The state herald., 1920-11-05

Harding, now President-elect Of the
United States, had only been born in a
log cabin-but he wasn't and any
truthfully intimate story about him
must begin with the bald statement
that he was born in a small frame
house at Blooming Grove, village
near here. of poor but thrifty parents,
his father being struggling country
doctor who rolled his own pills and
treated horses as well.
The log cabin story was killed by
Harding himself shortly after he was
nominated for the presidency, and the
incident reveals more about the man
who is TO be the next president of the
United States than could be told in a
book. II illustrates the absence of
any front" about Harding and his sim
pie sincerity. one OF the outstanding
traits of the man.
Just after the Chicago convention
nominated Harding some of his ever
enthusiastic workers started the story
that he was born in log cabin. 1t
was getting a good running start when
newspaper correspondents were called
into Hardings office at Washington
one day and given short typewriter
statement signed by the candidate,
denying in toto the log cabin story.
81 don't like to spoil good story
for you boys" Harding said in expla-
nation, but the truth is | wasn't born
in a log cabin at all. wish I had
been but alas II was only a frame
house"
But there is good story in Hard.
ing's spectacular rise anyway. Born
in the obscurity of a struggling village
In central Ohio. exactly fifty-five years
ago yesterday, Harding, doing bust.
ness on a shoestring most OF the time
has now reached the pinnacle to which
only twenty.eight other men In the
entire history OF this nation have
climbed.
1t will be difficult for anyone to real
ly believe that the man and woman
whose names are on millions OF lips
today are Just plain. ordinary middle
western Americans who have spent
their lives in small town struggling
for place among the substantial citi.
zens OF the locality.
Nevertheless they are the people
novelists seek to describe as the typi.
cal Americans. prosperous in n small
way. intelligent and fairly well edu.
Gated. though not so well read per.
haps, knowing little about many
commonplace matters. extremely hos.
pitable and generous. severely con.
ventional, regular attendants at
church and lodge meetings. fond of
fried chicken and OF sitting in rock.
ing chairs on the front porch after.
ward.
There you have the Hardings.
They haven't changed much with the
good fortune that has recently come
To them. II is true that Mrs. Harding
used TO work In her own kitchen and
that now they have u cook. but her
husband still has his clothes darned
To make them wear longer. he shaves
himself with an old fashioned nzor.
his shirt cuffs are turned when they
get frayed on one side. and Mrs. Hard.
ing herself wears n hat clear through
the season and sometimes longer for
she was wearing her last summer
straw hat In October this year.
The Hardings live In u big green
house with large white front porch
on Mount Vernon avenue. a quiet
shady street here. II is a good street
but not In the most exclusive section
OF Marion. II n town OF thirty thou.
sand could have an exclusive section.
There is nothing fancy about tho
Harding home, inside or out. Il Is
far less protentious than those of
most Marion merchants or citizens Of
similar standing. Tho Hardinss do
not dress for dinner" nor have tea
in the afternoon. Harding likes wnf.
fleH for breakfast and n well done
beofstcak for dinner There " refine.
mont at their table. but not "stylo"
and no stranger would ever be ON.
barrassed by confusing array OF
forks and spoons. They live Just like
other Americans Of moderate moans.
Mrs, Harding looks after her poticd
plants and the senator makes frequent
rounds Of inspection after brcakfas,
or lunch To sec that there are no loose
boards on the back yard walk or to
examine the screen door hinges that
have been spueaking for several days
one thing every visitor at Marion
discovers the FIRST thing thc Hard.
inEn ara iust what they are an Mira.
Harding puts A.