New Britain herald., 1924-02-04
FUNERAL ID BE
 HELD WEDNESDAY
(Continued from First Page)


 In the prayerfni quiet of Sunday morning, death folded him gently in it's embrace and bore him to his mak- CT.
 He passed from life while he slept, with those he loved best, close about him. His broken body had weakened little by little until the last spark Of his vitality went out. But his spirit was supported to the last by the in- domitable courage of the old fighting days. Tn his last wakeful moments he told his loved ones that he knew the end had come, and was ready.
 The federal government already has offered to do whatever is fitting to express the nations reverence at the passing of a great leader. Presi- dent Coolidge called yesterday at the house of bereavement, expressed his regret and his readiness 10 be helpful, and then issued a proclamation of thirty days official mourning. over the White House and the government departments, on the nations fighting ships at sea and over the outposts of American diplomacy in foreign lands, the Stars and Stripes were brought to half-mast Congress today recessed in respect for his memory. and the whole machinery of the government whose guiding genius he was for eight momentous years will stand still on the day of his funeral.
 Today the frayed remnant of his lies in the chamber whose walls looked down yesterday upon the 1 last scene of career that had known all the heights and depths of human emotion. In death he appears as if in peaceful slumber, his features serene and composed and his square jaw set with the old determination. 1 But the lines are somewhat deeper i and heavier, and the flashing fire of his eyes has gone out forever.
 The bed on which Woodrow Wilson | died and where his body rests is of | massive oak, reproduction of the ! bed built at the White House for Lin- coin and used by every president ! since. It is of unusual length and 1 has a golden American eagle over the l head. It was made to the order of [ Mir. Wilson before he retired from the ! presidency, and was installed in the | s street house he had selected as his , future home.
 Although he had not known a well . day since he crossed the threshold of his place of retirement, or for | months before, last Friday saw the | beginning of the end of his long ill., ness. His collapse during his western speaking trip in 1919, followed by a troko of paralysis soon after his re- turn to Washington, had made him almost an invalid long ago. Early asst week slight digestive disorder further weakened his delicate vitality, \ md on Friday, his friend and physi- ,ian. Dr. Grayson, found his condition growing hourly more serious.
 He refused nourishment, and by night he was barely con- Jcious. At nine o'clock he fell asleep, ind never wakened again. It was at Ii:i5 a. m, that life finally went out. From first to last he was without pain, md in his last wakcful moments, he appeared to be resting in complete comfort
 As the end approached the little ,roup watching in the sick room drew .earer about him. Mrs Wilson sat on he bed beside him, with his almost ifeless hand in both of hers. Close y vas his eldest daughter, Margaret and Dr. Grayson. faithful in lis ministrations since the first sign f illness more than four years ago, gatchsd for some new way at last to Ieip hi mas he crossed the bar.
 But there vas nothing to he done. fore and more feeble became the Iulse-beat; there vas a quickening of he breath: little by little death was completing its conquest. 4 quick utter of the eyelids. a faint tvitch, lmost like smile. across the wasted eatures. and the spirit Of the great rar president had burst at last the letters that bound 1t Q earth.
 Thus. he who had dreamed a high ream of peace for all the world had ouBd peace for himself. and had left 1 china q world still tossed by strife [ nd turmoil.
 Thus, he against whom life had 1rnod at last, after leading him through paths of greatest glory. found cath gentle and even mercifuL
 Thus. with tho soft chanting of ymns Seating in on the Sabbath air, [ as written the isst letter Of that inn { erishabIs chapter of human history. 1 ofnprishs the fife of Woodrow Will 1 an. tt