The Days of a Man 1917 



outside, following which the manager of the building 

 reported to Tappan that a mob of more than a 

 thousand had gathered and the thirty police on duty 

 were unable to hold them back; we must therefore 

 close the meeting at once. Announcement to that 

 effect was now quietly made but met with some 

 remonstrances from indignant members of the audi- 

 ence. A dozen young men then rushed up the aisle, 

 the leader bearing a United States flag. Thrusting it 

 at Tappan with profane and foul epithets, he shouted, 

 'What do you say to this?" The presiding officer 

 made a calm response, a quick-witted young woman 

 on the stage mounted a chair and began to sing "The 

 Star-Spangled Banner" in a fine, clear voice; every- 

 body of course joined in, and the intruders were com- 

 pelled to take off their hats and keep still. " America" 

 followed, and "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean," 

 the audience filing out by side exits opened for the 

 purpose. 



Meanwhile the mob had forced the great bronze 

 entrance doors, which had been locked when there 

 was no longer even standing room in the auditorium. 

 law In the struggle the police, working at great disad- 

 order vantage against numbers, used their clubs effectively 

 and a number of young bloods, the flag bearer among 

 them, were carried off in disabled condition. Those 

 still outside, finding that people were leaving by 

 other openings, rushed around to intercept the 

 speakers, myself in particular as I afterward learned. 

 But being one of the last to go, without any thought 

 of personal danger I walked out through the front 

 door; the street was then practically clear, with 

 almost nobody in sight but a policeman, who pointed 

 out a bit gruffly the waiting limousine in which Miss 



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