Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-07
Nation Wide Tribute
Continued from Page one)

Continued from Page OHe)
hillside, looms the gray mass of the
cathedral. Below the lights of the
city that has turned back from its
day of sorrow to the crowding cares
of life twinkle through the dark of
an overcast night.
And on that casket. where the
great dead lies alone at last for his
endless rest beside the plate that
sets forth only his name and the
days of his birth and death, there
still lies the handful Of soft hued
blossoms that were the last touching
gift of the grief-worn widow.
Distant ruinbling of saluting guns
in the cloud darkened dawn ushered
IL the day when the nation would
pay to Woodrow Wilson the simple
tribute that he had claimed of it.
The busy life of the Capitol surged
on for a few hours before its course
was checked in the last moments of
silent respect for the dead. But to
the door of the stricken home and
into the dim chapel where the last
rites Would be paid poured an end
less stream of flowers that banked
and overf1owed every space with
tender beauty. The names OF kings
anu lilC SICak Va liiC CdA III bCAO oi4
these tributes and the names of
loyal. humble friends and comrades.
AS the hour of the double services
drew near, thousands took their
places along the way from the house
to the chapel to stand long In the
chill air, unmindful of the furries of
snow and rain that beat about them.
The wide avenue over which the dead
war president would make his last
journey was banked with people and
kept clear Of traffic until he should
have passed.
Before the house, across the street.
solid rank of people had gathered
before the first of those who would
join with the family in The home SER
vice had arrived.
They stood obliviou5 to the cold,
waiting TO bare their heads mo-
ment. Opposite them the guard of
honor came to stand in ranks before
the house,-sold!ers, sailors and ma
rines.
SinSly and in groups lie little COM
pany that could be admitted to the
house came and passed within. Thus
came President and Mrs. Coolidge,
the honor guard saluting as their
commander in chief passed to stand
before the bier Of dead colleague.
Within, on the second floor of the
house, flowers were everywhere. They
covered the walls and sent their soft
fragrance down from every niche and
! corner. Wide doors had been opened
to make them one room that all who
should be present at this intimate
! service in the home privacy the dead
man loved might hear what was said
In the study. where great vacant
chair before the fireplace stood un-
! touched since last he had sat there
! to ponder III the warm glow. the cas-
ket had been set. On the walls
! about clustered the old. trusty friends
of many years,--books ranking row
! on row from floor TO ceiling, save in
| the spaces where old pictures made
So cred by ties OF memory. looked
| down.
1t was among these Surroundings OF
q quiet, home-Ioving thinker, the
precious memory laden things of
home, that old friends were now
gathering to pay him last honors'
For little before the service began
! tho casket was open and few who
| knew and loved him best might gaze
! IL moment at the still, pain-Worn
face into which death had brought
at last something almost Of the pla =
| cid look of the years long past. No'
all OF those who crowded the rooms
| had this opportunity. 1t was resert-
| cd only for intimates Of whatever
| station in life. who mingled in this 81
! lont company. .--
There was dim lights in the rooms
| The shades were drawn. and ONLY the
| soft glow of wall lights filed the
! chambers as those came who gently
I placed the steel covering above the
! tired face, and men had known their
/ last sight of Woodrow Wilson. All
| o. the rooms were filled and even the
| doorways blocked with those standing
silently about.
AS the president and the old
friends and companions of the
White House grouped about the
| casket, the members Of the family
came down from above. leaving only
! Mrs. Wilson and the two daugh-
tcrs OF the dead president in the
refuge of tho landing above. The
three clergymen took their places
at the head of the bier.
The mellow chime of the great
through tho stiffness. AS the last
tone dwindled and died. DIR. Taylor
the pastor in Washington under
whom Woodrow Wilson sat in all
lis years of presidential greatness,
raised IFS voice
The Lord Is Ny Shepherd" he
read-the old, comforting words OF
the Twenty Third Psalm, carry in:,
out through all the rooms and up
the stairs to the fearful women
waiting there in deepest black. AS
he read, faint sobb;ng came from the
landing where Mrs. Wilson's coui :
age faltered for a moment in the
long strain she had known.
As DR.. Taylor said the last word
OF the psalm. there was q nurrlu"ad
colleague from Princeton, DR..
Beach. Mr.. Wilson's pastor in thos',
far off quieter days. With raised
hands. the minister bado the COM
pany to prayer, pouring out his earn
est plea that Divine Aid he given
in the realization of the high vision
of a world at peace the dead presi-
dent had glimpsed. There was sob
bling again as he besought Gods
compassion on the grief bowed
family.
The prayer over, DR.. Beach gave
place to Bishop Freeman, whose
voice sounded in the scriptual quo
tations dearest to The dead leader.
AS the last solemn words were
spoken the clock chimed the quarter
hour and the simple homo service of
Woodrow Wilson, plain American. had
been said as he wished it said.
Within the chapel. banked with
flowers. he cabinet members and the