South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-04
MRS. HARDING Is
STILL THE SAME
81 Lady of Land Has Little
Changed From Senator'S
Wife Of Yesterday.
= Beckley IN the New York MaILj

~ keCkiey IN the New OK Mall
-hen last I saw Mrs. Warren o.
ding % was IN Marion where
made dredging machinery and
yer awfully proud OF II until they
forgot an about 60 in the thrill OF
producing a president The sena-
tors wife was just Florence TO
Marion folks
When you asked about her. they'd
say:
FLORENCE Harding? Why. she's a
fire womau-nice TO everybody.
knows how TO do things, runs her
house. runs the paper II necessary.
runs Warren, runs everything but the
car, anG she could run that 81 she
wanted 20. She's all right. Florence
L."
Certainly found her so.
Leaving the front porch, remem-
Der saying: "7Teu good-by. Mrs
Harding. Next time I see you It
Will be In the White House-if you'll
let me IN"
And she answered. 'I'll let you IN.
I'll be the same then az am now"
A Difference I'm Setting.
Well, she Is the same-with a diff
Mrs. Harding herself To begins out
IN the grounds. where six feet two
OF White House policemen surveys
you who approach. and. seeing nc
bombs. passes you smillngly 20 the
doorman. It strengthens as the
dOorman. bowling low. indicates the
decorative old cullud butlah, who
takes your card on a silver tray. II
intenslfies with the most gracious
secretary who admits you 20 the
grand ball room. hung in crystal
chandeliers over a polished floor.
with gold brocade setees and autumn
leaves In great branches And il
eliminates IN the military aid who
finally summons you and conveys
you 20 the blue room. circular and
overlooking through stately windows
the rolling grounds behind the
White House.
You hear voices in an adjoining
room-Mrs. Harding and the visitor
who has preceded you. You look az
the chairs ranged round the room.
and their blue satin cushions. an6
the footstools. and the tall vases of
flowers that have been placed exactly
president and the lambrequins above
the curtains. gold-starred and eagle
surmounted. You hear the military
ala coming for you. And you begin
feel that nothing can be quite the
as IL was that day in Marion.
,nnnot Grant Interviews"
Tou enter the adjoining parlor
Mrs. Harding greets you very
indy. with but the faintest flavor
~ -otmality.
"Im glad indeed. 70 welcome you
sd the White House
You remark that that is good 10
hear and that you see she is the same
nice person You met at Marion. cor
dial and friendly. and that the White
House has not changed her
why should it?" you are asked.
81 am the same person and yeti
was private citizen then"
lis IL harder being the presidents
vile than being the senator's"
'Immeasurably. But perhaps I
should not say II Is harder-one Is
90 glad 20 be of service to ones
country still, u is absolutely differ
ent. being private citizen and being
the presidents wife. 1 don't believe
you can realize how different. The
responsibility"
Mrs Harding finished the phrase
with a look OF helplessness, an upcast
OF the eyes. a gesture of her lively
hands. as bare of wedding ring or
Jewels as they were I'm Marion.
zone becomes an official person
and may not speak on impulse. or
cred upon the White House lady's
face-a handsome face. I think It,
with It's beautiful teeth and intelli-
gent eyes. its fine outline and very
clear skin. faint rose i'm cheeks and
cunning dimpIe fin chin. "Not that I
wouldn't Ike TO II I could. I never
forget i was myself newspaper
woman. I love every one of YOU and
would chat away II II were possible,
as IN the old days"
Would Make Good President"
Again you have to piece the sem
tence out for yourself into but /
dare not because every word / say
becomes public and open TO misun-
Outstanding and the biased point OF
view.
Before the election when people
asked me What kind OF a woman
is Mrs Harding. auyw ly2" I used
10 tell them I thought she would
make a good president i still have
a secret opinion that she would. but
that until she is president she will
never Try 20 be.
In person and dress the presi-
dents wife is indeed the same as
she whom tn. townsfolk back ir
Marion call Florence" With the
exception of the black velvet band
shout beer -h~oa-. r1lsoed with the