The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-09

The broad brow was tranquil and save for the slight pallor death all ways brings, he might have been asleep there for a moment of rest. It hardly seemed the spirit cculd have fled. The lids would not lift present. ly to show the kindly. thoughtful eyes beneath. There was very little of death about him and much of peace and rest.
 The eastern doors were thrown open again and waiting at the foot of the long stairways, between ranks of soldiers and other guards, a mile --a iong column of people stretched through the hot sunlight~to wend a way out of sight beyond the distress trees across the plaza. They had been ranked four abreast and at the word, came trooping up slowly to pass be- yond the soft rustling of footsteps to mark their coming and going down the flower woven corridor. The hushed human tide flowed by on both sides of the casket and each gazed down just a moment before moving on to the west door and thus to the streets far down beyond the wide grounds.
 All States Represented.
 There were men and women from all states in the union in that end less column. They were dressed in all styles. They were a cross sec tion of the mighty people from whom the man they honored freely gave his life. Sometimes there came one who dropped single flower on the cof- fin as he passed and the watchful guards gently removed it after the giver had gone by. Some came with weeping eyes; some lifted children in their arms to glimpse that dead face.
 There were many little groups of and cailnrS and marines IX-bn seized the opportunity of their brief rest between the ceremonies that re- quired their service to add hours of waiting and miles of slow marching to the miles the day.
 They alone passed with caps or jaunty white hats in place but each gave the dead chief in command "a rigid salute as he walked in soldierry erectness past the casket. There came also to salute groups of Boy Scouts. and there moved in the loI(; lines policemen in uniform but off duty, firemen, motormen, conduc- tors, ohauffeurs and a score of oth . CTS wore uniforms that told their calling.
 35,O0O Pass CasEet.
 When the moment came that must see the doors closed again. more than 25, 900 persons had passed through that corridor of flowers. it was esti- mated. and as many more were turned back. disappointed after hours in the slow moving lines. But the departure for Marion could not wait and the great doors were shut. By now the softer liglt of early eve ming filled the great plaza outside. And with 1t came the troops again to line the short, straight way to the station with a double rank of armed men on each side of the ave- nue The mounted troops were back in line before the great stairway, the caisson waiting, the little block of the crew of the Presidential yacht MayfloWer stood with grounded arms to join the last escort of the dead, the army band held it's instruments ready.
 President Coolidge and the cabi- net officers and the admirals and generals of the honor guard came again in motor cars to enter the TO- tunda for a few minutes, then the casket was borne out and down to the caisSon while the troopers raised their sabres in salute. and the or dered rows of guns ranked behind them showed every figure erect in saddle or on Timber. Again the slow music of the band marked the slow progress of the casket, playing Nearer, My God, to Thee"
 
 No Ceremonies nt station.
 At the word the first troop turned to lead the way down the long lane of soldiers and honored the going of the dead chief. The Mayflower crew marched next, and then came the caisson and it's burden. A troop ot cavalry and a battery of guns brought up the rear, and hardly had the last gun passed beyond the grounds before the leading troops turned aside before the station en- trance.c
 At the station the caskct was lifted down to be carried out again and gently placed in the position here tens of thousands of Ameri- cans saw it on the long homeward pilgrimage of sorrow from san Fran cisco. There were no ceremonies. The nations farewell had been said, except for the last soft strains by the marine band, which played Lead Kip6Iv TiDhf, In final t,artipu