The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-09
PRESIDENT SHAKES HANDS TWICE WITH
 AN ALABAMA GIRL
Has Big Time at Celebration of Alabama Day With the Boys" In Walter Reed
 Hospital .
By HUGH w. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Age Herald
 BOO Davidson Building

Washington, May S.-(Special) )-Pres- ident Harding enjoyed the celebration of Alabama Day at Walter Reed hospital, as much as the 65 wounded Alabama sol- diers confined there for treatment.
 The President had royal good time. It was remarkable how rapidly his ex- pression could change as he greeted in this instance lad with a leg shot off, and In the next charming Alabama girl with roses in her cheeks.
 This correspondent, who followed inn mediately to the rear of the President as he struggled through the crowd of 1000 souls enclosed in the headquarters of the Red Cross saw him greet a soldier with left arm gone, and an indescribable pallor on his face.
 The boy said with a strange variety of courage, "Mr President, I am glad the Germans left me a right arm. Other wise I could not shake hands with you
 With sad, almost grim expression, the President replied his arms at the time around the boys shoulders, Indeed, my boy, I am mighty glad, too"
 The next to greet the President was a very handsome young woman from An- niston The President in shaking hands with her, demanded
 And where do you work?"
 I'm a school teacher, sir" she replied.
 And where do you teach?"
 At the Johnson school. sir"
 Well" concluded the President with a dry smile, you may depend upon it-Tll soon be running around to that place of business"
 About that time flashlight went off with an unusually loud puff. The Pres ident jumped.
 q was expecting a charge" said he to a soldier.
 "T was expecting discharge" quickly replied the lad And the President laughed. w
 Twenty feet further the President en- countered a very attractive young wom- m from Tuscaloosa. Standing before her a minute. he said;
 q have shaken hands with you once this evening. but if you have no ohjec- tion I would like to shake again.
 The young lady quickly extended her hand While vigorously shaking, she ex- claimed
 ''Go as far as you like. Mir. President' But he went no further.
 And as the President left the scene he encountered two little girls dressed as moths for participation in the pageant prepared for the evening" He stopped, almost llnelt and took them in his ar,Nls. On the upturned lips of each he implant- ed a kiss.
 Reaching the door he turned and waved ar adeu to the soldiers and with smile nf mingled sadness and joy, retired into the night
 The event was successful beyond the expectation of even the most optimistic. Of course the coming of the President was the main feature. especially as he made himself one of the crowd. But the entertainment provided, and the supper, which was tvp'cally southern in the abundance of food piled upon every table. had attractions of their own
 Following the supper there was beau- tiful programme of songs and recitation and piano solos. Then there was danc- ing to the music of the marine band,
 The wounded were made exceedingly happy They expressed their gratitude to the people who had contributed money from Alabama cities. And they divided the spells with the wounded of other states There was sufficient entertain ment for all and strange to relate suf- ficient food for several hundred after Alabamians had completely satisfied themselves.
 And these soldiers, despite their wounds. still retain an appetite for food prepared as mother used to cook it.