732

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of the great windows without a ray of sunshine, the light of the world. God grant that it lightened the grief of the woman!

When she left, she took with her some of the blossoms that surrounded the coffin. At exactly twelve o'clock, General Swaim and Colonel Rockwell, the two life-long friends and faithful nurses of the late President throughout his suffering, repaired to the rotunda and closed the lid of the coffin and locked it, and directed that it should never again be opened. This was done by direction of Mrs. Garfield. It was just twenty-nine weeks ago at noon on Friday, September 23d, that General Garfield was inaugurated President of the United States, and it was deemed fitting that his career should close with the coffin-lid in the Capitol, where it was substantially begun, shaped and rounded.

The first organized body to enter the rotunda was composed of the survivors of the Army of the Cumberland, comprising not only those resident in Washington, who had been serving as a guard of honor to the body since Wednesday, but also a number visiting from New York, Philadelphia and other points. The diplomatic corps in full uniform came next, dropping in by legations, the Chinese being the first to take the seats assigned them. The glittering decorations of these representatives of foreign nations were dulled and chastened by crape in every instance. The offi

cers of the army and navy, with crape on arm and sword-hilt, came by squads, and soon lighted up the scene with a brave show of blue and gold. The Chief Justice, accompanied by Justices Miller, Harlan and Matthews, in their official robes, with the officers of the Supreme Court, followed. Then, from the south wing, came the members of the House of Representatives, marshaled by Sergeantat-Arms Thompson. A moment later the Senate, approaching from the north wing, with ex-VicePresidents Hamlin and Wheeler, soberly filed into their allotted places. They had scarcely seated themselves, when the Cabinet entered, preceded by ex-Presidents Grant and Hayes, and President Arthur, on the arm of Secretary Blaine. The President and Secretary of State occupied seats at the west end of the semi-circle, immediately opposite the two ex-Presidents, while the Cabinet, with members of their families, took seats in the front row, between the two extremities. The clergymen who were to conduct the religious services, and the Philharmonic Society, who were to render the hymns and anthems, were arranged about the head of the coffin.

At precisely three o'clock the beautiful harmony of the hymn, "Asleep in Jesus," swelled softly forth and filled the rotunda. At the first note, the guard of honor, twelve in number, who had, during all of the subdued bustle of filling the rooms, stood silent and rigid about the catafalque, quietly with

drew, leaving their comrade to receive the solemn offices of the Church. At the conclusion of the hymn, Rev. Dr. Rankin read a portion of the Scriptures. The Rev. Isaac Erret, of the Campbellite Church, offered prayer, Rev. Dr. Power, the pastor of the late President, addressed the gathered mourners, and the services closed with prayer by the Rev. D. Butler, for many years chaplain of the House of Representatives.

The floral tributes, which were numerous and appropriate, were removed. The wreath sent by the Queen was alone carried out upon the coffin, which still bore the palm leaves first placed upon it at Elberon. Then the bearers, strong men who had won General Garfield's esteem as co-worshipers in the little frame church on Vermont Avenue, bore out from the hall and from the Capitol the mortal remains of the man who had, for so many years, made its walls ring with the eloquent appeals of his patriotic utterances. The intimate friends and White House official family followed after, and were succeeded by the two ex-Presidents, the President and the Cabinet, and the representatives from the Supreme Court. Then, by direction of General Field, the Master of Ceremonies, the Diplomatic Corps passed out. After them the members of the Senate and the House marched slowly down the broad steps of the eastern front. When the body was borne through the bronze doors of the Capitol, the troops drawn up in line