Revolutionary memories. It is fitting that the State which he chose as his home should especially honor his memory.

"The words of grief and the tokens of sorrow by which we mark his death shall honor, too, the offices which he held and proclaim that praise which shall ever be accorded to those who serve the Republic.

"Therefore it is hereby directed that the flags on the public buildings of the State be placed at half-mast until his burial, and on that day, yet to be appointed, all ordinary business in the Executive Chamber and the departments of the State Government will be suspended.

"The people of the State are called upon to display, until his funeral, emblems of mourning, and it is requested that at that hour they cease from their business and pay respect to the distinguished dead.

"Given under my hand and the privy seal of the State of New York, at the Capitol, in the city of Albany, the twenty-third day of July, eighteen hundred and eighty-five."

It was deemed fitting to make the burial a national one, after the private, or home, funeral services were completed. Therefore the public arrangements for the obsequies were given into the hands of Major General Hancock by the President. He supplemented the Grand Army Guards at the cottage by guards of regular troops, and from this moment the body of Grant was in the custody of his country.

The duty of selecting a burial spot was a solemn and painful one for the family. Some considerations pointed to Galena, the General's old home, some to New York, his adopted and last home, others to Washington, the capital of the country. Every national and patriotic consideration seemed to favor "The Soldier's Cemetery" at the capital, as the most suitable resting place for one who so clearly belonged to the entire country. But for reasons into which it would be indelicate to inquire, in so far as they were strictly private, Riverside Park, within the northern limits of New York city, and on the Hudson river, was selected by the family as the burial place.

The park is not a park, but an unimproved, rocky, bluffy part of the island above the built up part of New York city. Art will have to join zealously with nature to make it attrac

tive and give it the beauty and appropriateness of a national shrine.

On Wednesday, July 29th, the burial casket arrived at the cottage, and the remains were laid in it. They were dressed in a suit of plain black clothes. The embalming process had been successful, and the features were perfect. The glass top of the casket afforded a view of the body. For purposes of interment, an outer metallic case was provided.

On Thursday, 30th, President Cleveland, at the request of Mrs. Grant, announced the pall bearers, as follows: General William T. Sherman, U. S. A.; Lieutenant-General Philip H. Sheridan, U. S. A.; Admiral David D. Porter, U. S. N.; ViceAdmiral Stephen C. Rowan, U. S. N.; General Joseph E. Johnston, of Virginia; General Simon B. Buckner, of Kentucky; Hamilton Fish (A. J. Drexel, of Philadelphia, was substituted on account of the illness of Mr. Fish), of New York; George S. Boutwell, of Massachusetts; George W. Childs, of Pennsylvania; John A. Logan, of Illinois; George Jones, of New York; Oliver Hoyt, of New York. The selection of such prominent ex-officers of the Confederate army as Generals Johnston and Buckner, resulted from communications exchanged between President Cleveland and Mrs. Grant, he having telegraphed her to know if she had any preference or suggestions to make in the matter. He received a reply, saying, that it was her wish that he should name the pall bearers, and that the only suggestion she would make was that in case any prominent Union officer like General Sherman or Lieutenant-General Sheridan be selected, a leading Confederate officer, like General Johnston or General Buckner, be also included in the list.

Tuesday, August 4th was fixed as the day on which to begin the obsequies. They were to consist, on that day, of a private, or family funeral at the cottage on the mountain top. The remains were then to be taken to Albany, where they

would lie in state in the capitol one day. Then they were to be taken by train to New York, where they would lie in state in the City Hall till the hour of interment on Saturday, August 8th, when they would be deposited in Riverside park, in a temporary tomb, erected for their reception. And now, all the energies of those who had the matter in charge were directed to making the obsequies as solemnly imposing as possible, and every way worthy of the illustrious dead. There was to be no unnecessary display; that would not have been in keeping with the plain tastes and unassuming character of the deceased. But there was to be opportunity to pay last respects, to take a final view of the old hero, to drop a regretful tear and sigh a sad farewell, and this for the American million, the people, out of whose ranks he rose, in whose hearts he would find sepulture more royal than in gilded abbey or engraven tomb.

THE FAMILY FUNERAL.

After a night of storm the morning of August 4th, 1885 dawned brightly upon Mount McGregor. Sunrise was announced by the deep booming of cannon, whose sullen roar was heard at intervals of every half hour throughout the day. The little train that winds up the mountain side began to make early and frequent trips, bringing from below those who were to take charge of the remains and escort them to Albany, as well as many who came to participate in the private ceremonies.

By ten o'clock the soldiers had struck their tents and broken camp and the cottage grounds were put in order for the simple services which were to compose the family funeral. Outside was an audience of one thousand people, fringed on the right by Company E of the 12th Infantry, and on the left by Company A of the 5th Artillery, as a guard of honor. In the