The Semi-weekly leader., 1921-11-30
SERVICES TO UNKNOWN SOLDIER AS HEARD IN
NEW YORK BY MATTHEWS ARD OF BROOKHAVEN.

ton, the same as we are doing here
in New York.
The hymn is over and the voice Of
Secretary Weeks is heard introduc-
ing the President of the United
States. Then the Presidents ad-
dress, every word heard as distinctly
as tho he were not ten feet away
instead of several hundred miles.
How we listen to every word of it,
thrilled at the climax by the hope
expressed that this Armistice Day
shall mark the beginning of a new
and lasting era of peace on earth,
good will among men," Then, in con-
clusion, the most unusual and inspir-
ing thing of all-the repeating of
The Lords Prayer by the President
with the thousands in the Garden
and the tens Of thousands outside in
Madison Square joining in.
Next came a quartet, "The Su-
preme Sacrifice" sung by members of
the Metropolitan Opera Company,
one of whom was Morgan Kingston,
whom, you, mother, will remember
IS taking the part of Rhadames in
Aida" which you heard sung here
At the Metropolitan last spring. In
;identally Jeanne Gordon, who, I
.hink, has sung in Brookhaven at
Whitworth, was one of the singers in
this quartet at Arlington.
Again our spokesman at Arlington
vas speaking: ''The President will
now decorate the Unknown Soldier
With the Congressional Medal of
Honor, and the Distinguished Ser
Iice Cross" Once again we heard
President Harding's voice as he con-
ferred the medals. Then followed the
foreign dignitaries, led by Belgium,
conferring the medals Of the respec-
tive nations on our unknown. In
few but appropriate words they spoke
some in English, some in the native
tongue, Marshal Foch's words stand
ing out very clearly. At the conclu-
sion of this there were several beau
tiful musical numbers, among them
20 God, Our Help in Ages Past" and
Il Know that My Redeemer Liveth"
this latter sung by Rosa Ponselle,
member of the Metropolitan here,
and whose clear, strong, soprano
voice sounded like clarion call,
coming as it did, through space.
Perfectly natural this all sounded,
just as If one were singing to you
over the phone, and not at all like a
record does when being played on
the Victrola. These were intersper-
sed with scripture lessons, the Twen-
ty-third Psalm being read in a me-
lodious voice and very distinct. Then
Nearer My God to Thee" in which
we joined in the singing, singing the
entire hymn. Afterwards came the
burial service-how familiar to all of
us-read by Chaplain Brent. Then
silence.
Hon. Hamilton Fish, Jr., is plac-
ing a wreath on the grave Of the
Unknown Soldier" came the an
nouneement from Arlington. (Hamil-
ton Fish, by the way, mother, is the
representative from New York who
was the author of the legislation
which made possible the selection
and the bringing back of the I'm
known Soldier.)
Then again: Mrs. r. Emmett
Digney is now placing a wreath on
the tomb in behalf of American War
Mothers. And again: Mrs. Julia
McCudden is now placing wreath
on the tomb of our Unknown Sol
der in behalf of British War Moth
ers; this wreath is made of flowers
collected from the utmost possessions
of the British Empire"
Silence.
Chief Plenty Coos, Chief Of the
Crow Nation, in behalf of the Indians
who fought in the war, is now laying
his war-bonnet and coup stick on the
tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Chief Plenty Coos is in full Indian
regalia."
Silence again, unbroken for sever
al minutes. We grow anxious won
dering If the amplifiers, which have
been multiplying the voices from
Arlington, have gone wrong. Then
we are reassured. I'VE are waiting
for the three salvos of artillery"
comes from the national cemetery.
Silence for another minute or two.
Then we hear the guns belch forth
once, then an interval, again, the
second time, another interval, and
then the third report.
Then comes the saddest note of all
Taps" sounded by the bugler at
Arlington, clearly and distinctly it
rang out-"taps", the call that puts
the living and the dead to sleep.
For a moment the great crowd in
the Garden stood motionless- then
we were conscious that a voice in
our midst was speaking; we looked
up, 1t was that of Col. Roosevelt, his
words sounding like a benediction:-
Let us now go home and keep faith
with the dead"
l was sorry last night, mother,
that l hadn't gone to Washington;
had half way intended going down
to stay until Sunday. Today I'm
glad that I didn't because, Impress
i've as the service at Arlington and
Washington must have been, I'm glad
that was here and able to hear to-
day this wonderful service here in
the Garden. If the voice of mortal
man can be brought so far as this
today-from Arlington to New York
and San Francisco, that thousands
on thousands might be able to hear,
to sing with those there, to repeat
the Lords prayer in unison, then
how much more might we expect of
immortality.
Much love,
Matthews.
Mems Bible Glasses in Brookhaven.