chaplain. Inc clerk
read in full the resolution adoPtea' on .
Saturday. after the announcement or
NTr n;nUlax,e Tho clerk OF the