Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-08

ONer beo.
Washington.-Th soul that fought
to set the world at peace is now at
peace itself.
woodrow Wilson. twenty-elgbth
President of the United States,
breathed his last at 11:15 Sunday
morning.
Unconscious for hours before the
end. his spirit passed from his worn
and weary body like breath Of gem
tie summer air at twilight.
Il am ready" he had said. when
told that death was but few hours
away.
E Thereafter he spoke no other word
about himself, but held In feeble
clasp the hand Of the woman who for
more than four long years has watch
ed and tended him, Edith Boiling Gait
Wilson. now the widow Of Presi-
dent.
A silent. mournful, praying throng
had gathered in street, outside the
house that had been woodrow VIII
sons home since March 4, 1921. when
he left the White House, broken in
body, defeated in political struggle
but still proud and defiant in spirit,
convinced that some day the people
OF his country would see things as he
saw them.
kneel In Prayer
This throng had been there since
early dawn. growing slowly until eve
ming it ehokes the street. A knot Of
men and women had been there
through the night. waiting for the
morning bulletin. hoping against hope
some change might come for the bet
ter.
Early ehurchgoers returning homo
ward stopped to add to the whisper
ing crowd. A man knelt in prayer,
others knelt and prayed also, those
who crossed themselves and those
who did not
A woman came along, bearing in her
hand single white lily. At the door
O. the house OF sickness she stopped
and left the flower. Newspapermen
turned to ask her name and then for
got her.
Out Of the door Of the house was
walking a man down whose cheeks
tears was streaming. In his hand he
held little yellow paper, familiar
token OF another bulletin.
The last previous one had been
gwen out by the same man at $3.50. to
the effect that the patient within was
unconscious and about to die.
"Dr. Grayson," whispered the crowd
as the sobbing man emerged through
the doorway. And he it was, DR.. Cary
T. Grayson, who for many years had
been woodrow Wilson's medical aid
With bowed head DR.. Grayson
handed the final bulletin to the wait
ing reporters. 1t read.
"Mr. Wilson died at 11:15 this
morning. His heart muscle was SC
fatigued that It refused to act any
longed. The end came peacefully"
Out in the street the news flew from
mouth to mouth, from eye to eye
Down on their knees again went mer
and women and prayers arose from
lips that trembled with emotion
:, No desert telegraph among the
Arabs ever travelled SO quickly as the
news that Woodrow Wilson was nc
more. All Washington seemed tc
know it by instinct and all Washing
ton came to pay its respects.
Public Funeral Urged
President Coolidge and Mrs. Cool
idge drove from the White House to s
street within an hour and left cards
expressing their sympathy. Through
his secretary, C. Bascom Slemp, the
President sent word to. Mrs. Wilson
that her wishes would be consulted
absolutely in everything pertaining tC
the funeral arrangements and that MOI
only the President but the nation 1t
self stood ready with all the services
at command.
A public funeral with burial in th'
National Cemetery at Arlington. be
side the grave Of the Unknown Sol
der, to whom Woodrow Wilson ten
dered such eloquent tribute. had beer
& urged.
Whether Mr., Wilson had expressed
any personal inclinatioHs concerning
the disposition of his body is not ye
known.
Joseph Wilson, his brother, ant
Randolph Boiling. nephew of Mrs
Wilson, came quickly to the house ant
relieved Mrs. Wilson Of the details o
her sad task With DR.. Grayson, thel
will have charge Of the funeral ar
rangements.
Inside the house. Mrs. Wilson ani
Margaret Wilson, daughter Of hi
dead, stood heartbroken at the bier.
The body which had been wilson
lay on great four poster bed. repnci
of the one in which he slept in thu
White House. which was the bed il
which Abraham Lincoln slept whel