South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-22

ta overlook the faults and f-a.ltes
SOB even Warren HARDING u She
knew OF any. She did observe that
she thought when She heard him
give "a public address on Cleveland
Heights several years ago. that he
W.eht have been more graceful in
his oratory. bat az that time. she
states. he ACKNOWLEDGED that ne
vas very much embarrassed for
two reasons. one being that one OF
his former teachers was in the au-
dience and the other being that ne
had lost the notes FOR his speech
Did Not Indicate Ambition.
Mrs. Rhodes does not believe
the secret or Warren Harding Sue
cess entirely originated IN and with
him. He did not show any special
tendency 90 religion or spirituality
IN school. Mrs. Rhodes said. but his
mother was very religious. although
OF a different creed than that of
Pres't Harding. As a pupil Oh her
school for two years. az a forma-
tive period in his life. the boy Hard
Ing didn't indicate in any way an
ambition 90 become president nor
Gid he show more than casual In
terest in political subjects. His po-
liIcal ambition. Mrs Rhodes be-
leves was fired by Mrs Harding.
who sensed her husbands quality
and possibilities
The latent energy that was final
iy stirred in Warren Harding he
got from his father Mrs. Rhodes
believes father who even 10 an
advanced age gets on the news
paper screen quite often on his ac-
count II was from his father. al
so. Mrs. Rhodes says. that Warren
got his inherent love for newspaper
work. The father DR. Harding. was
in early life "a frequent contributor
TO the Caledonia and Morrow coun-
~ newspapers.
As Mrs. Rhodes told her inter-
esting story one got the impression
that the two school years Warren
Harding spent under the tutelage OF
this woman of pronounced views
and high ideas must also have been
an inspiration TO the boy
Part Of Note Copied.
Mrs. Rhodes permitted the re-
porter 20 copy a portion Of a post
script she wrote 20 Pres't Harding
IN January 1921. several months
after he had been elected. This
was the first letter or communica-
ton Of any kind Mrs Rhodes sent
TO the president. because she re-
Trained from joining the mad rush
OF near friends and aCQuaintances
20 overwheIm the president-elect
with cOngratulatOry episJles that
were in many instances actuated by
selfish motives This postscript was
added 20 a letter written by a friend
Of the president and former girl
pupil of Mrs. Rhodes. who was MAX
ing a good record as foreign rep
resentative of the government and
was seeking promotion IL was 10
help her that Mrs Rhodes wrote to
the president The portion Of the
postscript which has never been
published heretofore illustrates the
motherly qualities of the presidents
former teacher. and throws a light
OF "Warren's liking for fresh baked
apple pie. 1t reads thus.
Now. Warren few lines
from your old teacher. I shall
now read the capitals news
more closely than ever. shall
watch and pray for you You
know there is no one whose con-
gratulations are more sincere.
whose faith i'm YOU is more in
tense. Time without number have
/ wished that your mother could
have lived TO witness this day.
often 1 recall years ago meeting
her on Greenwood ST.. on Sunday
morning. having taken a fresh
baked apple pie 10 her dear boy,
for he is so fond of them.
Warren, never do anything
your mother could not approve
of. Then the people Of our IT, S.
Will love YOU and hold YOU i'm as
high esteem at the close Of your
terms as they do today. God be
with YOU.
LOUISA COPE RHODES"
Her Grandfather Was Teacher.
Louisa Cope's grandfather taught
school in the rear Of his shop i'm