CARRIED TO THE CAPITOL. 587 solemn music, the thousands of sorrowing spectators involuntarily contrasted the scene with that, which was witnessed a little more than six months previous, when drums were rolled, and colors were dipped, in honor of General Garfield's inauguration as President of the United States, and when 15,000 uniformed citizen-soldiers from various States proudly marched in review before him. Then the populace, lining the side-walks, manifested their feelings in glad shouts and enthusiastic cheers; now the same populace stood with bowed heads and tearful eyes, as the dead President was borne to the place, where he had so recently taken the oath of office. The procession moved to the Capitol by the same route that was taken by the Inauguration procession, and the terrible contrast between the two scenes was deeply felt by all. On arriving at the east front, the troops wheeled into line; and as the hearse and carriages drove up to the main entrance, the customary salute was paid. The Senators and Representatives, who were in the city, had assembled, and proceeded to the east front of the Capitol to receive the body. On its arrival they formed two lines with open ranks at the foot of the main stairway. The coffin was borne through the open ranks by the eight United States artillerymen to the centre of the rotunda, and placed upon the catafalque, which had been prepared to receive it. This catafalque had been used for Thaddeus Stevens, President Lincoln, Senator Sumner, Chief-Justice Chase and Vice-President Wilson. Covered with heavy, black velvet, it rested on a platform about six inches high, and rose about three feet above the platform. The resident members of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, with very marked appropriateness, acted as a Guard of Honor on this occasion. At night the rotunda was opened to the public; and many thousand persons passed in and gazed upon the features of the dead Executive. All day Thursday, Washington did little else than crowd about the Capitol offering the last tributes of respect to one, whose death had been the completed majesty of his life. The line, outside the Capitol, was a quarter of a mile long, and resembled a huge serpent, with its head on the Capitol steps and its tail stretching out beyond the long folds of its body to East Capitol Street. The line arranged itself in this way to keep within the limits of the Capitol grounds. Men, women, and children, from almost every walk in life were there, and all were sincere mourners. The rotunda was heavily draped; and the vast dome, stretching toward heaven, seemed in sympathy, so reverently did it echo the tread of the people. Floral decorations were scattered about the coffin, and placed upon the floor of the rotunda. On the foot of the coffin SERVICES AT THE CAPITOL. 591 rested an immense wreath of white rosebuds, with a card bearing the following inscription: QUEEN VICTORIA, TO THE MEMORY OF THE LATE PRESIDENT GARFIELD. An expression of her sorrow and sympathy with Mrs, Garfield It was prepared at the British Legation by tele graphic direction of the Queen. One of the most beautiful of the decorations was prepared at the White House conservatory. It represented the "Gates ajar." The funeral services were appointed for 3 o'clock, p. m., Friday, September 23d. At eleven o'clock in the morning, the Capitol was closed to the public, that proper arrangements might be made for the religious ceremonies. Up to the hour of closing, the people continued to pass through the rotunda to gaze upon the closed coffin. Though it was known, that the face of the dead President was hidden from view, it seemed to make no difference to those, who demanded permission to approach the remains of the late Chief Magistrate for the last time. A few minutes after the closing of the Capitol, there occurred a sadly solemn scene. Mrs. Garfield, accompanied by her son Harry, her daughter Mollie, Colonel and Mrs. Rockwell and daughter, General Swaim, and Attorney-General and Mrs. MacVeagh, drove NN |