Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-08
NATION MOURNS
FOR PATRIOT
Who IS DEAD
Men Prominent in Public Life
to Attend Funeral of
Roosevelt Today at
Oyster Bay.

Continued from Page One.)
tonight. Mrs. Roosevelt was said
10 be undecided whether the coffin
should be finally sealed before being
carried into the sanctuary. An
nouncement may be made tomorrow
morning. but it appeared more prob
able that Mrs. Roosevelt would not
make known her desire in this re-
spect until after the service of
prayer at Sycamore Hill tomorrow.
Prayer Service Private.
Only the immediate family of Col
cnel Roosevelt will be present at
the prayer service, which will be
conducted by Rev. George T. Tai
mage, who is to officiate at the
church of which he is the rector.
1t Col. Theodore Roosevelt jr.
and 1t. Kermit Roosevelt who are
with the American expeditionary
torce in France, will be together
while their FATHER is being buried.
Notwithstanding the request of
Mrs. Roosevelt that no flowers be
sent, floral tributes arrived at Saga
more Hill throughout the day and
the evening. The names of most
Of the donors were withheld.
One of the bouquets, made up of
pink and white carnations, served to
awaken many memories within the
Roosevelt family circle. 1t came
from the children of the Cove school,
where the sons and daughters of
Colonel Roosevelt first studied read
ing and writing back in the days
before their father became noted
internationally.
School Sends Floral Piece.
1t was Colonel Roosevelt's Gus
tom for many years to pay visit on
each Christmas day to the Cove
school. Each year he sent a Christ
mas treee and gifts for the pupils
But on the last Christmas of his
life he was leaving Roosevelt hos
pital and the presents were dis
tributed by Capt. Archibald Roose-
welt in his stead. 1t was these boys
and girls who, contributing their
pennies dimes and quarters, went
to an Oyster Bay florist and sent
to Sycamore Hill the tribute not
the least welcome among the floral
pieces which so overhlled the Roose-
Welt homestead that there was no
room. for them all. Those not kept
in the house were sent to Christ
church.
All the students in Oyster Bay
schools will have a half holiday to-
morrow. A. B. Whitteaker, the
principal, in addressing them today,
told them their lessons would be
suspended, not so they could play
in the streets, but that they might
pause in reverence in memory of
their friend and neighbor, whose
figure had once been so familiar to
them. l.u.
Two Sons in France.
Capt. Archibald Roosevelt re-
seived a cablegram today from 1t.
Col Theodore Roosevelt jr., saying
that he and his brother. 1t. Kermit
Roosevelt, both with the American
expeditionary force in Europe, were
together. Captain Archibald sent a
cablegram in reply.
Theodore said also in his message
that DR.. Richard Derby, husband of
Ethel Roosevelt, was sailing at once
for America. Lieutenant Colonel
Derby is in the medical corps, hav-
ing sailed for France early in the
war. Mrs. Derby is at Sycamore
Hill.
Many persons OF prominence
called at Sycamore Hill today, and
there will be many more tomorrow.
Representing Cuba, came Carlos
Manuel Cespedes, minister to the
United States; Alfonso FORBADE,
secretary of the Cuban house of
representatives, and Cayetano De
Quesada, vice consul. After telling
Captain Roosevelt how high was
the esteer in which the Cuban peo-
pie held his father, they informed
him that at the request of the peo-
pie of Cuba the government pro-
posed to erect in Havana monu-
ment to the colonel.
Another Sycamore Hill caller was
Col. Alexander Saubert, medical
corLs, u. S. A., who had at various
times attended the colonel. After
talking with Mrs. Roosevelt. he said
she was bearing up remarkably well.
She possessed traits of character
which were proving her support
now, he said, adding that the Amerl-
can people had little realized how
much the former president de-
pended on Mrs. Roosevelt through
out his career.
Message From Wilson.
In cablesram to Mrs. Roosevelt,
dated Modane, on the French
Italian sfrontier. President Wilson
said:
spray accept my heartfelt SYM
.toathv on the death of your distin-