The Washington herald., 1921-11-11

dropped to her knees. The white $
.hc flag was grasped by her hand'
A perfect food of tears rolled do
sob. and then she walked on.
MY boy did not come back"
That was all she said. Her boy
son, husband. father-no one
knew! But he had not come back.
And this was the mortal remains
Of one who had come back. the per
sonifcation OF Americas effort, but
without identity. II was the climax
| Of a single day Of waiting This
woman had expressed what the
reverent thousands who had passed
by this bier had thought all day
long America was honortng her
soldier sons through the iVtdual
who most repres nted her militant
spirit. Unknown. loved. the dead
had already taken his place within
a shrine of patriotism eXemplitied.
100000 Pay Tribute.
Throughout yesterday the solemn
procession had moved through the
Capitol building. The catafalque.
upon which had rested the i'm
mortal Lincoln. Garfield and Nc
Kinley. had been the Ercca of low
ing hearts. Nearly 100000 had
moved rast the dead, hating briefly
to voice a whispered prayer Of
thanksgiving. love, and sometim >
envy, envy that this unknown had
had the supreme opportunity to
take his place as a symbol of the
American spirit From that obscure
grave in Frar.ce this body had come
to the Capital of his own country
to be worshipped for what he rep
resented in death as well as for
what he stood for in life.
The doors Of the Capitol were
opened at s o'clock yesterday morn
ing. From then on until long after
midnight a steady stream Of peo-
pie. four abreast, had moved down
the rope-indicated lane past the
casket.
All Nations Represented.
Many were in uniform. Great
Britain-her possessions such as
Canada. Australia, India and New
Zealand-France, Italy, Japan. Rel
gium, the nations of the world, all
were represented. They did honor
to Americas unknown. But most OF
those in the line were Americans.
Every walk OF life was represented.
Soldiers from the hospitals. blind,
manned, halt, were there 10 say:
"Goodby. Buddy. take care OF
yourself"
School children, men. women. all
waited in the line to indicate their
love and reverence for the individ-
~.
sacrifice.
wreafhs from all Lands\
wreaths from every section Of
the republic and from all Of the
lands beyond the sea were repos-
ing in the rotunda. sixteen motor
trucks will carry them 70 Arlington
today. And they will make a dis
play the equal OF which never be-
fore has been seen in this country.
They had been deposited by great
men. King George Of Britain had
sent flowers and they were taken
to the Capitol by Lord Craven. Ad-
miraI Beatty md Ambassador oed-
des. France honored the unknown
in q similar way by the delegation
headed by Premier BRAND. Gen.
jacques, Of Belgium. sponsored the
heroic King Albert and. by proxy.
laid his floral tribute at the head
of the casket. Nippon. China, Italy
all nations had their part. From
Chalons- -Marne and other French
cities and towns where Americans
were so prominent during the war
there came wreaths expressing love
and thanks. New Zealand. Aus
tralia, South Africa, Canada, all
did their part
Few Passed Dry-eyed-
There was no note OF triumph In
the proceedings, II was a tribute
of sorrow-and love. Few passed
through the great structure dry
eyed Men and women wept and
were not ashamed. Only officially
recognized organizations were sup
posed to place flowers at this
shrine. But men and women alike
brought their own floral offerings.
And they dropped them on the floor
about the casket from which they
were taken by guards and massed
about the walls OF the room.
All day long withou a semhlance
cf fatigue huge throngs of people
waited patiently TO be admitted 20
the great chamber which contained
the body Of a solder who In losing
his Identity has become q chosen