The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-25

looked down upon the
crowd, at the left was n portrait OF
and to the right was the face OF
Roosevelt, the young Roosevelt OF 1900
and the Governor OF the Empire state
At the further extremity of the hall.
poised among banners, was an unfamil-
lar device. q white. Ave-pointed star
set In a field of blue. This was ex-
planned by an eager Bostonian to be the
flag devised for the League Of Nations,
Boston's conception of what that nag
ought to be. II was noticeable too that
many In the audience wore the same
device In their coat iapels.
Sounding Board Monstrosity.
Above the centre Of the stage. shortly
TO overhang almost monstrously John
Mccormack as he sang The Star
Spangled Banner" and mirabile dictu.
without once referring TO the printed
page. upreared yellow sounding board
OF extraordinary shape, something like
that Of frog about to hop. and back OF
this monstrosity were arranged very
neatly. with due respect to rank and
fame. such dignitaries as had been hon.
ored by the numerous conflicting COM
mittees OF arrangement and receptions,
II may be not embarrassing to say
that the Boston police adopted unique
measures TO Insure the Presidents safe
ty. No ticket was Issued to any person
until that persons antecedents had been
looked up, a policeman going to the
street address given and solemnly de-
manding to know II there was really
such a person. and II he or she were
safe and respectable. This at least was
the Information given out by members
NJ ri n
ton. 1t may possibly be true.
One Of the decorative schemes was
distinctly attractive. This consisted IN
placing at the head Of each aisle Trio
composed OF soldier. Red Cross nurse
and sailor. ]. was agreeable to see and
proved that there are some pretty Red
Cross nurses. Back then TO the front Of
the building stretched row on row OF
closely packed Bostonians. employing
themselves TRANQUILITY. sedately
CHANGING around one noted that many
persons, quite obiivious of the goihgs
on. were reading from big. solid looking
tooks-Emerson perhaps or may be
Henry James. One wondered where else,
gave in Boston. could this phenomenon
be found.
Appearance OF President.
In the half hour wait after the doors
were flung open and before Mr Wilson
appeared the audience sat quietly. al
most stolidly. The President came upon
the stage at 2:43 P. NJ. to Hail to the
Chief" OF course, and was the recipient
Of we'll bred applause. To one who Is
said to admire restraint and absence OF
noise as Is reported of Mr.. Wilson the
been quite grateful
He stood while the handclapping
lasted. which was seventy seconds. and
then took a seat, next 10 the chair of
Mayor Peters. John Mccormack came
forward at once and to the swinging
accompaniment OF navy band sang the
national anthem as II Is not often sung.
and while this was going on the Presi-
dent stood, thoughtfully, II seemed, the
corners OF his mouth far drawn down,
his fingers nervously moving.
As the singer retired Mayor Peters
stepped eagerly forward and launched
his speech OF welcome He said he well
coined the President not on behalf OF
Boston alone. but for one hundred mil
lion people. and after a few more OF
such amenities observed that the cove
nant OF the League OF Nations ranked
Gin his 1udgmen) with Magma Charta
and the Declaration of Independence
This started the President from reverie
He glanced up swiftly, interestedly
nodded his head, smiled and therea fter
paid more attention to his Honor. The
| speech brought some applause from the
| crowd, but the reaction was very feeble
| when, a moment later. he said that Mr.
Wilson advocated such punishment (foi
Germany" as would not preclude the
possibility OF reconciliation"
| Governors Safe Statement.
Gov. Coolidge then welcomed the
| President In behalf Of the Common
wealth. saying that Boston was giving
him a greater welcome than II gave
George Washington. This seemed fairly
safe statement since the Father OF HI:
Country got his welcome in the year
1889. The Governor said that 1t was q
| greater welcome than could have beer
given to Lincoln had he chosen to visit
Boston. and that Massachusetts would
support Mr.. Wilson in the present as Il
had in the past.
The snappy navy band let go witt
| John Browns Body" and followed q
/ up with Onward Christian Sold ers,
the President Joining in the singing OF
both. This musicale over he stepped
! forward without any further introduce
/ ton, waited until forty seconds of cheer
ing had exhausted the enthusiasm o.
the audience and began to speak at ri,
minutes past o'clock. The beginnins
was not promising as news or informa
ton. and for twenty minutes It appeared
as II Mr.. Wilson had no intention o.
touching upon the big topic OF the times
Away over at the left OF the stag,
Secretary Tumulty, standing. was watch
ing his chief eagerly, occasionally turn
ing his cheerful countenance toward tn,
audience to appraise. possibly, its mood
He and others near to the Preslden
seemed TO constitute themselves Their
mometers TO register for their chief tn,
variable temperatures OF the public feel
ing.
Mr.. Wilson let II be known that h,
was mighty glad to get back home. III,
spoke of the inspiration that came I,
him in Europe out of the simpl.
voices of the crowd" He earnestly re
pudiated the idea that there had beer
angry differences Of opinion at III,
Peace Conference, sayin. that all lead
ers had been animated by n common
spirit TO set up new standard OF RICH
IN the world, and he emphasized IN
idea that the men sitting in Paris real
tied that they are not the masters bu
the servonts OF the people.
mo man." he said, will dare to q,
home from this conference and repor
anything less noble than has been ex
pected OF him"
Completely OF Tasks.