The New York herald., 1921-08-12
HARDINGS FATHER
AT 76 ELOPES With
HIS STENOGRAPHER
Physician and Miss Seyelns,
81, Married Secretly at
Monroe, Mich.
PRESIDENT SURPRISED
Couple Hurry to 'Gretna
Green Then Return to
Homes in Marion.
TRY FIRST IN CANADA
Newlyweds Are Congratulated
When They Smilingly Admit
Rapid Fire Marriage.
TRY FIRST IN CANADA

Special Despatch to The NEW YORK HERALD.
MARION, Ohio, Aug. 11.-Dr. George
L. Harding. father Of the President,
dropped in at the Office of the Marion
Star yesterday wearing a Prince Albert
coat.
What are eyou all dolled up for?'
asked one Of the pressmen.
I'm going up to Detroit to attend
a military gathering" said the doctor.
DR.. Harding returned to Marion to-
night. The townspeople flocked about
his automobile to congratulate him and
new Mrs. Harding. for the news had
gone befcre OF his marriage earlier in
the day at Monroe. Mich, to Miss
Alice Severns.
Dr. Harding was 75 the day his son.
Warren, was nominated for President by
the Republican National Convention In
| Chicago a year ago. He Is active for
man of his years. His bride Is 50 and
| for the last eight years has been at
tendant and stenographer in his office.
| For many years DR.. Harding was the
Severns family physician.
EIope in Automobile.
Accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs. Louis
3. Sanborn. relatives OF the doctor, DR..
Harding and Miss Severns drove into
Monroe in an automobile. They went to
the county court house, obtained mar
riage license and asked to be directed
to a Baptist parsonage.
a.. Tya,N Afef,
tor there, the couple went to the home
of the Rev. Frank I. Knowles. pastor
OF the Monroe Presbyterian Church.
who performed the ceremony at 2
o'clock.
Following the wedding. DR.. Harding
and his bride left immediately In their
automobile.
DR.. Harding was In tho best Of spirits
while in Monroe and talked with news-
paper men and attaches of the County
Clerks office on a variety of subjects.
The physician distributed cigars among
men with whom he talked at the county
building and sent box us them to the
office OF the local daily newspaper.
Monroe long has been noted as the
wedding place of Ohio couples who want
to marry in secret, as it is orly a few
miles from the border.
Sought Companion.
The physician gave as the reason for
his marriage that he was lonesome. The
former Mrs. Harding died eleven years
ago.
Or. Harding and his bride on leaving
Marion for their elopment went to Wind
sor. Canada, where they attempted to
get a marriage license. 1t was divulged
they were from the States and the IL
cense clerk refused Dr. Harding said a
new law has gone into effect In Canada
requiring people to reside there three
months before license could be issued.
They then went to Detroit. where
they were guests of the Sanborns. who
accompanied them to Monroe
At Monroe the doctor divulged they
paid the marriage license clerk 81 to
keep II out OF the papers" but he
stated when they arrived at Toledo
whole corps ~ S~ewspapermen was there
to interview ta,fi
THE didn's get anything out OF me,
know their ways" the doctor chuekied'
II had a son who was nevspaperman.
They thought they would follow me, put
we gave them the slip again and Went 10
walbridge. six miles south of Toledo,
where we took the train for Marion.
II have known Mrs. Harding for
twenty-eight years, ana sue 10 81 iito
woman" the physician continued. Ut.
Harding escorted his bride TO her home
and then told tho chauffeur to drive
him to his home.
Good night. Alice. ] will see you to-
morrow" were the doctors parting
words.
wAsHrNGroN. Aug. Ito all appear
ances the marriage OF DIR. George T.
Harding, the Presidents father. took
the White House completely by surprise.
Those close to the President received
their first news OF the marriage through
press reports from Michigan. After Mr..
Harding himself had been Informed the
only comment available was that no
private word of the event had been re-
celved here.
n Il n