Evening star., 1924-07-10
IMPRESSIVE RITES
HELD IN EAST ROOM
Notable. Company Present at
Funeral of Presidents Son
in White House.
FAMILY BRAVE IN SERVICE
Thousands Stand Outside in Rever-
ence and Later Watch Process
- sion to Union Station.

- sion to Union Station.
Funeral services. simple ard i'm
pressive, were held in the famous
East Room of the White House at
o'clock yesterday afternoon over the
body of Calvin Coolidge, jr. Five
hours later President and Mrs. Cool
fdge and the others who comprised
the funeral party were on their way
to Plymouth, VT, where late this aft
ernoon the body will be inferred.
The large room, in which the
fiower-covered coffin was placed, was
we'll filled during the services. Be
sides the members of the bereaved
family, there were intimate friends,
the members of the Presidents cab
met and their wives, members of the
diplomatic corps and their wives, the
ranking officers of the Army, Navy
and Marine Corps. high government
officials. members Of the judiciary and
d number of senators and representa-
tives.
Scene in East Room.
The scene was a Subdued one. The
curtains to the windows of this room.
which has been the scene of many
festive and notable occasions and in
which services of a similar nature
had been held for Presidents Lincoln,
Nc Mckinley and Harding, had been
the large, handsome chandeliers had
been softened. Those invited 90 the
service arrived in advance of the ap-
pointed time. and by the stroke of 4
O'clock. when the dead boys parents
and brother entered the big room and
took their places in the front row of
Silded chairs facing the coffin, every
seat was occupied.
Mrs. Coolidge walked between her
husband and son, John. One of her
!. arms was through one of the Presi-
81 dents and the other through one of
black dress, but she wore neither
IT nor veil. Her face, like that
o. her husbands, was pale, serious
and sad, but there were not outward
signs of tears or emotion. 1t was
plain to all that her grief, like that
ofsthe Presidents was guarded well
within her heart.
Two or three thousand men and
S women -. and d. some child5en ndsfta stood stood
portico in solemn and respectful
Silence during the ceremony. The
gates had been thrown open to the
public at o'clock and official life
had come to a temporary stop. Long
these mourners commenced to throng
the front grounds.
Guests show Emotion.
The services were of short dura-
tion, but the emotions of many OF
those who filled the east room could
20 Love That VIII Not Let Me Co."
there were moist eyes, and broken
sobs came from several parts OF the
chamber.
the First Congregational Church, the
Presidents pastor, prayed God Ito use
the precious memory to make tne
Family strong and love enduring
st'Thy love eompssehaenaSs zen we our hank sT
thee for Thy most divine comfort
And make US to live that Wnen our
time comes we may have ms bravery,
eourageousness and soldler loltituee.
1T was prayer for divine comfort
and it was tribute to the memory OF
the youth.
Reads Favorite Poems
Opening the service. the pastor,
read the, Twenty-Third Psalm and
then other verses of scripture: These
included John XIV: verses ID lo-1''
and 25-27, and Romans VII.
Two poems, recited often and ad-
mired BY Calvin. Away" by James
Whitcomb Riley and Tennysons
Crossing the Bar" then were reaa:
"stiii, Still with Thee When Purple
Morning Breaketh," and Rev: Mr.
Pierce pronounced the benediction..
The quiet calm of the Presidents
Mrs. Frank w stearns. intimate
friend for years and the comforter
of Mrs. Coolidge in her sorrow. sat
with her husband by their side put
after the departure from the room
of the President and Mrs Coolidge
cbo to her gr1e1. ne
strain had proven too much, but last
night she was again by the side OF
Mrs. Coolidge.
Crowd Stands In Sun.
No sound came from the interior Of
the White House during the service,
and all that was visible as evidence
of the solemnities within were a
corner~of wreath in one window
and, in another the broad, white uni
formed back of a sailor guard.
IN spite of the soaring rays Of the
sun, every man remained uncovered
while in the grounds. Except for the
occasional rumble of traffic on Penn
sylvania avenue, the only break in
the silence was the passage of feet
over the gravel walks as newcomers
Joined the watchers. No voices were
heard; what little conversation there
was was in whispers. And when two
members of the White House police,
coming out of the porticoed doorway.
sfgnaled that the ceremony was over
the crowd slowly turned away. With
in half an hour the grounds of the
mansion were deserted and again the
great gates swung closed.
But again last night the crowds
gathered about the White House
when the family was to leave for the
train, the throngs clustering about
pe inclosure and along Pennsylvania
avenue. Boy Scouts assisted in keep
ing the lines open for the party to
proceed through on their way to
Union station.
Casket Taken to Train.
The ca asket was taken out first, and,
under escort of the six marines and
a number of secret service men, was
removed to the train. The family
followed a short time later, driving
down the Avenue past silent groups.
At the station many thousands stood
quietly. while inside yet other thou
sands were grouped closely about.
AS the train pulled out the marine
guard took it's position beside the
casket.
Among the funeral party are: Sec
retary Hughes, Secretary Weeks, At
torney General and Mrs. Stone, Post
master General and Mrs. New, Sec
retary and Mrs. Wilbur, Secretary
Work, Secretary Wallace, Secretary
and Mrs. Davis. Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
w. Stearns, G. Bascom Slemp, secre-
tary to the President; Z. T. Clark,
personal secretary to the President,
and Mrs. Clark; Capt. Adolphus An
drews and Col. c. o. Sheriff.. naval
and military aides to the President.
]. Butler Wright, third assistant sec
retary of state; Rear Admiral l.. G.
Palmer. head Of the Emergency Fleet
Corporation; Maj. o. N. Solbert. in
ch.rra White House oolice. Mai