Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1924-02-07
WEARY LEADER
NEPTPEACEFEJLLY
AS DEATH CAME
Woodrow Wilson dies Sunday When
Heart Became too Weak to Func-
fion.

many of our readers who do not get
the metropolitan dailies and who have
had as yet very little information as
to the recent national calamity, we
publish part of one of the Associa-
ted Press Dispatches as to the pass
ing of Mr.. Wilson:
Washington Feb. 3.-Former Pre-
sident Woodrow Wilson died at II
O'Clock this morning.
The end was peaceful. Life ebbed
away while be slept.
4 tired man has closed his eyes
and Sustained and soothed by an
unfaltering trust" passed to the great
hereafter "like one who wraps the
drapery of his couch around him and
lies down to pleasant Dreams"
Last Friday the grim reaper forced
his way into the house after waiting
on the door step for more than four
years. Saturday he had advanced to
the landing on the stair case, and
stood counting off the ticks of the
great clock. Saturday night he knock
ed on the chamber door. A faithful
physician and loyal wife stood with
their backs against it. At nine he
ratified the knob and called to the
peaceful PROSTATE figure on the bed
"a great bed, long and wide, re-
plica of the bed on which Abraham
Lincoln slept while in the White
House, witha golden American Eagle
and tiny silk American flag just
over the head board.
The watchers knew the battle was
lost. At the portal of the door, now
opened, the faithful negro servant
hovered. On the bed sitting beside
her husband sustained with all the
fortitude and composure of woman
facing crisis, was Mrs. Wilson, hol-
ding between her hands the wane,
withered hand that .had proved she
pen mightier than the sword. Near
the foot of the bed was his eldest
daughter Margaret, resigned to the
inevitable, Close by, tears yelling
from his eyes and coursing down his
cheeks was Dr. Grayson, taking the
measure of his fluttering pulse wea-
ker and fainter with each effort.
Death advanced nd beckoned for
the last time. The tired worn man
drew long breath, there was flut-
ter of the eyelids, an almost imper
ceptible twiLch of the nostrils.
Woodrow Wilson's soul had drift
ed out on the great dark tide that
runs around all the world.
Out through a city stilled in,>the
Sabbath mornings reverential calm
his name was being spoken from a
hundred pulpits. In the Central Pres
byteran church where he faithfully
went to worship while the flesh was
able a choked-up congregation sung
''The Son of God goes forth to war"
''How firm foundation" and "On-
ward Christian soldiers" favoritei
hymns in which he loved to lift his
voice in happier better day. Over
a great land that had acclaimed him
chief and in lands across the sea
where he had been hailed as god
of peace, prayers were rising for
the repOse of his soul.
In the street before the square
brick house where he has lived with
his memories his hopes and his : :
grets was another scene, There wae
a gathering of people there. 1t was
not a crusdaing throng come to a
mecca in pilgrimage to attest their
faith in the Ideals he persOnifled.
1t was a group of men and women
kneellng on the pavement IN silent
prayer. Small sH'ips of paper bear
ing the inscription peace on earth
good will toward men" held in their
hands, fluttered in the chill wind that
swirled up the debris and littel left
there by Wtchers engaged in the SOL
emnity of the death watch that the
world might know.
"Mr: Wilson is attaining the peace
that passeth all understanding" said
their leader, while the throng sank
to their knees and remained in 81
lence for a minute. Then sickly
sun broke through cloudy bank. A
little native warbler, a pilgrim ven
turing north in search of early sun
and spring, stopped for a moment
and from his twig aloft uttered a
: happy note.
Almost at that moment Mr.. Wilson
was passing on.
Immediately the great government
over which he presided for eight yers
began taking steps to give marks OF
its respect. President Coolidge heard