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

California here, and to Mrs. Francis
B. sayre, who is with her husband in
Slam. They. with Margaret, are the
living children Of Woodrow Wilson.
Messengers and automobiles came
speeding to the door with messages
and cards Of coincidence from all parts
Of the world, from men OF all parties,
and from those who had fought and
those who had loesd Woodrow VIII
son.
At night the food OF ms-sages was
too great to cope with at the house
and they were being collected to be
gone over and acknowledged later.
Widow Courageous
Mrs. Wilson, Dr. Grayson said,
though brokenhearted at her loss.
stood the last test with characteristic
courage.
She who had borne her husband up
through four sad years Of illness and
defeat never wavered In her cheerful
attitude while he was still conscious.
Until the eyes with which he spoke
to her long after he had ceased to
move his lips closed in the last coma
Of approaching death, the wife smiled
bravely on her departing husband.
When unconscioEsness came to
cloud his vision and his mind, she
stayed beside his bed in the room
where he lay, on the third floor rear
of the S street house, whose window
overlooks tiny garden and gives
broad vista Of the Capitol where he
had spoken to Congress. and the
White House, where he had addressed
the world.
Here while he was still well
enough. Woodrow Wilson read. die
tated and played his favorite game,
solitaire.
Here Mrs. Wilson spent the lonely
vigil of his last hours. with his daugh-
ter Margaret.
And here went forth the last spark
OF the great spirit which had seen the
world riven by war and had tried, in
his own way and with all the strength
he knew. to unite 1t again.
Scarcely was he dead but the first
flower Of tribute came, a single
American Beauty rose. brought to the
door by a fiye-year-old boy, Sammy
White, son Of an attendant at Walter
Reed Hospital, whose inmates cherish
tender recoIlections OF the visits of
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson.
DR.. Sterling Rufin. who, with DR..
Grayson, was in the house when
death arrived, told reporters that dur
ing the closing hours Of Mr.. Wilson's
life 1t was impossible to do anything
for him in a medical way.
SO clearly was this recognized by
physicians that DR.. H. A. Fowler. who
has also been in constant consulta-
ton. did not return to the house after
the patient became unconscious last
night. DR.. Ruffin was almost as much
affected as DR.. Grayson at the end.
Flags throughout the city are at
half-mast and will remain so during
a period Of mourning which President
Coolidge has directed for all Govern
ment standards.
The death of the ex-President came
on a memorable day. Just seven
years ago, on Feb. 8. 1917. President
Wilson broke OF relations with the
German Government by sending to
Count Won Bernstorff, Ambassador to
the United States from Berlin. his
exequator, or walking papers.
From that moment the nation be-
gan to prepare itself for entry into
the World War. and two months later
was at war.
William Howard Taft alone lives
now as an ex-President, and from, him,
now Chief Justice Of the Supreme
Court came a message expressing to
Mrs. Wilson his deepest sympathy In
her bereavement
Fateful Death Watch
Ever since word went forth on
Thursday last that ex-President Will
son had suffered an alarming attack,
a death watch, as 1t is known. has
been kept over the house by a corps
of newspapermen-
Though Dr.. Grayson's first bulletin
was Of reassuring character on
Thursday, to the effect that, while Mr..
Wilson had Indigestion, his condition
was not grave, the feeling would not
down that the ex-President was about
&c die.
Friday It became certain that he
was very Ill and by Friday night the
bulletin confessed as much.
Then on Saturday It was known that
he was in a dying condition, his
weakened body unable to respond to
medical treatment or to fight off the
inevitable end
Throughout Saturday rumors were
rife that Mr.. Wilson had died, but
they gained no credence, for II was
known that DR.. Grayson would
probably make public the news when
1t was true.
Saturday night at 10;30 the bulletin
issued by DR.. Grayson told of the lapse
Of Mr.. Wilson into Inconsistencies.
To his friends DR.. Grayson confded
that 1t was merely matter of hours.
possibly of minutes.
He had already let It be known that
Mr.. Wilson had been warned OF the
approach of death and had accepted
the news with equanimity, merely
murmuring that he was ready.
It is but six short months since
President Coolidge and ex-President
Wilson met at the bier of Warren @.
Harding, the dead President. 1t was
remarked then, August s. as Mr. VIII
son rode in the long cortege to the
Capitol, that he looked remarkably
we'll, considering his long siege and
seclusion.
Four Presidents were gathered to-
gether then, one dead and three, ex-
Presidents Taft and Wilson and Presi-
dent Coolidge. mourning for the dead.
II will be but day or two again till
three of these will be gathered again
ct a funeral. the funeral of the most
tried and most weary Of them.
Washington is already girding itself
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