Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-19
Very Impressive State Flu.
neral Given the Late Hon.
Nelson Dingley.
DISTINGUISHED GATHERING
FILLED the House of Representatives Dur
ing the Service Mrs. Dingley Unable
to Attend tho Services Joint High
Commission OF United States and
Canada Express Sorrow.


Dingley at noon to-day in the House OF
Representatives, where for SO long he had
been such a commanding figure. The
President his cabinet and distinguished
members of the diplomatic corps, members
of the Supreme Court, the Senate and the
House and distinguished men in military
ana civil life were ranged about the bieI
on the floor of the hall, while the CALLER
les, to which admission was obtained only
by card, was occupied by the families OF
those who sat upon the floor and other
prominent porsondges invited to be pres
ent. Some of them. including ~ delega-
ton from the New York Chamber of Com
mercc. had come from a long distance
to pay their last tribute of respect to the
dead statesman. Not since the late VIII
liam -. Kelley of Pennsylvania was given
Il state funeral in the House during the
Fifty-iirst Congress, when President Me-
Einley was chairman of the ways and
means committee, has such an honor been
accorded in the House
The remains were taken from Hotel
Hamilton to the Capitol at 10 o'clock,
borne into the Hall of Representatives by
Il squad of Capitol police, under the di'
rcction of Sergeant-at-Arms Russell. The
CIskpt was placed on Il bier in in the arc
in front of the marble rostrum of the
speaker and for an hour the public which
had no opportunity to witness the official
ceremonies later, was allowed to view
the remains as they lay in state. Thous-
ands of people strcamed through the main
door down past the casket and gazed up
on the calm, serene features of the dead
during that hour. Some could with diff
fculty be induced by the police to move
away from the casket. The House pages
and other employees Of the House entered
in lire and took Il last view of the revered
statesman. Mr.. Dingley was well beloved
10y the employees of the House and there
were tears in many eyes.
The decorations of the hall were simple
but strikingly beautiful. Palms relieved
the rigid corners and palm leaves arang-
ed in the form of trefoil planted In
Wrcaths of galaX leaves tied with long
streamcrs of purple adorned the walls. A
cluster of roses and palm leaves were ar
ranged in each section of the brass rail-
ing about the rear of the hall. This sim
pie 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
silk flag behind the speakers chair and
made a dense background of green. Above
and across the ornate gilded front of the
press gallery galaX leaves were feStooned
while just above the clock lowered IL
white dove with out spread wings.
Below Immediately in front of the white
marble rostrum the casket lay, banked on
either side with rare exotic flowers which
completely concealed some of the most
beautiful and appropriate floral offerings
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 Il magnificent
mass Of American beauty roses from the
Canadian high joint commission About
the edge of the CaSket were tender pur-
pie violcts in "A bed of maiden hair ferns.
The only floral piece on the caSket was
Blaine. At the head of the casket like
halo above the calm brow of the great
man, was magnificent wreath OF orchids
ad lilies Of the valley tied with deep pur-
pie ribbons, sent by the President, a sim
pie basket Of green elder stood at either
end of the decorations. Out in the waste
of seats while the body lay in state, IA
single desk was wrapped in black, covered
with roses and lilies.
During the interval before IL o'clock al
most every member of the House 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 muir
INJURED and the deep grief of all was mani
fest. Meanwhile the galleries had filed
and in the various committee rooms and
in the Hobbies distinguished personascs in
official life invited to he present were as
sCmhling The President and cabinet in
COMMITTEES Oh naval aHdlTS ToOtHp HtullieTS
of the Supreme Court in their chambers,
the diplomatic CORPS. major general of the
army and senior admiral of the navy, com
missioners Of the District in tho ways
ana mems committee rooms, the pail
bearers and committee of arrangements in
the House lobby. The speakers room was
reserved for the family and tho officiating
clergyman.
At II - the stream of people who had
been fling by the bier was interrupted
and the members of the House being seat
ing themselves on the left of the main
aisle in the rear of the chairs reserved
for the family. AS the hands Of the clock
pointed at noon Speaker Reed attired in
a black Prince Albert suit assembled the
rostrum and called the House to order.
An air Of deep sadness prevailed In tho
hail as the members rose to listen to the
brief and simple prayer of the chaplain.
The clerk read in fun the resolutions
adopted Saturday after the announcement
of Mr.. Dingley's death and the clerk OF
the Senate announced the passage of sim
liar resolutions by the Senate.
Owing to the entreatieS of friends and
the imperative directions of the doctors
the afflicted widow remained at her room
during the official ceremonies, as she was
not yet over the prostratng effect of the
loss of her husband Her daughter, Miss
Dinsley, remained at hT side to comfort
and assist
A deep hush then fell upon the assem-
blage Suddenly out of the loft in the
rear of the press gallery. the notes of an
organ pulsed and echoed throughout the
hall. 1t was the first time in the history
of the House of Representatives that mu-
sic had been heard in it. A quartette sang
tmpressively Crossing the Bar" The SER
vices were conducted by the Rev. s. NJ.
Newman Of the First Congregational
church Of this city, assisted by the Rev.
Dr Couden, chaplain of the House. 1t
was a very simple service.
Rev. Mr. Newman read the 18th chapter
of st. John. He then spoke of the deep
soemnity of the occasion and the great
lesson which might be drawn from the
life which mad been finished. All had as
scmbled to pay their tribute to one who
stood In life as an example to mankind.
Every honorable aspiration and every par
ticle of manliness was touched by the
finger of this sorrow. He review briefly
the great career of the dead statesman
who, he said, had at last become the pure
and highest type OF an American citizen,
in whom his coTntrymen reposed honor,
trust and confidence. He concluded with
n feeling tribute to the devoted husband
and father, the loving brother and friend,
the loyal and true hearted citizen and
legislator and the fearless and faithful
statesman, the leader of his party" Rev.
Mr.. Couden, chaplain of the House, made
= touching prayer and the exercises were
concluded with singing by the quartette
TO the organ accompaniment of Jesus
Lover of My Soul"
RESOLUTIONS BY THE HIGH JOINT
COMMISSION
Washington jan 1G-The Joint high
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