New-York tribune., 1922-09-12
Mrs. Harding
Shows Great
improvement

ccatInusd frem pags one,
tan encouraging sign, he said. ada.
Ing that the patient was cheerful ana
ner voice was considerably stronger.
President Greatly Relieved
The President, according to his
brother, is taking has wife's illness as
we'll as could be expected. Despite the
strain. he has been under since Fr;aan
| he was said by DIR. Harding to be IN
| excellent physical condition. The Pres;.
dent, his brother added, was noticeablv
| relieved by the change in Mrs. Hard.
| ing's condition last night and TODAY.
Several callers at the White House
! spoke of the marked effect on Pregi-
dent Harding OF the continued optinis-
| tic reports from the physicians. The
double strain of governmental resnon.
| sibility. and the condition of Mrs. Hard
| ing had begun TO show in his phvsica,
appearance yesterday, but TO-DAY the
President was alert and smiling once
more.
Since last Friday, Mr.. Harding has
spent the majority OF his waking hours
sitting in chair at the door of his
wires bedroom The position enabled
him to be the first to question The
physicians as to any change noted or
the result of their latest observations.
Occasionally when told the patient was
asleep he would move the chair iuaS
inside the door and wait quietly there.
out OF the way of the trained attend
ants.
Laddie Boy Keeps Vigil
The Presidents vigil was often
shared by Laddie Boy, his bet Airedale
several intimate friends reporting. they
had come upon the two--the Airedale
with his head on his masters knee or
half sitting at his feet--as they both
watched the closed door behind which
the fight for life was in progress.
While Mr.. Harding remained away
from his Office throughout the day. he
spent nearly two hours just before
noon strolling under the trees in the
spacious White House grounds on the
side overlooking the Potomac River.
His companions were Will H. Hays,
former Postmaster General, and E. B..
Mclean, Washington newspaper pub
Usher.
No announcement has been made as
to whether the President would meet
tomorrow morning with members Of
his Cabinet for their regular semi
weekly session. Secretary Christian
said it was probable that the meeting
might be cancelled
Visitors began calling at the White
House at an early hour, Secretary wal
LACE arriving shortly after o'clock,
closely followed by Secretary Weeks,
Senators Mccormick, Illinois; Hale,
Maine, and Kellogg, Minnesota, and
Representative Madden, Illinois,, All
brought word to waiting newspaper
men, who had received no reports from
the sick room since midnight, that Mrs.
Harding had rested we'll and was no.
ticeably improved.
Functions Partly Restored
Her condition during the morning
was such that the physicians in at
tendance were able one by one to get
away for exercise in the form Of a
walk or automobile ride. Late in the
day score of photographers who had
waited patiently near the entrance to
the executive offices in the hope they
would be able to take group pictures
of all the physicians were rewarded.
The entire staff came out and posed,
while cameras clicked and motion pic
ture machines were set going.
Newspaper men took advantage of
the opportunity to make inquiries as to
Mrs. Harding's condition, Acting as
spokesman, DIR. Sawyer said the great
| est concern Of the attending staff had
been that they were faced with the
condition of one kidney completely
tied up" and the other. kidney seriously
affected by inflammation. Draining by
surgical means had been contemplated.
he added Naturally, the physicians,
Dr. Sawyer continued, were relieved to
find that the kidneys to-day were be-
ginning to function partially.
Exhaustive chemical analyses were
made. DR.. Sawyer said, in determining
course of action. Hours were spent
Yesterday in-consultation, he added, in
considering whether Mrs. Harding s
case should be regarded as an Aimmedi-
ate emergency surgical case, with the
result that it was determined to delay
making a decision as to an operation
lpending developments.
Or. Sawyer and his, son. DR.. Carl
Sawyer, successfully administered 20
| Mrs. Harding during previous attacks
suffering Their optimism to-day is
| understood TO have relieved greatly the
anxiety of the President, who is said TO
| have great faith in their ability.
Reverse Yet Possible
Dr.. Sawyer during his conversation
with newspaper men said that while in
dications were decidedly favorable
there was no discounting the passibil-
| itv of a reverse in Mrs Harding's con-
dition. The resistance of the patient,
he added, was slightly overbalancing
i-the toxic condition at present, result.
| Ing in noticeable improvement in her
| condition. This relation, it was said,
rnight be disturbed, with a relapse re-
/ shifting, although the physicians were
! hopeful they would be successful. with
out resorting to surgery, in promoting
complete recovery.
Prayer offered In House
Special prayer for the recovery of
| Mrs. Harding was offered in the House
Of representatives to-day by the chsp-
| lain, The ReY. James S. Montgomery.
| The prayer was:
nThou art all, our Heavenly Father,
and each passing day. may it be q
| source of Joy and strength to US. May
| We sxrive TO serve Thee in our daily
| duties by "a high standard of thinking,
| feeling and living. Give rich blessing
| and strength to our President as he
awaits in anxious silence above the
| stricken companion of mis- years, Oh
| God. In vonder chamber, press not the
rmn Of death to their. breathless lips.
| an. Lamp of Life, shine forth and
/ finger there and leave them net alone.
| From, the gloom let come the morn
1 inu,a glow Of hope and promise. Ten-
I 800. artn,as1v m ay. Thy evrax3 f<i