New-York tribune., 1907-03-23
MR. ALDRICH'S FUNERAL.
Many Distinguished Men Honor the
Poets Memory.

Boston, March 22-Unostentatious the poet
himself had wished but imp essively memorable
OF the life and work Of the author was the funeral
to-day Of Thomas Bailey Aldrich. who died on
tuesday afternoon at his home in this city. Ihe
tribute given TO the poet pIe-eminently the
honor paid by the literary life of New England
and the entire service breathed the atmosphere IN
which Mr. Alerieh lived and of which his career
was part In thes Arlington Street Church tCni-
tarian) large number Of persons assembled be-
fore the hour 10 show respect 20 the writer's
memory The large auditorium was filed The
chancel Of the church inclosed a large number of
horal pieces. Flowers which the poet himself es-
peeially loved, lilies and white roses, as well as
many wreaths, among the tributes. In the
centre was large wreath of laurel with red roses
tled with white and blue ribbon, the gift Of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
AS the organist played Chopins Funeral
March" the funeral procession entered the church.
First passed the honorary pallbearers all Of whom
were intimate friends of Mr.. Aldrich In the lead
were the venerable Professor Charles Eliot Norton.
OF Harvard University and Colonel Thomas Went
worth Higginson. They followed by Edmund
Clarence Stedman. who walked with Henry NJ
Alden: Richard Watson Glider and Hamilton ".
Mabie; Governor Curtis Guild jr. and United
states Senator Henry Cabot Lodge; Bliss Perry
ana Edward L. RurlinCame; George T. Woodberry
and AToorheld Storey: David P Kimbar and George
H. Miifiin, and Judge Robert Grant and T. Russell
Sullivan
inc comm was covered with purple pail. and
I
Inc service was conducted by tho Rev. Paul
Revere rockingham. the pastor Of the Arlington
Street Church, assisted by the Rev. James de Nor
fnandle, pastor of the First Church OF Rox-
oury' who many years ago minister OF
the Unitarian church at Portsmouth. N H., where
as a boy Mr.. Aldrich worshipped Mr. de Nor
mandie opened the services by reading selectons
from the Scriptures. His voice often faltered as
he read in a low tone the ScripturaI lines and
many or those in the church deeply affected.
flp rov tot Of tho of,
Mr. Frothinsham offered brief prayer.
Mr.. rockingham then offered a brief prayer
Repeating the words which were upon the lips
OF the poet as he passed away. Mr.. rockingham
said: Teach US the lesson and help US to be-
lieve that that which we call death IS only tho
shadow that comes hfe's flower Teach us TO
believe that the grave Is only the portal that leads
into a larger spiritual light"
Many sobs were heard the clergyman ended
his prayer and as the subdued voices of the quar-
tet responded, chanting the Lords Prayer. Then
the organ broke forth into the strains OF the
'sanctus' OF Gounod's st Cecilia Mass" which
the poet treasured among his dearest musical
memories. and which given by the organist
because OF a wish expressed some time ago by Mr..
Ald-ich that when the end should come the Sane
tus' should be played.
The service came 10 its end with the reading OF
the poem which Mr.. Aldrich wrote for the Tooth
anniversary Of the birth OF the poet Longfelow
This poem was the last work OF Mr.. Aldrich. He
spoke Of death in the poem. in the following
lines:
They 90 die leave their thought
imprinted on some deathiess page
Endures earth from age to age
The body OF the poet was conveyed to Mount
Auburn Cemetery. IN Cambridge. where, after a
brief ana private service conducted by Dean
George Hodges, Of the Episcopal Theologcal
School II was laid 10 rest not far from the graves
have won faTne IN literature