New-York tribune., 1910-04-24
CROWDS AT TWA|N'S BIER
Brick Church 0verfloWs at Loved
Authors Funeral.
LAID OUT IN HIS WHITE SUIT
The Family and Many Of Distinc-
tion at Simple Service
Burial at Elmira.

Burial at Elmira.
The body of Samuel l. Clemens (Nark
Twain) was brought TO this city YESTERDAY
from his home In Reeding, Conn. and aiter
a brief service In the Brick Presoy -erlan
Church, s7th street and Fifth avenue IL
was taken on It's final journey 70 Elrnira
for burial IN the family plot there
Dr. Henry van Dyke, OF Princeton Uni
versity, the temporary pastor OF the brick
Church and a longtime friend OF the
famous hurortst. opened the brief service
which was held az O'Clock yesterday
afternoon. ard al its termination ABOUT
three thousand people passed the open cof-
An 10 take a last look al the smiling face
Of the dead author.
Dressed in the white serge suit which he
made famous recently, and with his wavy
white hair surmounting face on which
was depicted a tender smile. those who
saw him there said his expression was like
that Of a happy child called home.
Every seat in the church was occupied
when DR. van Dyke began TO read the
Scripture and outside another crowd waited
patiently until the service was ended and
then followed the arst congregation as
they filed past the coffin.
Family at the Church.
The party with the family occupied the
first two pews, Mr.. and Mrs. Ossip Gabril-
ovttsch. Mr.. and Mrs. E. E Loomis and
William Dean Howells sitting in the first
pew, and. directly behind them, Albert
Bigelow Paine. Mark Twain's secretary:
Mrs. Kate Leary who has been Mark
Twain's housekeeper for the last thirty
years; Jervis Langdon. his nephew. and
?. A. Duneka, a representative Of Harper
& Bros. and an intimate friend Of Mark
Twain
Delegations from the Players. the Au-
thors, the Century. Lotos and Aidine clubs
and from the Pilgrims Of New York occu-
pied the next rows.
Among the friends Of Mark Twain in the
body Of the church were Joseph II. Choate.
VIII n. Harbin. Peter Finley Dunno.
Brander Matthews. David Bisphan, James
Lane Allen, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Mills
Alden Mrs. George Harvey. Sydney Porter
20 Henry. VIII Carleton. Robert J. Collier.
John B. StaAchfeld. Philip @. Mighels.
Robert Underwood Johnson Mr.. and Mrs
Andrew Carnegie. J. Henry Harper. Robert
Bridges. Major Frederick T. Leigh. Dan
Beard. Ex-Governor Joseph ". Folk OF
Missouri. Emma Thursby. Mr.. and Mrs.
Philip James McCook ard Mrs Rogers. the
widow of II. H. Rogers. who was for so
many years one Of the authors most init
mate friends
Wreath from English Friends
Flowers and vreaths from those persons
named above and from each Of the clubs
and societies which sent delegations sur
rounded the coffin. The Pilgrims OF Lon
don also sent wreath, as did the National
Institute Of Arts and Letters and the Amer
lean Academy OF Arts snd Letters
The Rev. Dr. Joseph NJ Twitchell, OF
Hartford, whom Dr. van Dyke spoke OF as
'one Of Mark Twain's oldest friends" Of
fered a brief prayer. and DR.. van Dyke.
after a brief Scripture reading from the
sOth and Sd Psalms. delivered the only ad-
dress OF the service.
II was said by one Of the dead authors
close personal friends that he had ex-
pressed the wish that mis- funeral be as
simple as possible-no music, no eulOgy
and no prayers.
His idea, I believe. said this friend.
was simply that he did not want fu-
neral in the ordinary sense of the word.
because he felt that he was only iourneying
onward 10 meet his loved ones"
DR.. van Dyke. possibly In recognition Of
this wish. prefaced his remarks with the
following explanation:
Our friend who has left US would SYM
pathize with US in these services. which
are meant % help Us and intended TO soften
our grief"
Service According TO His Wish.
In keeping also with Mark Twain's idea,
It seemed, the spirit OF the service was per
sonal and human. rather than religious
Dr. Twitchelrs brief prayer was only OF
the beloved companion lost 10 his earthly
friends. and the music before and after the
service consisted simply Of the funeral
marches OF Beethoven and Chopin, and
Grieg's Asses Tod"
Dr. van Dyke said:
II Is fitting that the friends Of Samuel
L. Clemens, whom all the world knew as
Mark Twain. should meet for a few mo-
ments in this quiet place and look upon
his face In kindness and gratitude before
his body is carried to rest In Gods acre
beside those whom he Loved long since
and lost awhile"
This house is consecrated in the name OF
Jesus OF Nazareth TO the religion OF sim
pie faith and sincere love. Our friend who
has left US would sympathize with this ser
IL 20 help US to better. truer, kinder
thoughts in the presence OF life's mysteries.
TO drawer and more cheerful conduct under
the pressure OF life's sorrow and to a quiet
and peaceable resignation 20 the viii and
wisdom Of the unseen Ruler OF ife's
events.
This Is not the place nor the time for
q eulogy OF the famous writer, the hon
ored and representative American Here
and now we are all OF US simply human.
The touch OF grief is upon US. We are re-
minded of the frailty of mortal flesh. the
many burdens and trials OF humanity and
the brevity Of our way upon earth We
think OF Mark Twain not as the celebrity
We remember the realities which made his
life worth while: the strong and natural
manhood that was IN him, the depth and
tenderness OF his affections. his laughing
enrnity to all shams and pretences, his long
and faithful witness TO honesty and fair
dealing.
Met a Debt of Conscience.
Those who know the story OF Mark
hardships and misfortune. how Loyalty he
toiled for years TO meet q debt of con-
science following the Injunction OF the New
Testament 20 provide not only things hon
est. but things honorable In the sight Of
Those who know the story OF his friend
ships and his family life know that he was
one who loved much and faithfully, even
unto the end. Those who know his work
as a whole know that, under the lam bent
and trrepresrible humor which was his GIT,
fhere was a foundation OF serious thoughts
and noble affections and desires.
Nothing could be more false than 10 sup
pose that the presence or humor means
Ire absence Of depth and earnestness.
There are elements OF the unreal, the ao-
srIrd the ridiculous in this strange. incon-
gruous world which must seem humorous
even 10 the highest mind OF these the