Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-08
Widow Bids Good
Bye to Body
at Home
FAMILY MOURNS
IN LIVING ROOM
Children Witness
Burial of Their
Famous Parent

In the simple fashion he
desired, funeral services
were held to-day for Colo
mel Theodore Roosevelt,
twenty-siXth president OF the
United States, first at the Roose-
welt home, then in Christ Epis-I
copal Church. The church serv-I
/ ice was concluded in eighteen
minutes. Meanwhile the Ameri-
can people in many cities paused
in their tasks while the last
words were being said in the
village church which the former
president attended.
( The body was committed to earth
{ at 1.43 p. m, i'll family cemetery
; plot overlooking Long Island Sound.
: The body was carried into the
church shortly before l o'clock and
: the simple funeral service was imme-
diately begun. Sixty persons attend
ed the service at the home, where
the rector of Christ Church read
the Ninetytirst Psalm and offered
prayer.
! Storm Gives Way to Sunshine
The mornings snowstorm had
given away to brilliant sunshine as
the automobile cortege started from
/ Sycamore Hill to the church.
! The church service, beginning at
| 1926 o'clock, was concluded in
eighteen minutes. The Episcopal
ritual was followed. and the only
mention of the eN-presidents name
was when the rector spoke the word
( Theodore in the final prayer.
( Caskct Drapcd in Flag
The "asliet was borne to the altar
rail by porters. Draped in an Amer
/ lean flag, it was covered also with
two battleflags of the Rough Rider
/ regiment, upon which rested a large
wreath of acacias tied with the yell
( low ribbon of the cavalry. Those
flowers. the only tribute near the
casket, We're from the colonel's COM
rades of the famous unit of Spanish
American War days.
Major Wood Among Mourners
During the morning a number of
friends and associates of the former
president in recent and earlier years
called at Sycamore Hill and talked
with members of the family. Among
them, it was reported, was Major
General Leonard Wood. intimate
friend of the Colonel and his senior
III command with the Rough Riders
in the Spanish American War.
\ large wreath of pink and white
carnations was received from Presi
dent Wilson.
The first of two special trains
bringing TO Oyster Bay the nations
representatives to the funeral serv-
ices of former President Roosevelt.
- embers of the diplomatic corps at
ashington and intimate friends ar
ilIved here at 12.19 p. m. to-day.
on the train were Nice-President
Thomas r. Marshall, personally rep
resenting President Wilson; Secre-
tary Lane, General Peyton c. Ma
chief of staff of the United States
Army; Vice Admiral Gleaves, of the
1 Navy. Il delegation of United States
Senators and Representatives and
members of the diplomatic corps in
Washington, and a number of state
! legislative leaders, both Republicans
I ana Democrats. Admiral Winslow
and Governor Smith, of New York
state. and Mayor Hylan. OF New
York City came in automobiles.
Oyster Bay. Jan. Except for
/ two sons, absent as soldiers in their
] country's service overseas, the fam
I ily of Theodore Roosevelt, twenty
sixth President of the United States.
! gathered in the living room at Saga
more Hill shortly before noon to-
day for the first of trinity of SIM
! pie services-at home. church and
f, graveside-with which the body of
the noted American will be laid to
rest as private citizen of this Long
! Island village.
Widow Remains in Home
/ Mrs. Roosevelt, sharing in the Col
I oneIs antipathy to funeral ceremony.
I decided not to attend the church
services nor to Join the procession to
/ the cemetery. 1t was announced that
! she would bid good-by to the body of
I her husband in the house where they
! lived 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 father COM
mitted to earth in the family plot
! topping the highest hill in Young's
I Memorial Cemetery, OVERLOOKING
! Long Island Sound.
! Home Service One OF Prayer
! The home service. one of prayer
/ alone. was TO last hardly more than
I FIVE minutes. according 10 the Lev
George f.. Talmage, rector of Christ
| Episcopal Church. the Roosevelt
/ family church. while the ritual before
( the fcltar was expected to be- con-
! cluded within fifteen or twenty min
: utes after the casket was brought
I into the editice. The element of sim
IContinued on Page 1871