The Washington herald., 1914-07-12
TELLS OF RITES
FOR WASHINGTON
Country Newspapers Tribute
to IIlustrious Dead Pub
lished ia Years Ago. /.
RELIC OF VIRGINIANS
Ulster County IN. W Gazette Had
Compact, but Glowing Story
of Event.

"On Wednesday last December II.
1881, the mortal part OF Washington the
Great. the Father Of his Country and the
friend OF man. was consigned to the
tomb, with solemn honors and funeral
pomp."
That is the opening sentence of the
leading article in the issue OF the Ulster
County Gazette for January 4. 1900. more
than Ia years ago.
This interesting relic Of old-time coun-
try journalism was published weekly by
Samuel Freer & Son in the village of
Kingston. n. Y, at that time a town Of
fewer than 1000 Inhabitants.
An original copy OF the Gazette. bear
ing the date just mentioned. Is now own
ed by Mrs. J. c. williams, Of Falls
Church. Va. q suburb Of Washington.
The old paper is a four-column folio,
measuring II by Is inches. II is printed
on rag paper. and although It has passed
through the hands Of four generations, is
still in a good state Of preservation.
Within its sixteen short columns may
be found recorded some Of the most in
teresting history of the early days OF the
nation. This explains why the little pub
lication was so carefully preserved and
why it is now so highly priced by its
present owner.
The article quoted is headed Washing
ton Entombed. and the date line Of the
story reads George Town. December %.
The second and third paragraphs Of the
Gazette article read as follows:
Multitude AEsemLIed.
"A multitude Of persons assembled
from many miles around at Mount Yer
ron. the choice abode and last resi-
dence OF the illustrious chief There
were the groves. the spacious avenues.
the beautiful and sublime scenes. the
noble mansion, but, alas, the august in
habitant was now no more. The great
soul was gone His mortal part was
there indeed; but ah! how affecting. how
awful the spectacle OF such worth and
greatness thus to mortal eyes fallen,
Yes, fallen. fallen.
In the long and lofty portico where
oft the hero walked in all his glory
now lay the shrouded corpse. The coun-
tenance still composed and serene.
seemed to express the dignity OF the
spirit which lately dwelt in that Iifeless
form. There those who paid the last
sad honors to the benefactor OF his
country took an impressive farewell
view"
Next comes a description Of the comm
plate. the firing Of minute guns from
vessel in the river. the "mournful mel
ody'' played by a band Of music. and
the formation OF the procession. which
was in this order:
Cavalry. infantry. guard, music. and
clergy.
The generals horse. with his saddle.
holsters. and pistols
"Panbearers-Colonels. Sims. Ramsey.
Payne Gilpin. Narsteller. and Gittle.
'Mouners. Masonic brethren. and citi-
zens."
Then follow details OF the movements
OF the procession and the ceremonies.
ending with this paragraph:
The sun was setting Alas the son
OF glory was set forever No, the name
Of Washington. the American President
and general. will triumph over death
The unclouded brightness Of his glory
will illuminate the future ages"
Opening of Congress.
Fully half Of the frsts page Of the
Gazette is taken up with the proceed
ings in Congress at its opening session.
December 10. 1872 This includes an ad-
dress TO President John Adams by rep
resentatives from both branches Of Con-
gress and a reply by the President.
Foreign news was played on the boards
in the journals Of a century ago. IN
the DAYS Of stage coach and canal boat
transportation our forefathers apparently
did not object to foreign news items ten
and more weeks old
Ten Of the sixteen columns are taken
I'D by advertising. One full column con-
tains ten notices Of sheriff's sales; an
other full column is filled with legal
notices There is no attempt at display
or doubIe-column work. The quaint
wording OF some Of the ads indicates
that the advertisers OF those days knew
how TO catch the eye and hold the at
tention OF prospective customers.