posing circumstance and pomp to the City Hall and placed beneath the dome. It is estimated that not less than one hundred and fifty thousand persons looked into the dead man's face, while twice that number sought in vain to do so! At Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus and Indianapolis the body lay in state, amid similar demonstrations of regard.

Illinois was waiting. He should first be brought to Chicago, and the people poured in by thousands from the country, crowding hotels and boarding-houses for days in advance. "He comes back to us" said one of our daily papers, "his work finished, the republic vindicated, its enemies overthrown and suing for peace. * * * * He left us, asking that the prayers of the people might be offered to Almighty God for wisdom and help to see the right path and pursue it. Those prayers were answered. He accomplished the work, and now the prayers of the people ascend for help to bear the great affliction which has fallen upon them. Slain as no other man has been slain-cut down while interposing his great charity and mercy between the wrath of the people and guilty traitors. The people of Chicago receive the sacred ashes with bowed heads and streaming eyes."

On the morning of May 1st, the funeral-train brought all that was mortal of ABRAHAM LINCOLN back to Illinois ! As it came into the approaches of Chicago, it passed very near and in full sight of the grave of DOUGLAS! On the lake-shore, on Michigan avenue and in the cross-streets was such a mass of people as never were crowded before on the shore of Lake Michigan.

The train was halted at Park Place and the coffin removed, and the remains borne to the hearse beneath a most beautiful, emblematic, gothic arch. Then moved one of the most imposing processions. ever seen upon the continent, military and civic, all trades and professions; the streets were hung with mourning; from roof, window, lintel, trembled the touching emblems of bereavement; flags at halfmast were edged with crape, and heavy with the sign of sorrow. In door-ways, in windows, on roofs, on temporary staging provided for the occasion, and along the side-walks of the streets assigned to the procession were thousands of people who came to look upon the coffin, if they might see no more. At length, amid the firing of minute guns and the sad tolling of bells the coffin was borne into

the Court-House and placed upon a massive dais. In the evening it was opened and all through the afternoon, night, and the next day passed the line of citizens looking with sadness indescribable upon the dead man's face.

At 9.30 on the night of May 2d, the funeral train left the depot of the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis railway, on its last stage. It was to bear the pure chieftain through the prairies he had so much loved to his final resting-place. He was going back to his old home and his old friends. It was the beginning of the end. Said a Chicago

paper:

"From the Capitol of the nation where he had so ably and faithfully guided the republic in its trial hours, through the great Eastern cities, their thronging thousands bowed down in anguish, westward through the capitals of the great states of the Ohio valley, the mourning increasing in intensity and depth of feeling, at last to Chicago, the city that he loved and that loved him so well, received with a solemn magnificence of pageantry and funeral pomp unexcelled anywhere on the route. Arch and festoon, the black for sorrow and the white for hope, the old flag waving at half-mast that a week before was flying to the breeze in honor of victory; tolling of bell and booming of minute gun; solemn dirges wailing upon the air, and thousands of silent men and women and children standing upon the walks with bared heads and reverential mien as the great dead passed by, receiving in their hearts the powerful impressions and influences inspired by the presence of these sacred ashes."

"At 9 o'clock on the morning of the 4th the train arrived. Two hours it had been preceded by a special train bearing a committee of one hundred citizens of Chicago. When that party reached Springfield it found already the depot and grounds adjacent crowded with sad, decorous people. The 146th Illinois Volunteers, under Col. Dean, was stationed in close order up Jefferson street and kept that broad avenue clear.

"When the cortege arrived the procession was formed and moved to the State House, and after a preliminary survey by General Hooker, the coffin was removed to it. The general decorations of the Representatives' Hall and the description of the catafalque cannot be given in detail. The latter was designed by Colonel

A. Schwartz, late of General McClernand's staff, Mr. Wright, an artist of Springfield, and Dr. French of the same city. In its general tone, harmony, and relief of colors it was very artistic and admirable in conception, although the dingy contracted chamber in which it was placed detracted greatly from its effect. The painful contrast of black and white was relieved both in the inner surface of the canopy and the background against which it was thrown. The former was covered with white crape, over a ground of blue, and spangled with silver stars, giving it the general effect of the sky immediately after twilight; the background was in the light tints of red, white and blue, radiating as from a sun and representing the national colors, in harmony with the tones of the picture of Washington resting against it and brightening up the gloom of the chamber. The decorations of the catafalque canopy and dais were all in good taste and harmony with the mournful occasion. The portrait of Washington was a copy of the well-known Stuart, and, by an odd conceit of the artist, was gaily trimmed with green and white intending to portray the joy of the Father of his Country at meeting in the other world the Savior of the Republic. Whatever may be thought of the idea intended to be conveyed, the contrast with the general tone of the catafalque and surroundings was very violent, and was the only defect visible in the arrangements for the reception of the remains. The materials of which the catafalque was composed were all of the richest description. The decorations of the gallery were neat and appropriate, and the crossed sprays of laurel in the panels in excellent taste. The mournful prophetic extract from the late President's speech at Philadelphia, Rather than surrender these principles, I would prefer to be assassinated on the spot,' inscribed around the gallery, had a terrible significance in that sacred spot and in the presence of the great dead. Those principles were not surrendered. Acted upon up to the very syllable, not one scintilla of right yielded, firmly, prudently but inflexibly keeping the Ship of State straight on in the course of freedom and humanity, following only the lights of the Constitution and the law, he was struck down at the helm while the old ship was entering the calm harbor of peace. Conspirators had skulked into the hold. Slavery had watched its opportunity, and

struck the foul blow that to the latest syllable of recorded time shall crown the assassin with infamy.

"The mourning decorations of the exterior of the State-House were marked by an excellent taste. The building itself most certainly presents little architectural beauty, and can lay no more claims to stateliness or elegance of finish than an ordinary warehouse; but, draped in the symbols of mourning, it assumed an appearance of solemnity, and, contrasted with the remainder of the city, had a somewhat imposing effect. The natural appearance of the grounds hightened this. Vegetation is much further advanced here than in Chicago, and the verdure in the grounds was beautiful. The trees were in full leaf, the flowers in blossom, and the plats of grass seemed beds of pure emerald. The hemisphere of the dome was covered with black and white streamers, looped at the center with rosettes. The main portion of the lower section was completely encircled with black and white, and the outside pillars were connected with crossed bands. The main columns of the Capitol were completely swathed with evergreens, and at all the windows were heavy mourning curtains, looped at the sides with scalloped cornices, imparting to the building a very somber and funereal aspect."

The city wore signs of mourning throughout. The Old Home of Mr. Lincoln called about it thousands of visitors. Says the correspondent of one of the daily papers:

"With the appearance of the house which has now become historic, all are familiar. Plain, unpretending and substantial, it is the type of Mr. Lincoln's character. The shrubbery in front of the house, principally rose bushes, many of them planted by Mr. Lincoln's own hand, are in full leaf, and a beautiful rose-vine clambers up one of the door-posts and trails over the cornice. Lilies are sprinkled here and there, and closely shaven trim grass plats ran down to the neat picket fence surmounting the wall. The columns of the piazza at the rear of the house are also twined with vines and creepers, and the apple trees between the house and the barns showered the ground with the pink and white of the blossoms, and filled the air with fragrance. The house, which is now occupied by Lucien Tilton, Esq., was very heavily draped in mourning. The windows

were curtained with black and white, the corner posts wreathed with evergreens,the cornice hidden by festoons of black and white looped up at intervals, and the space between the cornice of the door and the central window filled with the American flag gracefully trimmed. There is little of the furniture in the house which belonged to Mr. Lincoln. In the front parlor is a what-not and a small marble-topped table on which was lying a beautiful cross of white camelias. In the back parlor, which he was accustomed to use as his study, is his book-case. This was his favorite room, and here he toiled and wrote, unconsciously preparing himself for the great mission he was to fulfill. Idle the pen! closed the book! departed the writer! The mission is fulfilled. Dropped the curtain! out the lights! for the drama is over, but the great thoughts and the great deeds that pervaded it are immortal. A heavy oaken bedstead and a chamberset conclude the relics.'

For twenty-four hours the people passed in a ceaseless line by the coffin, only pausing when the hour came to close the lid. The arrangements of the funeral were held in abeyance and somewhat disturbed by a difference of opinion as to the place of the tomb, finally adjusted in favor of Oak Ridge. It was on the 4th, the day was oppressively hot, and the walk one of wearisome length, yet an immense throng preceded, accompanied and followed the procession. The commanding officer was Major-General Joseph Hooker.

The cemetery is naturally one of much beauty, though at that time comparatively unimproved. It is on two curving ridges, between which flows a winding brook. Entering, and passing about midway, was reached the vault, a simple lime-stone structure with Doric columns. The floor was covered with cedar boughs. In front were the escort and official delegations. Immediately before the entrance were General Hooker, General Townsend, Admiral Davis and other officers of note. The platform for the speakers was by some strange oversight left uncovered, exposed to the sun. Beside the coffin of the President was also that of "Willie." Among the mourners were his two surviving sons. After singing Rev. A. Hale offered prayer. The oration was delivered by Rev. Bishop Matthew Simpson, for whom, as a preacher, the deceased President had entertained the highest regard. It was delivered without manuscript