The Cordova daily times., 1922-10-03
HOUSE IS CENTER OF
 PUBLIC GAZE

the rest of Washington constitutes merely the spokes in the wheel of gov ernment. When the White House func- tions, Washington functions, and when the White House stops Wash ington stops.
 This has frequently been illustrat- ed in the past, but never more strik- ingly than in Mrs. Harding's recent and nearly fatal illness. The entire capital, Congress included, figurative- ly stood still and marked time for several suspense-filled days while the mistress of the White House lowered between life and death at No. 1,6O0 Pennsylvania Avenue.
 It is difficult for any one outside Washington to realize how completely the White House dominates Washing ton in a social way.
 Most of the dinners and the ban quets and the parties that are ar ranged in diplomatic and official cir cles are arranged with an eye to what the White House is doing on that par ticular night. Guest lists have to be arranged with the White House in view-else there would be conflicts.
 Not only socially does Washington suspend activities, but officially, also, to a great degree. Senators and con- gressmen who ordinarily would not hesitate to take their troubles to the Executives office stay away and re- fran from bothering the President when he is subjected to personal cares. Cabinet officers refrain from sending to the White House their usual flow of official papers for Executive perusal.
 For the time being Washington slows down.
 Mrs Harding's steady improvement after being at deaths door, is source of genuine joy to most of Washington for seldom has there been a mistress of the White House who enjoyed more personal popularity than Mrs. Hard ing.
 Ii is no uncommon sight for her to stroll unconcernedly out into the grounds and talk to the dozens or tour ists and visitors who pass daily through the spacious grounds that surround the mansion. Sometimes they recognize her, some times they do not.
 "How do you do, I'm Mrs. Harding?' is her usual greeting, and then:
 "Where are you from?'
 If the answer happens to be 'Ohlo as it frequently is-the chances are that within five minutes some mutual acouaintances have been mentioned for Mrs. Warren G. Harding knows her Ohio She wasn't the wife Of a senator from Ohio for some years, ana she didn't campaign the state With her husband, for nothing. She knows Ohio.
 Mrs. Harding has an aversion to nublicitv so far as herself is con cerned.
 During the campaign at the frO7 nOrch some of the Republican man. aeers wanted to "write her up" as she expressed it, for publicity use by the National Committee. She would have none of it.
 "No. sir" she said firmly. "You can write all vou want about Warren, but leave me out of it, please" This aversion to personal publicity has been carried into the White House She has been besieged by people Wnc want to write the story of her life etc., but she has turned them all down
 Recently a Washington corresponc ent who had covered the Marion head quarters was ordered by his home or flee to rush an obituary of Mrs. Hard ing to be filed in the newspapel "morgue," for emergency use.
 The correspondent was somewhat nonplussed. There wasn't one eXtan that he knew of, so he went direc to headquarters" and asked Mrs Harding for the material out of whic! one might be written.
 "No you don't" she said, laughing q know that in all we'll regulated newspaper offices there are morgues, but I never had any desire to appear there.
 "When I am dead it won't be inter esting, and while I'm alive it doesn' make any difference!"
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