Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-10
flushed Throngs
Pass Before Bier
Continued from, Page One

Continued from Page One
touches were put to the rope lined aisle!
through, which thousands were to pas
TO pay honor to the dead
straight to the eastward ran th,
narrow. ropcd way, marines in Olive
green of their field uniforms and with
fixed bayonets lining each side, Or
each mans shoulder swung the looped
cords of the fourragere, showing that
they were of marine regiment deco
rated by France for high valor or
French soil.
Gradually the roped aisle leading on
up the great steps to the closed doors
OF the rotunda filled with folk come
10 pass by the bier with / owed heads.
oh to the right, where the steps swecp
up TO the senate chamber. another group
gathered about floral garland, the
hrst of the many to be set in place.
From the other side double squad
OF soldiers from the Engineer Bar
racks, OvCrcCated against long vigil
in the cold OF the great chamber beside
the dead, with fixed bayonets and rifles
ut the trail. moved up the main steps
and into the hall, They were going to
hange guard about the caskct as it had
been changed at short intervals through
the night, AS it would constantly change
all day and tonight.
The party on the Senate stairs were
led up to enter the rotunda by the SEN
ate corridor. Then. just as s o'clock
the great main doors-hugc bronze bar
ricrs. which long ago had been given
to the American Republic, strangely
enough, by France, on whose soil the
soldier dicd-swung back and the wait
bnnIrnIS gt o,I
abreast. to pass by the casket.
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 harmonics
that woke the echoes in the high, vaulted
roof above, now flooded with sunlight.
They sang the last verse Of "America"
with n peal of victory and no hint of
sorrow.
Guards at Rigid Attention
The last notes died away down the
long corridors to right and left. as the
line that gave the great public its place
iW the ceremonies moved slowly on and
ont the western entrance. down over
the tcrraccd slopes that face out with
the white gleam Of Washington Monu-
mCnt 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.
About the casket on its low base those
who passed by saw the five soldiers, still
rs though cared from bronze in their
khaki tr9ppingS. At the head, arms
rigid at his sides, his own head bent
forward until thc tan brim of his cap
hid his eyes. stood tie non commits.
stoned officer, the rcd of his chevrons
cooring his sleeve.
At each corner. facing inward toward
the center, stood soldier. rife butt
grounded on the stone tagging. body |
rgidy erect. but also with head bent
forward until cap brim was level with |
the point of his cleaning bayonet. These
soldiers moved not n muscle except at |
stated intervals. when slight changes |
Of position, made simultaneously, eascd |
the physical strain.
BY &c o'clock 4 steady stream of |
men, women and chill |
Grcn. white ard black-had begun q |
continuous march through the rotundn.
Secretary Weeks. Assistant Sccrc-
tary Wainwright and General Harbord
were on hand waiting to receive foreign |
delegations. Floral resigns 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 catn-
falque for the ceremony as the line con.
tInued to stream through.
Prayer Offered by Bishop
The first delegation was committee
of the Federal Council of Churches Of
Christ in America, representing the
Protestant churches of the United
States. Within the fifteen minutes
allotted to it prayer was offered by
Bishop Mcdowell of the Methodist
Church and short eulogy
of the dead delivered by DR.. William
Adams Brown, of Union Theological
of New York.
As noon drew near the number of
those in line to pass by the bier in
were gaps In the line at times, the
people moved through almost at the
rate Of 100 n minute.
At stated intervals delegations ap-
the CatafaIque for brief I
memorial service, each leaving wreath.
So numerous were the wrCathS that
guards picked them up and took them
away, leaving room for others to come
Turing the day and night.
Many persons in the public line car
led floral offerings of their own on
which there seldom was card. In
lrarly every instance these voluntary
,fferings were carried by n child. OF
til those filing through one door and
nut another, old men and old women,
he grandparents of some soldier per- ,
lAps, were the most visibly affected,
cars streaming down their cheeks as
hey turned around for farewell look
It the flower covered coffin.
A three foot bronze statue symbolic !
ng the "Angel Of Peace" was placed
N the catafalQue as the gift of the
President of the Chinese republic. 1t
vas to be unveiled later in the day by q
he Chinese Minister. +