The Washington herald., 1910-04-25

Elmira, April 2s.-While the rain was
copiously beating upon the roof, the Rev
Samuel Eastman read passages Of Scrip
ture at the bier Of Samuel L. Clemens
this afternoon. The house was comfort
ably filed by prominent citizens who had
known Mark Twain.
The body arrived at 9:2O o'clock this
morning over the Lackawanna and was
taken direct to the house Of Gen. Lang
don. whose sister was the late Mrs.
Clemens, The sorrow Of the relatives
was made greater when tidings came OF
the death Of the wife Of Rev. Mr.
Twitchell. who had promised to assist
Rev. Mr., Eastman at the services.
There was no music. The services,
which began at $3.50 O'Clock. concluded at
4. and then the friends passed out. view
ing the remains which reposed in the par
lor with the head to the southeast
Just before the hour Of the funeral
there arrived a large floral design with
the following card attached:
From so boys Of Louisville Ky male school. il
rcmcmhance Of Samuel l.. Clemens. who has bright
eued their lives with innocent laughter and taught
them sluareness and grit and compassion for their
weak chargeS
EuIogy Is Brief.
The clergyman prayed that the light
OF him whose body was now without its
soul would shine for all time through his
works. Mark Twain's grave was beside
that Of his wife and daughter, whose end
came suddenly last December. Plain
markers denote where the family men,
bers repose. On the grave of the wife
these words, dictated by Mr.. lClemens.
are inscribed in the stone marker:
In this grave repos-s the ashes OF Olivia Lnugdon.
the beloved wife Of Samuel L. Clemens who reyer-
snuy raised this stone TO her memory. Elmira
\. y November 2. lSiS; Florence. Italy. June s.
HG Cot sol dir gnadig on Meme Wonne
Just TO the other side is the grave Of
daughter with this inscription on the
marker:
Olivia Susan Clemens. March l9, Is72; August Is.
Followed by the subjoined lines:
Warm summer slIu. shine kindly here;
Warm southern wind, blow softly here;
NIce1l sod above. lie Light, lie hight.
Goodnight. dear heart; goodnight. goodnight
The services at the grave were private.
only the relatives and immediate friends
attending. MIR. Eastman offered a prayer
and the body descended to its last earthly
resting place The mourners departed.
the sexton and his assistants covered the
spot, piling floral tokens upon the top
Then these latter turned homeward II
was growing night, and Mark Twain was
left with those he had loved The burial
plot is the one to fit the great but simple
man.
Friends Statue in Sight.
Adjoining the Langdon home is Wisner
Park. where stands a statue Of Thomas X.
Beecher, brother OF Henry Ward Beecher
Mr.. Beecher and Mark Twain were stanch
friends. It was recalled to-day that upon
the occasion Of Mr.. Clemens last visit
toNElmira Il was his desire especially 70
be present at the dedication OF the Park
Church organ. He viewed the likeness Of
HIS friend, who had been laid at rest
while clergy and laity alike shed tears.
and he spoke Of this incident. About
forty years ago Mr.. Beecher leased the
opera house for a series Of Sunday after
noon meetings. preaching TO all classes
and engaging a brass band to attract the
crowd. The Minister'S Union was so
mortified that 1t expelled Mr. Beecher
from its membership Mr.. Clemens came
70 the defence of N1r. Beecher and ridi-
culed the clergy by sending articles to
the papers. Clemens was equally ungodly
in the eyes Of the clergy at the time.
To-day a number Of ministers attended
the services and they mourned with sin
cerity. II was suggested that a statue
Of Mark Twain opposite that Of Beecher
would be Elmira's tribute TO the man
whose body was inferred.