The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-11
THOUSANDS PAY
TRIBUTE TO THE
UNKNOWN DEAD
River of Humanity Passes
Bier of the Fallen Hero.
Many Wounded
Comrades


Washington, November ia river
of humanity. American men. women
and children. Americans by hertz ge.
americans by election, flowed all day
today and far into the night past The
bier of the dead soldier, under the
great dome of the capitol. 1t flowed
as the likelihood of the nation Itself,
slow but overwhelming torrent If
human documents gathered to attest
the valor of Americas dead in
France.
From early day until long after
darkness had shrouded the city the
great stream surged up the eastern
front of the rotunda, four abreast,
up the granite stairway, in through
the huge doorway, to pass solemniy.
reverently by the casket and it's five
guards. motionless as the statues af
Lincoln and Grant at the far, doos-
way, which looked down on the NOV
ing spectacle.
Out through the doorway the stream
passed through one stately corridor
and its marble stairway and down over
the wide terraces OF the western
front to the homes in the city be-
low. Each hour saw thousands make
the slow journey OF honor TO the
dead. Each hour saw new thousands
pouring up the wide driYeways that
circle the great buildings to replenish
the living stream.
That was the overshadowing cle-
ment in the cycle OF honors heaped
upon this nameless soldier. this son
of the people come home to claim
the great reward his valiant he1rt
had earned. And II was has own peo-
pie. OF every nook OF the nation, ttlt
silently gave this regard, more pres
cious than any jeweleu or carven to-
ken that governments of the world
Will place tomorrow above the stil
breast OF the sleeper.
Ceremonial of Honors.
TO one side OF the tnrOng tnat rolled
ceasefessly by the tlag-draped cas-
ket, a second unendins ceremonial of
honors for the dead went on. Inete
great men gathered an Washington
co deal with great affairs came iof-
ward to place their wreaths at the
bier. Theirs came comfaaes, liins-
ing from wounds that brought tnein
down in France. There came graz
haired veterans OF the oId wars
moved to do honor 10 the young,
stricken comrade OF the last sreat
struggle, there, in ordereu coursc.
came the ambassadors ana The mtni.-
tiers and the special ENJOYS o. guy
ernments around the worid.
There were formal services here,
always with the snuIiiing footsteps
oil the human river beyond lnSfs44e
with the prayers and Lne esisiiss ssiia
the spoken tributes " ,na ue.su
There We're some, ike tnose Nou4t,ss u
boys from France. vino stoou ~ va
and abashed at the soielnu. iuaJes.s
that had come ~ this vO-.Hs-ae. 1n~s
MI tb,4t al 50,
praise, tnefr WOUNDS s4na lns - -
of that great, endtess, nftns ltsef
beyond making lneln uwi.s,s.tu, .nSif
crutehes ana canes tapDine Oh .ns
cold stones rs tnvy shuiAed 1ach tn.J'
the obsCurity they crdNeu.
Came. too, black gowned women.
many bowed an1 gray Win ase anu
sorrow, and all wearing IN pride tnv
golden star that tells of son who
died over there. They brought al
ways with their flowers the great
stars that bring to this unknown son
of liberty q message from those
comrades whose names stand aUoNv
all others in the roll of the nation
servants; the great scroll OF those
who like him died for the flag.
Mass of Flowers
AS the hours moved by the vast
reaches OIL the CndhpcE SttHit0 az
too small to house the growing mass
of flowers. AS each cluster was set
in place--roses that blossomed in
France or England. that bloomed IN
Canada and South Africa; peoples that
thrust up their slender stems
through blood drenched Flanders
-fields, and flowers of every color and
hue that blossomed under American
skies-the air grew heavy with the
fragrance. Soldier guards stepped
out to move each tribute after 1t had
been set, and the long rounded sweep
of granite walls was banked with
.wreaths and greens over its whole
length, and every vantage point over
the stone floor held its weight VI
beauty, its share of honor Tor the
brave dead.
Night had fallen before the soldie-s
and their comrade marines Wta icin
ly shared the hohel 0s 4payaiDE snt
resting risee on me ulArpn'h aEas
moved ~ ehecl. thA stream OF -
manity that continued is near
flow. A1othat moment ia his sts4-
hour OF SID atarn{ty nae ended -
the unkrown Sho Is snoFz 90 all the
nation BIS dsa.n.
The lights in the vauited chamber
dwindled and died to dim glow
the great bronze doors swung shut
and alone again with the tireless
comrades who kept the last VI
with him-Americas unknown frs
France was left to await dawn are
the coming OF the cortege In Wn n
the President and the highest hgu
In, American national life Will wal
humbly to carry him to the grave