Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-05
END COMES SUNDAY
AFTER VALIANT FIGHT;
ALL NATION M0URNS


her husband, sustained with all the
fortitude and composure of a woman
facing a crisis, was Mrs. Wilson,
! holding between her hands the wan,
withered right hand that had proved
| the pen mightiCr than the sword.
| Near the foot of the bed was his
! eldest daughter Margaret, resigned
! to the inevitable. Close by, tears
yelling firm his eyes and coursing
! down his cheeks, was DR.. GraysOn,
| taking the measure of the fluttering
| pulses, weaker and fainter with
each effort
Death advanced and beckoned for
| the last time.
Woodrow Wilson's soul had drift
| ed out on the great dark tide that
runs around the world.
Prayers for Beloved Chief
Out through a city stilled in a
Sabbath mornings reVerential calm,
his name was being spoken from a
hundred pulpits. In the Central
Presbyterian church, where he
faithfully went to worship while
the flesh was able, a choked-up con.
gregatiOn had sung, THE Son of
God Goes Forth to War" How
Firm a foundation and Coward
Christian Soldiers" favorite 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 sacrOSs the seas where
he had been hailed as god of
peace, prayers were rising for the
repOSe of his soul.
In the streets before the square
brick house where he had lived with
his memories, his hopes and his re
grets, was another scene. There
was gathering of people there. 1t
was as a crusading tkrong come to a
mecca in pilgrimage to attest their
faith in the ideals he personified
1t was a group of men and WON.
en- kneeling on the pavement in 81
lent prayer. Small prayer slips
bearing the inscription in the chilly
wind which sWrled up the debris
and litter left there by the watchers
engaged in the solemnity of the
death watch that the world might
know
"Mr Wilson is attaining the peace
that passeth all understanding, said
the leader, while the throng sank to
it's knees and remained in silence
for a minute. Then a sickly sun
broke through a cloud bank A lit.
tie 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.. VIII.
son was passing on.
Immediately the great govern
ment over which he presided for
eight years began taking steps to
give expression Of its respect. Pres.
ident Coolidge heard the word Of
Mr.. Wilson'S death while in church
with Mrs. Coolidge. Immediately at
the conclusion of the service he
drove to the Wilson home and left
cards. Later he sent his secretary
to offer any aid whatever.
Official Mourning Period
Flags on government buildings
and government property every
where were lowered to half mast
The news went to army posts every.
where and to ships at sea. A thirty,
day period of official mourning was
ordered as the government had done
for Colonel Roosevelt and other for
mer presidents. Congress arranged
to adjourn Monday, executive de-
partments were ordered closed on
the day of the funeral, social activi
ties at the White House coming
within the period of mourning were
ordered abandoned.
Official te,cSTams were dispatch,
ed to the embassies and legations
abroad for the information of for.
eign governments. One cablegrar1
going to far-off Siam carried the
news to Mr.. Wilson's daughter Mrs
Francis Bowes Sayre. She is with
her husband at Bangkok, where he
is adviser to the Siamese govern.
ment. Another telegram was dis.
patched to Mr.. Wilson'S other daugh.
ter, Mrs. William c. McAdoo, who
with her husband and children. is
speeding TO Washington, on a train
from California.
Mr.. Wilson's last words of sus.
tanned meaning were spoken Friday.
They were: Il am ready"
Realizing fully that he could not
hope to rally from the onslaught
of the digestive disorder which
Slapped his strength, weakened his
heart and accumulated the condition
which followed his first stroke Of
paralysis, he watched for a moment
when all except DR.. GraysOn were
out of his bed chamber. Drawing
his friend and physician close, he
murlnured with some difficulty Of
articulation:
THE old machine has broken
down. You've done your best for
me. But its better that [ should go
than to live on a helpless invalid
Tel Mrs. Wilson l want her. I'm
ready"
His Last Wishes
All this was without a show of
emotion but in his usual measured
habit of speaking. Mrs. Wilson came
at the physicians call and spoke
for several moments with her hus.
land during which he communicate
ed to her some last wishes.
From that time on Mr. Wilson
lived out his fast fleeing life with
the full knowledge that lie was on
the threshold of the great beyond.
II, in his dying moments, he har.
bored any feeling at all for the men
in public life who prevented the full
fillment of the ideals for which he
repeatedly had said he would have
been glad to give his life, he never
save any indication of them.