The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-06-30


Happy Warrior" Read.
Princeton. n. J.. June 27. - Grover
Cleyeland's body lies buried in the
Cleveland plot in Princeton cemetery.
Just as the sun was sinking in the
west Friday a distinguished com
pany silently watched as the body was
OWered into the grave. Then the sim
pie burial service OF the Presbyterian
church was read. and before the last
of the carriages in the cortege had
driven up to the path leading to the
burial place. the benediCtiOn had been
pronounced and the members OF the
family President Roosevelt and others
who had gathered about the grave.
were leaving the cemetery. Many of
the personal friends of the dead states
man fingered about the spot which
was 10 mark his last resting place and
each in turn was permitted 20 cast a
shoveliul of earth into the grave.
Agreeable to the wishes OF Mrs.
Cleveland. the services. both at the
house and at the cemetery. were of
the simplest character An invocation.
scriptural reading a brief prayer and
the reading OF n William Wordsworth
poem. Character OF the Happy War
rior.' constituted the services at the
house. while the reading Of the burial
service at the grave was brief and i'm
pressive.
Although the funeral was of a strict
ly private nature. those in attendance
numbered many distinguished citizens
including President Roosevelt. Gov
ernor Fort. of New Jersey; Governor
| Hughes. OF New York; Governor Hoke
Smith. of Georgia; former members Of
! President Cleveland's cabinet. officials
of The Equitable Life Assurance so.
ciety. members OF the Princeton Uni.
versity faculty and friends and neigh
bors.
Upon his arrival at the house Presi-
dent Roosevelt went to Mrs. Cleveland
offering his sympathy and expressing
keen regret at Mr.. Cleveland's death
The president then returned to the re
ception room. 10 where the body had
been removed in the afternoon from
the room on the second floor. in which
Mr. Cleveland died.
few minutes later the four clergy
men who oniciated came down the
stairs TO the hall leading to the recep-
tion room. followed by Mrs. Cleveland
and the children. Esther and Richard.
As they appeared upon the landing.
accompanied by DR.. Joseph ID. Bryant.
the whole company rose and remained
standing throughout the services. Mrs.
Cleveland was gowned in black, and
wore becoming hat, with a short
dropping veil. Esther was also in
black. while Richard wore a white suit
and black tie.
The services began with an invOca.
ton by Rev. Sylvester w Beach. OF
the First Presbyterian church. OF
Princeton which was followed by a
scriptural reading by Rev Maitland V.
Bartlett. of the West Farms Presby-
terian church. of New York. a former
pastor of Mr.. Cleveland. who read from
the fourteenth chapter of the book of
John and number of passages from
the fourth and twenty second chapters
of the Thessalonians.
Dr. Henry Van Dyke then said that
according TO the request of one whose
slightest wish at this moment we all
respect there will be no address or
sermon. but there was a poem written
more than a hundred years ago by
William Wordsworth which is express
sive Of his character" He then real
the poem Character of the Happy
Warrior"
This was followed by readings from
the Presbyterian book of common wor-
ship. the services at the house con-
cluding with prayer.
Five minutes later the casket had
been tenderly carried to the hearse
and the procession started on its way
to the cemetery. Along the streets
from the house to the cemetery ma
tional guardsmen. mounted and on
foot, policed the way. As President
Roosevelt passed through the gate
leading from the Westland grounds
the militiamen presented arms and the |
president doffed his hat in recognl- |
ton.
The paIlbearers, six on either side OF |
the hearse. marched with the process |
sion as ii wended its way slowly down |
Bayard lane to Nassau street and on |
along the main thoroughfare of the |
town. Business had been suspended |
and curtains were drawn in many OF |
the houses. Silent crowds stood with |
barred heads as the procession passed |
along into Vandeventer avenue. and |
the bell in the tower OF Old Nassau |
hall tolled mournfully.
At the cemetery the members of the |
family alighted from their carriages. |
and with the four clergymen in the |
lead. walked slowly down the graveled |
path leading TO the open grave and |
the rose-strewn grave of Ruth, both |
almost hidden in the profusion of |
green boughs and flowers. Mrs. Cleve- |
land stood with Esther and Richard |
and DR.. Bryant as the coffin was slowly |
lowered into the grave. Rev. William |
r. Richards, of the Brick Presbyterian |
church, of New York, had started to |
-ead the committal service even before |
President Roosevelt and others had |
reached the scene. The president stood |
Just back OF Mrs. Cleveland as the i'm |
pressive final words we're spoken. The |
services lasted less than fve minutes
and were ended before sew sr4l OF thoss 4