The Washington herald., 1908-05-17

disturbed at all. for though a searching
examination might ,have been interesting
from the viewpoint Of an anthFOpologist,
as It would not be Of real anatomical or
scientific value, the body was simply
placed in more orderly array. the lead
folded hack in place. and slipped into a
new casket 10 be hermetically sealed, as
far as Is humanity known. for all time.
In looking at the record OF the death
OF Clinton as given in the daily press
one is impressed anew with the sim
plicity Of those times That the death
or this great public character was re-
garded in the light Of a national ealam-
itF there is no shadow OF doubt Still
from the bare announcement OF his ill-
ness as given above to the editorial
comment on his death, there was not one
word of comment during his four weeks
illness. Many Washingt0nians remember
the death Watch" set over the Blaine
house. and the long vigil Of the news
paper boys" waiting the outcome. while
the great statesman battled for breath.
But though the method now of show
ing interest is different, for the times,
and considering the resources Of Wash
ington In those days Of her struggling.
Ugly-duckiinghood. the funeral eortege
as it wound around Twentieth street from
I street and swept into the fine breadth
OF Pennsylvania avenue. must have been
pulse-stirring.
A joint committee of both Houses had
attended to all arrangements for the in
teTment Of the nations dead" This
committee and a detachment OF cavalry
from the District Of Columbia militia met
at the boarding-house OF MIR O'Neal on
the day Of the funeral at ? o'clock. To
quote from the Intellingencer of that day:
AT half-past two of the clock the corpse
viii be removed TO the Capitol in charge
of the committee of arrangements escort
ed by cavalry.
"On arrival al the Capitol the corpse
viii be taken from the hearse and de-
posted in the Capitol until four At four
the procession viii move in the following
order; The Cavalry. The Marine Corps.
Chaplains o. both Houses. The Physi-
clans The Iiearse. Pallbearers. Mr., Tall
mage. Mr. Sammons Mr. NJ Clay. Mr..
Macon. Mr.. Butler. Mr.. Brown. Mr.
Sewer. Mr. Wright The family mourners.
President Of the United States. Sergeant
alarms OF the Senate. Senate. preceded
by the President pro TEN. and the Secre-
tary- SeTgeant-at-arms of the House. ]
House of Representatives, preceded by
the Speaker and Clerk. Heads Of De-
pcrtments. officers Of the Government.
Citizens. and Strangers"
short Account i'm the Press.
No word picture of to-day can as clearly
portray the times and manners as the
newspaper version of that ceremony:
THE mortal remains Of the illustrious
Vice President, George Clinton, were in
tered In tne burying ground near the
Navy Yard. in the presence of a con-
course greater than ever seen in the
Nations Capital Shops were shut. and
an aiT of general gloom pervaded all
ranks OF society.
''The scene was awful and impressive.
The martial parade. the glistening arms
and nodding plumes of military corps
who preceded the hearse, the solemn mel
ody Of martial music which attuned all
hearts to melancholy the sable hearse.
attended by eight venerable paIlbearess
who partook Of the tolls Of Revolution:
the well-known carriage Of the deceased
the Chief Magistrate of the nation mourn
ing the loss of one Of its noblest sons
the Senate deploring the loss of a revered
President, But why particularly describe
the lengthening train? Sufficient 70 say
that the assemblage. mOuTners and In
terestlng objects. inspired feelings suited
both 20 the occasion. When a Clinton de-
scends TO the tomb of his ancestors it Is /
III that the whole nation bewail the loss
and history immOrtalize his name. Hal
lowed be the ashes Of the honored Dead. /
April %. 1872
Surely the last pIous wish has been
granted.
1t is rather singular. in view OF the
well-authentieated date of Clinton's death. !
that the date on the monument has stood
for so many years as ISL Jonathan FL
liot, in his clever little history, describes /
Clinton's monument in horid terms and
mentions the date of death as ISL This
book was written in 1923. Elliot mentions
also a monument which even now at
tracts attention. that of EIbridge Gerry. /
the immediate successor OF Clinton as
Vice President
Gerry died in his carriage. on the way
to the Capitol, November @, 1914. thus fol- /
lowing out his oft-quoted sentiment, 'It
is the duty Of every citizen, though we
have but one day to live. TO devote that |
day to the service of his country"