Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-09-16

way around through the sitting room
behind into the library There was an
instantaneous movement in the room
as the President appeared.
Every one rose and all eyes were
turned toward the President He
moved forward again with the tide of
the procession to his place at the head
OF the line of cabinet officers. He held
himself erect, his left hand carrying
his silk hat. Those who were coming
toward him fell back on either side
to let him pass. He paused once or
twice to shake hands silently. but
there was no smile to accompany his
greetings. He, too, like the man deep
down in his seat against the wall,
who had forgotten to rise when the
President of the United States entered,
seemed to be restraining a great grief
When President Roosevelt reached the
head Of the line of cabinet officers he
kept his face away from the casket
The infantryman guarding the dead
stood before him rigid as a statue. Al
though the commander-in-chief ap.
preached until he could have touched
him. the soldier did not salute.
Roosevelt Looks Upon the Dead Face.
The President appeared to be steel.
ing himself for look into the face
of him whose death had made him
the hrst ruler Of the world. The ten
sion in the room was great. Every
one seemed 20 be waiting. The minis
ter of the gospel stood with the Holy
Book in his hand ready TO begin. Per.
haps il might have been 60 seconds.
Il seemed longer Then the Prest
dent turned and at the same time ad-
vanced a step. He bowed his head
and looked upon the man whose bur
den and responsibility he had taken
up. Long he gazed, standing immova-
BILE save for a twitching OF the muscles
of the chin as he laborel with heavy
breath to repress his emotion. At last
he stepped beck.
Charles Edward Locke, of the Della
ware Avenue NJ + Church, con-
Quoted the services Out from the hall
there welled the beautiful words OF
Lead, Kindly Light" sung by a quar-
tette It was President McKinlcy's
favorite hymn. Every one within the
sound of the music knew it and half
of those in the room put their faces
into their hands to hide their tears.
Comptroller Dawes leaned against q
bookcase and wept. President Roose-
welt seemed to be swaying to and fro
o. e his footing were insecure.
When the singing ended the clergy
nan read !:cG the word of the 18th
chapter % Coejlthlans J. Again the
Toices rose With tas words of Nearer
ny God. TO Thee" the very words
President Mckinley lad repeated at
/ intervals OF consciousness during the
day of agony before le died. As the
music died away the pastor spoke
again Let rs pray" he said. and
every head fell upon it's breast
All present joined in the Lords
Prayer as the minister repeated it,
President Roosevelt's voice being audi
bic at the back of the room. The serv-
ices concluded with a simple benedic
ton The funeral director was about
to step forward to place the cover on
the casket, when suddenly there was a
movement behind Governor Odell Sen
ator Hanna. who had risen. saw that
the last opportunity TO look into the
oountenance of his dead friend had
come. Pressing forward in an instant
he was at the side of the casket anl
bending over and looking down into it.
Almost two minutes passed and then
he turned away and the coffin was
| closed.