The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-20
ITS HOLIEST OF DAYS
Wichita's Spiritual Tribute 10
The Memory of the Martyr.
GRAND CLOSING SCENE
Audience Rises and Sings
Nearer, Ny God, to Thee"

~ ~ III AAIA t~Le54Du III It's history All
Wichita ever pay the tribute of unanl-
nifty it did yesterday to the memory o.
The martyred president. William McKin-
ley.
II all the demonstrations for the past
ten years here were rolled into one. thy
would not evidence SC much as yester
cay evidenced the profound patriotism OF
INC people
a oabbatn quiet prevailed. Most Of the
establishments in the city. some Of which
had nor closed for years. were locked. In
the morning the dead streets were touch
e with autter OF life as the thousands
o. school children marched to the audi
toriun- again in the afternoon the
mourn1aI silence was broken. as it was
emphasized. by the solemn funersl morcr
Of the band ana the measured tread z!
t2e veterans marching IL the auditorium
The scenes tnere IN The morning ana in
the afternoon were beyond precedent
TIE brilliant color Of the restless child
audience against the white OF the great
oui.dins, I4ade q spectacle worth remem-
bering. and to thousands Of IttIe folk.
this Gay when an awful event brought TO
them anew the value Of The herita re. OF
liberty, Wiu live as long as their mem
ories.
IN the afternoon black prevailed The
great audience which assembled showed
the preponderance of it in the dress Of
The auditors.
Wichita had seen the same audience TO-
Eether before, had seen them in the en-
tnusiasm OF a closing campaign. at spirit
e lectures at graduating exercises.
where ambitious youth threw glow OF
lie over the whole assemblage. but never
te'ore, IN this city, was patriotism, the
deep patriotism OF tn soul, SO made
fns nifest as it was yesterday by those
soter-iaced men and women, IS they
listened and thought and felt And When
tae bcaI arrived the hour Of supreme.
sorrow at Canton, when the nation. even
10 its great lines OF transportation hated
IN the palsy Of grief. every mini turuol
to Canton and pictured the image of the
scene there, the last sad rites over the
beloved man Of all the people
Put the climax of ali was the song at
the conclusion. Up from the threats Of
all. even from the busy scene-shifters in
the rear Of the stage. came the song.
swelling from. two thousand Threats.
Nearer Ny God, to Thee"
# ever song come from the heart Of
a people, if ever a sentiment purified and
exalted q vast assmblage. that did yes
terday. Eyes moistened and lips culver
Cd as it rang out and upward. a prayer
70 the Father Who is Mindful of His own.
IN the hearts Of an present the strains
Of the hymn remained for the day. There
were men present who thrilled under its
mighty inspiration. as they never had
before, men who went away spiritually
chastenea as they had never been chast-
ned before; men who carried from that
han the picture Of concourse. face to
face with God and uplifted and exalted by
this tender chnd-like song to Him
The masterful addresses of the good
men who spoke yesterday. the halt in
business. the stopping Of the street cars.
OF the railroad trsius. the surcease of
every enterprise. while the people went
out to the edge of the Great Dark to bid
brother. a leader. hero goodbye. made
the day the most memorable, the hottest
in the history Of this loyal town
Between 6 and clock yesterday morn
ing little armies Of school children. lined
Up ia double files, vending their way to
Toler's auditorium to participate in the
services which were TO take place ct the
auditorium. From little tots up to nearly
fun grown young men and women. were
IN line. The crowd kept ora coming and
matter ct All. The children were coming
10 pay their last respects to the martryed
president Each teacher was ia charge
n bis or her battalion. and they were
extremely wen Differed one after an
other they passed in regular file into the
building and took their places Profess
sor knight was here. there and every
where. looking after the different classes
and schools that were marching into the
double doors u the auditorium
While this YVES golns on, great chat
ter and subdued voices talking was going
on among those already seated and who
were waiting Tor the exercises TO begin.
i was nearly $3.50 O'Clock before super
intendeat &c Che Pablo Schoo, Knisnt
stepped onto The staee and declared the
services be@an In lookine or the stage
oyer The audience great sea Of faces
met ones Eaze All of -he lower floor
az the building was packed with grown
people. as wei as children. THE galleries
were simply TANNED breathing space !
hardly being nefveptble. and With an this
& continuous bum of voices prevailed.
The STAGE WAS also crowded with visit
ors. o1icials and The Liz school chorus. F
Among those on the stage were Air.
Krisnt. President OF the Board Of Edu-
cation u. ". Grafton. Members Of the
School Board Fred Bell DR. Borner. c. (
McClellen. T. W. GiG and John N