New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-11
Only the Most Intimate
Friends of Family at
White House.
BODY TAKEN SOUTH
FOR BURIAL AT ROME
President Bears Up Bravely'
Though Showing the
Effects of Grief.
from The Tribune Bureau. ]

ironrossive funeral services for Mrs.
Wilson, wife of the President OF tne
limited States, were held in the bASD
Room of the White House at ocioSk
this afternoon, and at 4:35 O'Clock
the funeral train left for Rome na'
where the burial will take place 10
morrow afternoon.
Besides members Of the family ana
n few close friends, only the CaDihe1
and the committees from the Senasc
and House, headed by the Vice Presl-
dent and the Speaker, attended inc
services, although several thousand
people stood in solemn silence OUT
side the White House. There was
neither music nor honorary pallbearers,
the ceremonies consisting SIMPLY Oh
scriptural realing, short prayers ana
a benediction.
'Let not your heart be troubled; fe
believe in God, believe also IN me-
was the opening verse OF the service
an my fathers house there are many
mansions; if it were not so, would
have told you. | go to prepare place
for you. I will not leave you com
fortress; | will come TO you"
Scenes within the White House
during the funera services and as me
gray casket bearing all that is mortal
of the beloved wife and mother was
being carried from the mansion INTO
which she had gone fifteen months
before proud and happy woman,
robuct in health, will forever remain
sacred to those who witnessed them.
The services were private, and the
privacy solemnly sealed the lips Oh
While the President, downcast in
his great grief, affected composure
throughout the day for the sake of
his sorrowing daughters, he suffered
obviousl. Broken in spirit and worn
physically by the ordeal he has I'M
dergone during the past few days, he
strove hard to bear the burden OF ms
affection without displaying emotion
and constantly endeavored to comfort
those left to him.
Thousands Throng Streets.
While flags dropped at half mast
throughout tn, capital to-day, chod-
sands of men and women gathered IN
the wide avenue before the closed
gates of the White House grounds. The
flags, the crowds, the closing Of The
government departments in the after
noon. and the masses of flowers which
overlooked the East Room were the
nations only way of expressing ITS
sympathy for it's Chief Executive IN
his grief. In accordance with Mrs
Wilson's wish, the service was of the
simplest character. There was no
music; only the reading of a few
verses from the Bible, a prayer by ;he
Rev. Sylvester Beach, of the church
which the Wilson family attended
during their years in Princeton, n. j.
and a benediction pronounced by the
Rev. ]. H. Taylor, at whose church :hC
President has worshipped since h'
came to Washington. Less than tive
hundred were present.
The easket was borne from the White
House by six members of TIE city po'
Ice force who for many years have
guarded the home of the Presidents.
Few saw the funeral party pass or
its way to the Union Station, where
the train awaited it. The drive wa;
made over less frequented streets, and
only three closed automobiles, bearing
the President and a dozen men, rela
tives or close friends of the family
followed the hearse.
Mourners Brave Storm.
As the party drew up before the
state entrance of the station a vlolen
| thunder shower began. Within the
station a crowd had gathered tina
taxed the great structure TO its limits
| Outside thousands more braved the
| drenching rain to stand in silent sym
pathy. Passing through lane WALLED
| By humanity, the casket was carried e
the waiting train. On it rested a single
wreath, the last gift of the Presiden
and his daughters.
Close behind walked the Presiden
with a Secret Service agent beside him
| Then followed his companions, walking
/ three abreast. At the train they halted
| as the casket was carried into the ca
and stood in silence afterward unit
| the Presidents three daughters and hi
sons-in-law arrived. The members o
/ the family then entered the private
car in which the casket had beer
| placed.
Tonight as the train sped southwark
/ they shared the sad vigil. Other mem
| bers of the party rode in special car
| and a baggage car carried part OF tn
/ hundreds of floral pieces.
/ Among the flowers at the Whit
/ House were many elaborate designs
Washington florists were called upoi
/ as never before. Orders came by cabl
and telegraph from every part of tn
world. Scarcely a capital of the worl'
or a city of the United States was un
represented. A great blanket of or
chids sent by the Democratic clubs o
| Baltimore was carried by six men. Onl.
a small part of the flowers could b.
sent with the train, and the remainde
will go 20 the hospitals of the city a
| Mrs. Wilson's last gift to the sick AM
/ suffering.