The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-07
Pail of Sadness Hangs Over
White House and Mr.. Will
son Bowed Down With
Fss.&-E
Grief.
FLAGS AT HALF MAST
Sister of Dead Woman Criti-
cally Ill and Unable to
Leave Home in California
City.
TBY LEASED WIRE.1

WASHINGTON, Aug. IA pail Of
sadness hangs over the White House
and over all of Washington today be-
cause of the death of the first lady
of the land At the main entrance OF
the executive mansion, black crepe
told of the sorrow within, and the
gates of the White House grounds
were closed. All flags of the city were
at half mast and only a few clerks,
those absolutely necessary for busi-
ness, were at work in the executive
offices.
1t was officially announced at the
White House today that the funeral
service at the White House would be
private. The funeral probably will be
held Monday.
Washington has not yet recovered
from the shock of Mrs. Wilson's
death. President Wilson and his
daughters remained in grief-stricken
seclusion in the White House, the
former denying himself to all except
his family and his secretary.
To Be Buried Near Home.
It is expected that Mrs. Wilson will
be buried at her girlhood home in
Rome, Ca, or in Princeton, where she
spent so many years while her dis
tinguished husband was president of
the university.
Mrs. Wilson was the third wife of a
president to die in the White House.
Mrs BENJAMIN Harrison died on Oct.
25, 1892. Mrs. John Tyler also died
there. The death of Mrs. Wilson came
after an interim of twenty-five years
| without death in the immediate fam
lily of the executive in the mansion.
Loved by Washington.
Although Mrs. Woodrow Wilson had
spent only few months of active
social life in the white house. she had
endeared herself to scores of Wash
ingtonians with whom she became in
| timately acquainted. She was the
first wife of president to visit the
| slums Of Washington and to take
steps to bring about an amelioration
of conditions. Only yesterday the
Alley bill which she so vigorously ad-
| vocated was passed by the senate.
When Mrs. Wilson came to Wash
| ington she was strong, vigorous wo-
man, and despite the exacting social
| duties she assumed it was not only
until she had a severe fall in the
! lobby of the White House that her
health began to fail. She slowly grew
weaker and when she died she was
thin and worn; nothing like the bright
| strong and charming woman who be
came the first lady of the land scarce
| ly sixteen months ago.
Sister is Sick.
| Word came to the White House to
! day that Mrs. Wilson's only sister
Mrs. Edward Elliott, is ill in Cali
fornia and will be unable to come tC
Washington for the services. Hel
brother, Prof. Stockton Axson is or
his way to Washington and is expected
tomorrow. S. E. Brown, of Atlanta, q
cousin of Mrs. Wilson, and George
Howe, of North Carolina, a nephew
arrived today. The President is more
deeply affected today than he was yes
! terday. He is bracing up against the
duties of his office at the present mo
ment
! Hundreds of kilograms are arriving
hourly expressing sympathy and con
dolence.
After visiting the White House tt
tender his coincidence on the death o.
Mrs. Wilson, Senator Kern, of Indiana
Democratic leader in the senate sale
that no final action would be taken BY
the senate, with reference to appoint
ment of a committee to attend the
funeral until the date Of ceremone.
were settled. The senate will adjourn
on the day of the funeral. All gov
ernment departments will be CLOSED
| on that day.
| A contribution was taken up by The
senate to purchase a wreath to b.
sent to the funeral. Each senator con
tributed one dollar.