Evening star., 1921-03-04
NEW"F|RST LADY"
| T|RELESS WORKER
Mrs. Harding Credited With
Firmness, But Is of Kind
Iy Disposition.

Florence king Harding. the new
first lady of the land. possesses an un-
usual degree of pluck and outspoken-
ness. She has ideas of her own on
many subjects and she does not hesi-
tate TO speak her opinions straight out
frana the shoulder. Those who work
for her count her a kindly and de-
lightful mistress. but they know that
any delinquency will call down rep
rimand they will not soon forget. On
occasions she has been seen shaking
a forefinger at her husband-but, OF
course, nobody knows what that all
was about.
All her life Mrs. Harding has been
a determined and tireless worker. not
only in the details of her household
but in the broader field Of business
and community welfare. She comes
of fighting blood. her father, Amos
King, having been a rugged power
of the pioneer days of Marion. She
was born there. and although in her
girlhood her parents attained to mod
crate means, they were not the sort
who lean to extravaganza.
Worked for Husbands Newspaper.
When she married Mr.. Harding in
1891 his newspaper, the Star, was not
yet out of the woods, financially. and
she went to work in it's business de-
partment. She applied herself to ad-
Eertising and circulation problems
with an eye for efficiency all along the
line. She watched the original pur-
Chases of print paper and materials
and she stood at the presses and gave
instructions to the newsboys daily be-
fore they started on their rounds with
the finished product.
1T is said of her in Marion that when
she became the wife of the struggling
young editor she told her friends she
expected to make him President some
day, and il is known that at some OF
the most discouraging stages of the
preconvention campaign last year it
was she who insisted most vigorously
that the fight be continued.
During the strenuous days when
thousands were marching to the
front porch of the Harding residence,
on Mount Vernon avenue. she was the
most active figure about her hus-
bands headquarters. She was beside
him every time he spoke at home
or away: she shook hands with as
many men and women as did he. and
she was in and out of his offices
from morning until night, rounding
up details and giving him advice on
all serious questions before him.
Was Heard "softly Whistling.''
Late on the night of the last front
porch meeting newspaper man
passing the Harding home saw some
one moving about the dark recesses
of the big veranda. 1t was Mrs.
Harding. drawing the porch chairs
back against the wall for the night
and softly whistling quiet little air
of contentment.
You seem happy enough" he
called across to her.
Il surely am" she replied, "and
why shouldn't l be? Isn't it wonder
ful:"
Mrs. Harding is a member Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. and the
Hardings alternate attendance be-
tween that and the Baptist Church.
of which the new President is men,
Der. She loves children and chooses
horses and dogs for her pets. Cruel
treatment of dumb animals arouses
her to militant protest, and on more
than one occasion she has stopped
on the streets of Marion and Wash
ington to reprimand a drayman or
cabby for abusing his horse. In her
younger days she was a skilled horse
woman.
OF medium height. the new first
lady carries herself erect and with
a charming dignity. Pictures seldom
do her justice. for. although her hair
is streaked with silver. her eyes are
as bright and her glances and smiles
~ radiant as when she was sixteen.