The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-10
RICH And
Continued from Page One.)

ter of French blossoms withered and
yellow, was the only token on the
blended coloring of the banner of free
dom, save for the slash of white rib
bon across the center laid in place by
Mrs. Harding, and the shield of the
nation for which he died, laid rever-
emily above the still heart by the Presi-
dent.
Outside, as the day came on, the
sun drove the last sullen cloud away
over the distant hills to leave a glor-
iOus. rain-washed sweep of blue, shot
with golden light above the dome and
the Weakening city, last touches were
put to the rope-lined aisleS through
which thousands were to pass to pay
honor to the dead; thousands whose
one claim to fame is that they, too,
are simple Americans such as he
who lies in such state as emperOrS
and kings may not know.
STRAIGHT to the eastward ran the
narrow, roped way, marines in olive
green of their field uniforms and with
fixed bayonets lining each side. On
each mans shoulder swung the Topped
/ cords of the fourragere showing that
/ they were of marine regiment deco
rated for high valor on French soil.
Gradually the roped aisle leading on
up the great steps to the closed doors
of the rotunda filled with persons
come to pass by the bier with bowed
heads. Off to the right where the
steps sweep up to the senate cham
Der, another group gathered about a
! floral garland, the first of the many to
! be set in place From the other side a
! double squad of soldiers from the en-
gineer barracks. OYercOated against a
long vigil in the cold of the great
chamber beside the dead, with fixed
bayonets and rifles at the trail. moved
up the main steps and into the hall.
. They were going to change guard
about the coffin as it had been
changed at short intervals through the
night. as it would constantly change
all day and tonight.
! Pass Four Abreast.
The party on the senate stairs was
! led up to enter the rotunda by the
! senate corridor Then, just at 8
o'clock, the great main doors, huge
bronze barriers embellished with in
tricate figures, and designs and long
ago given the American republic,
strangely enough. by France. swung
| back and the waiting hundreds stepped
! forward four abreast to pass by the
| coffin.
AS the first line stepped within the
! hall. from the group beside the bier
where the flowers were being set in
place. male voices rose in blended
! harmonies that woke the echoes in
| the high Vaulted roof above, now
| flooded with sunlight. They sang the
last verse of America"
/ Long may our land be bright,
! With freedoms holy light.
They sang with a peal of victory
and no hint of sorrow. And the last
notes died away down the long cor
ridors to right and left as the line
that gave the great public its place
in the ceremonies moved slowly down
! and out the western entrance, down
over the terraced slopes, with the
white CLEAN of Washington monu
ment straight ahead, and still behind
seemingly cut through the center by
the great shaft, the square white bulk
of Lincoln Memorial on the far brim
of the Potomac.
Soldiers at Statues
About the coffin on its low base
those who passed by saw the five sol
diers, still as though carved from
bronze. in their khaki trappings. AT
the head. arms rigid at his side. his
own head bent forward until the tan
brim of his cap hid his eyes. stood
the non-commissioned officer, the red
of his chevrons coloring his sleeve
At each corner. facing inward toward
the center stood a soldier, rifle butt
grounded on the stone tagging, body
rigidly erect. but also with head bent
forward until cap brim was level with
the point of his bleaming bayonet
These soldiers moved not muscle
except at stated intervals when slight
changes of position, made simultan
eously, eased the physical strain
By 10 o'clock a steady stream of per
sons-soldiers, men, women and chill
dren, white and black, had begun q
continuous march through the rotunda
Secretary Weeks, Assistant Secre-
, tary Wainwright and General Hartford
were on hand waiting to receive for
eign delegations. Floral designs from
every state, on each of which was the
states shield, completely circled the
rotunda.
All delegations came in from the
: north entrance and stood by the cata
falque for the ceremony as the line
! continued to stream through
y q