The Springfield herald., 1908-07-03
BURIAL or The
Ex-PRESlDENT
GROVER cLEvELAND'S FUNERAL
MARKED BY SIMPLICITY AND
ABSENCE OF PoMP.
NOTABLE GATHERING
PRESIDENT, GOVERNORS, Ex.cAG.
MET OFFICERS AND DIS
TiNGUIsHED GUESTS.

Princeton, N. J.-Grover Cleveland's S
body lies buried in the Cleveland plot
IN Princeton cemetery.
At G o'clock Friday, just as the sun
was sinking in the west, distin-
guished company silently watched as
the body was lowered into the grave.
Then the simple burial service of
the Presbyterian church was read. and
before the last 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 statesman fingered about the
| spot which was to mark his last rest
ing place, and each in turn was per-
mitted to cast shovelful Of earth into
the grave.
Agreeably to the wishes of Mrs.
Cleveland, the services. both at the
house and at the cemetery, were OF
the simplest character.
Although the funeral was of a strict
ly private nature, those in attendance
numbered many distinguished citi
zens, including President Roosevelt
Governors Fort of New Jersey, Hughes
of New York and Hoke Smith of Geor'
gia, former members of President
| Cleveland's Cabinet. officials of the
Equitable Life and friends and neigh
bors.
Upon arrival at the house the Presi
dent went to Mrs. Cleveland, offering
his sympathy and expressing keen re
gret at Mr.. Cleveland's death.
A few minutes later the four clergy
men who officiated, came down stairs
to the hall leading to the reception
| booth, followed by Mrs. Cleveland and
the children, Esther and Richard.
The services began with an invoca
tion by Rev. Sylvester w. Beach Of the
| First Presbyterian church of Prince
ton, which was followed by Scriptural
reading by Rev. Maitland v. Bartlett
of the West Farms Presbyterian
church of New York. former pastor
of Mr.. Cleveland. who read from the
fourteenth chapter of the Book oi
John and a number of passages from
the fourth and twenty-second chapter
of the Thessalonians. In closing. Doc
tor Bartlett read from the Book Of
Revelations.
DR.. Henry Van Dyke then said that
according to the request Of one whose
slightest wish at this moment we al
respect, there will be no address ol
sermon, but there was a poem writ
ten more than hundred years ago by
William Wordsworth. which is expires
sive of his character"
He then read the poem, Character
of the Happy Warrior" This was fol
lowed by readings from the Presby
terian book of common worship, the
services at the house concluding with
prayer.
The services were concluded al
| $50 and five minutes later the caskei
had been tenderly carried to the hearse
and the procession started on its way
to the cemetery.
Along the streets from the house tc
the cemetery national 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 recognition.
The pail bearers. six on either side
| of the hearse. marched with the pro
| cession as it wended its way slowly
| down Bayard Lane to Nassau street
| and on along the main thoroughfare OF
the town.
| Business had been suspended during
| the afternoon and curtains were drawn
| in many of the houses. The silent
crowds stood with barred heads as the
procession passed along into Vande
venter avenue, and the bell in the
| tower of Old Nassau hall tolled mourn
fully.
The route led over Virgins street
| to the cemetery. which was reached q
| few minutes before O'Clock.
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 oben grave and the rose-strewn
grave of Ruth. both almost hidden in
the profusion of green boughs and
flowers.
Mrs. Cleveland stood with Esther
and Richard and Doctor Bryant as the
coffin was slowly lowered into the
grave. Dr. William NJ. Richards of the
Brick Presbyterian church of New
York had started to read the committal
services even before President
Roosevelt and others had reached the
scene. The President stood just back
OF Mrs. Cleveland as the impressive
final words were spoken. The services
lasted less than five minutes.