Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-08
LAST RITES
OF COLONEL
ARE SIMPLE
Only Family and Intimate
Friends Are Present at
Brief Service.

The body OF Theodore ROOSe-
welt was laid at rest today.
Ii was committed 10 earth
at I:43 p. m. in Il family ceme-
terry plot overlooking Long
Island sound.
Sixty persons attended the ser
vice at the home where the rector
OF Christ church read the Ninety
first psalm and offered prayer.
The mornings snow storm had
given way to brilliant sunshine as
tho automobile cortegC started
from Sycamore hill to the church.
Thousands of persons viewed the
procession.
Oyster Bay, n. Y, Jan. Sex
cept for two sons, absent as SOL
dierS in their country'S service oV-
erseas, the family of Theodore
Roosevelt, twenty sixth president
of the United States, assembled in
the living room at Sycamore Hill
shortly before noon today for the
first of three simple services-at
home, Christ's church, and grave
side with which the body of the no
ted American will be laid to rest
as a private citizen Of this Long
Island village.
Mrs. Roosevelt, sharing her hus-
bands antipathy to funeral cere-
mony, decided not to attend the
church services nor to join the pro-
cession to the cemetery. 1t was
announced that she would bid
goodbye to the body of her COM
panion in the house where they liV-
ed for many years, while her chill
dren, who grew to manhood and
womanhood in the atmosphere of
the old homestead, would see all
that is mortal of their famous faith
er committed to earth in the family
plot topping the highest hill in
Young's Memorial cemetery over
looking Long Island Sound.
The home service, one Of prayer
alone, was to last hardly more than
five minutes, according to the Rev
erend George Z. Talmage, rector of
Christ's Episcopal church. the
Roosevelt family church, while the
ritual before the altar was expect
ed to be concluded within fifteen or
twenty minutes after the casket was
brought into the edifice. The ele-
ment of simplicity was to be fol-
lowed, the clergyman said, while
the episcopal funeral service was
being read.
Sycamore Hill was astir early
this morning and flowers, which
began to arrive yesterday were re-
ceived in great profusion. Many,
for lack of space in the house, were
sent to the church.
Servants Garry Coffin.
After the former presidents body
was carried by household servants
to the hearse, it was announced. a
procession of fifteen automobiles
would be formed to convey the at
tendants at the prayer service to
the church. The first car, the col
Cnel's own, with his faithful negro
chauffeur. Charlie Lee, at the
wheel, was to carry Mrs. Nicholas
Longworth and Mrs. Richardd Der
by, Jr., daughters of the colonel;
Mrs. Archibald Roosevelt, his
daughter-in-law. and his sister,
Mrs. Douglas Robinson. Captain
Archibald Roosevelt and Theodore
Douglas Robinson, a nephew, were
to proceed to the church a few min
utes ahead of the procession, with
the rector, who is a nephew of the
famous preacher, the Reverend T.
Dewitt Talmage.
The church service of ten parts.
was to include the Sentences, the
Psalter (psalms 80 and 90), the
scriptural lesson, Corinthians lis,
the coloneTs favorite hymn, How
Firm a Foundation" recited by the
rector; the Lords Prayer, and the
prayers for grace, thankfulness.
and support
After the church service attended
by less than 500 relatives, personal
friends, political and literary asso-
ciates of the former president, and
of the American
and allied governments, the cortega
was to move to the cemetery, halt
ing at the entrance. from which it
was planned to carry the casket to
the Roosevelt plot short distance
away. After the brief commital
service of the Episcopal church. the
body was to be lowered into a
grave lined with concrete.
Oyster Bay, New York, Jan. 8.
As the approach of the hour set
for the funeral services for Theo-
dore Roosevelt this afternoon. ST.
lent crowds of villagers and Wis
stors collected in the vicinity OF
Hill, Christ Episcopal |
church and Young's Memorial Gem |
etery. Many tried In vain to get |
into the spacious |
grounds of the Roosevelt residence, |
but mounted police kept the crowds !
on the move.
Visitors were impressed with tho |
hush that fell over the town as the |
hour for the services approached |
and the general sorrow on the |
of the citizens was |
School children were dismissed |
for the day, and assembled In |
Douglas Robinson, the colonePs |
sister. Mr., and Mrs. T, Douglass |
the former being the |
colonel's nephew Rear Admiral |
w, g. Cowler, Mr.. and Mrs. JOS |
aph Alsop, W. Emlen Roosevelt AMI |
John X. Roosevelt, cousins of the |
colonel; Mr--ahd Mra. E. R-sMeF=l