New-York tribune., 1920-06-13

than the stalwart fathers who founded
the Republic. We are not less honest
than is the best civilization the world
has SO far recorded. Not whit less,
we have simply come to demand higher
standards"
In speaking of his affection for dogs
Mr.. Harding once said:
81 am not pessimistic about human
failing fidelity. He's everia stine1v iael
yours through thick and thin, SO long
as his trusting eyes see and his brave
heart beats. Yes, ] love good dog.
and wish they could talk-more than
they do ''l''
The Hardings live in pretty home
on Mount Vernon Avenue. It's furs
nlshings are rich and tasteful. but
llttle things have been picked up in
europe and are used as decorations in
Mr.. Harding's den" Books are everv-
Where to be found-in the library and
out of the library. 'N
BLEW" First Dollar He Earned
some one once asked Mr.. Harding if
ne mad hao any favorites among authors.
Carlyle, or anybody who writos
knowingly about Napoleon" he re- e.
piled.
!, Since boyhood he has revered Napo-
leon, whom he calls a military marvel
and wonderful statesman not fully vet
understood. Twice he has visited f,u
rope, and each time he has sighed at
Waterloo. Alexander Hamilton, he
says, was the greatest constructive
statesman OF all time.
Another time he was asked how he
eu earnea ms first dollar. Harding
scratched his head for second.
ho
1athers neighbors, along with our own.
to and from PASTURE" he said. "Then
l olew 1t all in celebrating the Fourth
OF July. My, what a depiorable waste
of coin that was!"
MIR. Harding had no college ambi-
tlons, but when he was a boy he want
ed to be locomotive engineer.
everywhere | have travelled have
mad an admiring reverence for the
sIurd$ men at the lever and the throt-
tie OF an engine cab," he said. "But I
got that boyish ambition gratified in
the campaign of 1903. boarded a
traln, got into the engine, and as soon
as we were under way 1 was given
charge Of throttle and lever. The fell
lows must have felt that things were
pretty safe, for they all deserted the
engineers side of the cab, and / was
very much alone, for it was Camel
! paCh SIylo.
Great Feeling to Make Things Go
The engine was laundering alory
sixty miles an hour and tension was
high for me- l blew the whistle for
crossings end villages, and We fairly
new IL seemed to me- | wanted to be
relieved, but decided I'd never suueal.
81 knew l could Shut her Off and
put on, the air. When the Cleveland
yards loomed up in the distance the
real driver and the bunch came around
with meaning smiles, and | felt like
the fellow relieved from a contract too
big for him. 1t cured me, but it deep
ened my regard for the men who drive
the iron horses.
m BUT it's great feeling to know you
ing power. l can't keep my hands off
the steering wheel of a boat, big or
little. 1t is an absolute delight to steer
river boat when landmarks assure
one and the channel is tortuous. Same
way with an automobile - like the
steering wheel"
Mrs. Harding
Mr.. Harding was married on Ju1v 2
1891, to Miss Florence King. daughter
of Amos H. King, leading business
man of Marion, Ohio. 1t is related
that when she was born her father was
disappointed because she was not q
boy and consoled himself by bringing
m her up more as boy than girl. She
was fond of horses, dogs and outdoor
life, and took much interest in her
fathers business. In her early teens,
when she had to leave school on ac-
count of threatened loss of eyesight
she became her fathers chief director
and pal. She rode horseback with
"dad," travelled about with MIN and
made up to him in every way she could
the loss of her mothers companion
ship, Mrs. King being more or less of.
an invalid.
Miss King was popular and attrac-
tive. What she had lost in looks she
more than made up ip travel and ex-
perience. She held her own wherever
She went and was much sought after
Naturally, the family was ambitious
for this only daughter and heiress to
the King wealth. although Amos King
did not think there was a man living
who was good enough for her.
One night at dance Miss King met
one that she thought was-a young
newspaper man who had come to
Marion to run "The Daily Star" But
her father did not agree with her.
Young Mr.. Harding was not yet sutfi-
GENTLY successful with the paper
But the young couple knew their own
minds and preferred them to the minds
of others, and in due time their en-
gagement was announced. Mr.. King
persisted in his disapproval, and told
his daughter that if she married Hard
ing he would 'cut her off without a
dollar" She disregarded the threat
and married Harding, and her father
kept his word So the Hardings had
to begin married life in humble quar-
ters, at which some of the brides rich
friends raised superclious eyebrows.
But she simply made up her mind all
the more firmly that she was right and
that she would one day show them all
what sort of man she had married.
And she did.