Vii.
From the columns of the American Traveler, which among all the able journals of Boston, gave dignified and touching descriptions of the scenes, we transfer the following:From nine o'clock Sunday morning until a very late hour in the afternoon, there were at no time less than five thousand people in Beacon Street, opposite the State House. The iron gates, guarded by State and city police, were thrown open at fifteen minutes past nine, and from that hour until noon, a constant stream passed through the State House, [532] finding exit at the door on Mount Vernon Street. The total number was at least thirty-five thousand. Doric Hall has been beautifully decorated. Around the cornices are festoons of black and white cloth; each festoon is looped up with a rosette, with pendent drapery. Over the centre entrance and over the arches of the windows are heavy draperies, and the alcoves on each side of them are hung with black, handsomely looped. In the rear of the hall, over the niche where the statue of Washington stood, are black cloth curtains, looped up from the centre, relieved by a little white at the top, and in front of this a shield with Mr. Sumner's monogram. On each side of these curtains and next the cannons are three national flags draped. The bases of the columns in the hall are draped with black, as are the tops from the door to the rear of the hall. The catafalque is covered with black cloth and draped with black alpaca with white fringe, the festoons looped up with large black and white rosettes. Mr. Sumner's monogram is placed at the end of the structure next to the entrance door, sides and ends are festoons of smilax, and along the upper edge are fixed at intervals calla lilies, the blossoms filled with violets, and surrounded with begonia leaves and ferns. The top of the dais is strewn with a variety of choice flowers, including roses, violets, and carnations. At the head of the casket, and resting upon the catafalque, stands a magnificent cross seven feet high, formed of calla blossoms and leaves of the calla plant, carnations, violets, spiral japonicas, azaleas, and stock gilley. The foot of the cross is fixed to a pedestal covered with begonia rex and calladicus marantas. At the foot of the casket and rising from the marble floor stands a column of flowers emblematical of an incomplete life. This is six feet high, and is formed of flowers and leaves similar to those composing the cross. Upon the top of the broken shaft, which is thickly studded with roses, rests a pall of violets, and the base is covered with a collection of choice foliage and exotics. At the foot and on one side of the casket stands an upright anchor of roses and violets, the cable of which, formed of smilax and violets, extends along the upper edge and forms the dressing of the casket. This is shaded with roses and pinks. On the other side is a broken lyre, the strings of which are formed of violets. In the centre of one side of the casket is placed a mound of rich blossoms and on the other a basket of flowers, while at the upper corners of the catafalque stand two small crosses. Festoons of smilax, caught up at the handles, and sago palms form the decoration of the sides of the casket, on the top of which rests a large bouquet of callas and other choice flowers; and also a large floral heart, the offering of colored citizens of Boston, [533] with the following inscription: ‘From the colored citizens of Boston. Charles Sumner, you gave us your life, we give you our (hearts).’ A still larger floral design, the gift of a club of the friends of Mr. Sumner in Brooklyn, is placed on the top of the dais facing the main entrance to Doric Hall, and bears the following inscription wrought in violets upon a bed of white carnations: ‘Don't let the civil rights bill fail.’ Above the catafalque is suspended a crown of glory, beneath which floats a white dove in full flight, holding in its beak an olive branch. In front of the alcove in which stands the statue of Washington, are placed three pots of dutzia graccilis in full bloom, and in front of the alcove containing the marble bust of Mr. Sumner is displayed a large design in carnations, immortelles, and violets, with which latter blossom was wrought the motto of the deceased statesman, ‘equal Rights to all.’
The funeral obsequies were conducted with that chaste simplicity which always characterizes whatever tokens of respect that venerable city pays, as she has had such frequent occasions, to her many illustrious sons.
A few moments before the doors were shut, Mr. George Sennat placed on the beautiful monument of flowers at the foot of the casket, the following epitaph: “
Humanitas Justitiaque
Maerent Et Maerebunt
Te
Sumner Justitiae Cultor Eximius
Justitia Ob Vitam Purissima
Inter Sordiores
Humanitas Ut Tibi Nusquam
Aliena
Tu Fine Laborum
Immortalis Initio
Gaudeas
Tali Morte
Tale Superstite Nullo
Felix Faustus Fortunatus
Gloria Resurgens
Ave.”
[534]
translation.
The following may be given as a nearly literal translation: “Humanity and Justice
Mourn and will mourn
Thee,
O Sumner, most renowned Fosterer
of Justice!
Justice, on account of thy most pure life
Among the base;
Humanity, in that she never was a stranger to Thee.
Thou rejoicest in the end of labors and the beginning of Immortality.
O Happy, Blessed, and Fortunate One,
In such a Death that none like Thee remains.
Rising to Glory,
Hail!”
