The Washington times., 1901-09-23
NATIONS DEAD EULOGIZED
Eloquent Tributes to the Character
of William Mckinley.


A VAST Oufpouring at the Memorial
Services Yesterday Afternoon
The Auditorium Far Too Small
Stirring Addresses by Speakers.
n ore vast outpouring of its people
the National Capital yesterday paid a
tribute of love and affection to the mem
Dry of William Mckinley. Had the ca
pacity of the Grand Opera House been
thrice as large it would not have been
able to have held the great thrcng which
sought admittance. As Il was. 5000 peo-
pie crowded the spacious theatre from
pit TO gallery, and there listened reverent-
ly to stirring ana eloquent eulogies of the
ilIustrious dead.
Perhaps never before in the city of
Washington was there ever a man so
Landed, so crowned with words of praise
upon such an occasion. 1t was not enough
that they should adore his virtues. that
they should recount his successes and
glory in his achievements, that they
should call him martyr and a typical
American, but he was hailed the greatest
of all men in American history.
The orators. with the exception of Com
missioner Macfarland were all ministers
all beliefs. and all denomina tions. Cath
nlic and Protestant, Jew and Gentle
spoke as one man, attributing to him all
the noble attributes of character. all the
loftiness OF purpose and all the sublime
tFaits of which mankind is capable.
Men spoke sincerely and earnestly from
the depth of their hearts overflowing with
sympathy and sorrow. The great con-
gregation maintained respectful silence
when il would but for the solemnity of
the occasion have made demonstrations
of its approval of the sentiments ex-
pressed.
Representative Audience.
Those who gathered within the vast
auditorium were among the city's most
representative men and women, and those
who addressed them were representative
of that class which above all others recog-
nizes the true worth of character ana
measures it by the standard of religious
piety. 1t was. therefore. and appropri-
ately so. that the moral side of lis life
was more strongly emphasized than any
thing else in his career, and its example
was pointed out as one for guidance.
Among those who occupied boxes were
Secretary Wilson and daughter. and Post
master General Smith and Mrs Smith.
General and Mrs. Miles, Rear Admiral
and Mrs Schley. Mr.. WI, the Chinese
Minister; the Korean Minister the Japan
ese Minister, Commissioner Ross. Director
Merriam and Mrs. Merriam. and a num-
ber of others, while in the parquet were
seated many distinguished citizens OF
Washington.
The services were most impressive and
inspiring, augmented as they were by the
music of the full Marine Band and the
vocal selections which We're rendered. On
the stage We're hundred ministers of all
denominations and behind them was
grouped the Marine Band, but only their
red coats were visible from the audience.
The color of the uniform of the musi-
clans was the only bright spot in the en-
tire house except that contributed by the
national colors which were draped In
conspicuous places upon the stage and
about the boxes and overhung with crepe.
Drnped in Mourning.
The stage decorations were elaborate
At the rear, high from the floor, surmount-
ing a marine scene setting, hung a large
picture of President Mckinley in black
and white. Immense flags were swung
from the flies and hung almost 70 -
floor They we-r caught back at the sides
forming a. -if5sly- frame fer tso por-
trait which was directly be1e-.r1 tAe
starry e -fs
rrn e15=s. th TTs weT hidden
fE -Ius ana ~ TED rs-l
hs were e aLrn'-r~ 1- CELEBRATE
fa-lE dltrlrr. H--i ~ ---..oH across
7a -L -, ln me middle of which stood
small speakers table decorated with a
flag and draped in mourning Down in
front the orchestra pit was filled from end
TO end with potted plants and palms.
The curtain above was entirely hidden
from view by the massive folds of black
in which il was draped. The sombre
front the orchestra pit was filled from end
bright glimmer of the lights all over the
house.
The proscenium boxes either side
of the house. were decorated with flags
which formed a great part of the decora-
ton scheme throughout the theatre. In
each of the boxes were placed palms and
other floral decorations. The chandeliers
were hGng with mourning cloth. On the
front of the balcony and the gallery there
were decorations Of the same sombre or
der That prevailed elsewhere in the house.
The Inspiring Songs.
The scene and the feeling inspired when
Mrs Thomas c. Noyes sang Some Time
Wen Understand she sang it with
tenderness and sympathy on the day of
the funeral at the Capitol. was one which
will long linger with those who witnessed
and experienced 1t. When the vast
throng sang the flvorite hymn OF the
dead President. Nearer, My God, to
Thee" many were moved to tears as the
great volume of melody rolled through. the
hall, and wvs heard far out into the
streets. There was another Inspiring
scene as the thousands arose at the con-
clusion of the service and sang America
until the echoes awoke.
Spacious as the theatre is. 1t could con-
tain only small proportion of those who
wished to attend the memorial exercises.
AS early as II o'clock the people began to
arrive, and long before O'Clock. the hour
for the opening of the services, every
seat in the house was taken and there
yet remained upon the outside eager to
get ir several thousands of people. Many
departed after a hopeless effort to gain
admittance. After the service had begun
and several of the speakers had been
heard an overflow meeting was held on
Fifteenth Street.
The memorial services in the theatre
began promptly at o'clock, when E.
Southard Parker. the chairman of the
committee having the arrangements In
charge introduced Commissioner Mac
fariand who presided.
Mr.. Macfarland's Address.
In assuming this position Mr.. Macfar-
land said:
"A friend OF God, friend OF man, the
chief minister and the Chief Magistrate
of the nation, William Mckinley, mas
passed on in victory to the Fathers
house. amid the unparalleled mourning of