Shortly after the Civil War ended, Lincoln was shot while attending a play in a Washington theater. He died within a few hours. The uncontrolled emotional reaction of the nation to his death was almost unbelievable and demonstrated the deep esteem （尊重）in which he was held. Newspapers were edged （加边） with black; religious leaders gave praise of Lincoln instead of their prepared sermons（讲道）.His funeral procession in Washing-ton was miles long. Lincoln's body was taken by train back to his former home in Springfield, Illinois, but in all the major cities through which the train passed, the coffin （棺材） was paraded through streets lined with sorrowful thousands. In the small towns through which the train passed, bells rang in honor of the dead President. Citizens lit torches along the railroad track to show their last respects.