Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-09-21

Washington. Sept. 1.-THE body Of
4 President Mckinley lies in the cnSt
room of the White House. where, for
more than four years. he lived as the
chief magistrate of the great American
republic. Up stairs in the apartments
occupied by the family of the late pres
dent, his widow mourns among til.
saddest of memories.
1t was with simple ceremony and Il
fitting silence that the body of the late
1 president was borne to the White
House, where it WAS laid upon the bier
in the great east room, in which he had
stood so often in the pride of his nian-
hood, to receive the greetings of the
common people, who he loved better
than himself.
1t was fitting that such ceremony as
there was should be severely military in
character in recognition of the fact
that the president was commandcr-in-
4 chief of the United States army and
navy The streets about the station
| were filled with mounted troops. and the
station itself was occupied by soldiers
coated policemen and the railroad EN-
ploycs were nearly all that stood for
civil life.
1t was not so on the broad avenue
that led to the White House. There the
/ people strained and crowded in Il vast
multitude against the ropes that marked
out the line Of procession. The silence
In a. a. .
passed through the national capital;
even Il whisper was the exception.
The night was humid and dark, and
the surroundings depressing. The train
was due ut SO. but ii was S:IS when
the headlight of the big locomotive
flashed along the rails, and the cars
stopped
The way was cleared, and down the
pathway strobe Il body of soldiers and
sailors. chosen as the body-lrnrrrS and
guard. They were met nt the entrance
of the observation car where the body
lay by an officer. and admitted at
once. Through the plate glass viii
dows the caSket showed in wrnppings
of the national flag, covered with rare
garlands and set pieces of flowers. The
undertnkerS' assistants removed the
floral pieces to the vans which were to
carry them to the White House The,
sailor, with drawn cutlHS and the sol
dicr, with fixed bayonct. who stood
grimly like men of stone at the head
and foot of the caSkrt gave way to,
these men as Though reluctant to aban-
don their sad duty.
Meanwhile. farther down the station,
the party Oh the funeral train were
alighting. Mrs. Mckinley was speed
ily placed in Il carriage, which drove
off at once to the White House without
awaiting the procession. Close behind
came the members of the family of the
late president, who, likewise We're
driven away Immediately to the eX-
ecutive mansion.
| Meanwhile the caSkct was removed
from the observation car. and received
upon the shoulders of the bOdyhrarerS. |
-Four artillcrymen were on the right and
four sailors on the bft. They walked
slowly to the henrSr. In front of the
caskct marched four officers. AS the
caslict emerged Il buglc note rose clearly
and Taps rang out.
just beyond the entrance to the sta
ton, President Roosevelt with the men-
bprs of the cabinet had taken station 50 /
as to leave Il broad space for the funeral
cortegc. They ranged themselves on
the sidewalk in double rows opposite
each other. and stood with barred heads
as the corpse was carried to the hrarSe
drawn up at the SIDE gate. The henrsc
was drawn by six coal-back horses. each
of which was led by colortd groom in
black livery.
just as the body was being placed in
the hrarsc a photographer from Il near
by window suddenly flashed light for
the purpose of obtaining Il reproduction
of the scene. The iinShlight and ac-
company ing noise made people Shuddrr.
The hearsc quickly moved away. and
was followed at once by the carriage of =
President Roosevelt and those accom-
panying him. Carriages containin" tn" :
other notnblcs followed. The military
were already in | ne. AS the proccsSionE
swept from the Sixth street station
into Pennsylvania avenue. II deeply inl- +
prcssivc sight was presented. The
historic thoroughfArc WAS hung In =
black. EmhlrmS of the nat tons mourn
ing were displayed on every bu lei NJ.
The Stars ana Stripes. furled and
knotted with crepe. tloatrd from hun =
drrtls of windows over Ill CLAM, Il
coldly scores of electric lights. defining B
sharply each detail of the solemn scene.
Banked on both sides of the avenue 2
from sixth street to the executive man
sion were tens of thousands nf people.
They were come to pay their tribute of I,
respect and love to the memory of Their
president With barred heads and in
deep silence the people watched the last
homecoming of President Mckinley
There was no music. Amid the hush
of the great crowds. only the catter of ID
the horses. hoofS. ringing sharply upon
the pavement. was heard.
1t was 9:3O when the head Of the
procession reached the White House
grounds. and turned into the Dir v"way.
The carriage containing Mrs. Mckinley.
Dr Riyey and liner MCKINLEY had