Evening star., 1923-08-07
In Silent Grief
City Awaits
Cortege.
NEW PRESIDENT
TO MEET TRAIN
Mrs. Harding to Be
Spared Ordeal of
Sad Procession.

In silent grief the nations capital
this afternoon is awaiting the ar
rival of the funeral train bearing the
body of the late President Harding.
The wheels of government halted at
1880 o'clock, the time originally set
for the arrival of the train, and the
executive departments emptied their
thousands into the streets. thousands
who viii journey sadly to the Union
station tonight or line Pennsylvania
avenue to pay tribute to their loved
chief.
Messages Tell OF Delays.
AS the day wore on message after
message was received telling of fur
ther delays of the funeral train, neces-
stating changes in the plans for
meeting the body of President Hard
ing and it's escort to the White
House from the Union station. Ii is
expected that the train will reach the
capital about midnight.
Rarely in history has a public man.
leader of the nations government.
been beloved in Washington as was
the late President A few scant
weeks ago the President left the
now being brought amid the plaudits
of the crowd Now, almost in the
twinklinE of an eye, all is changed,
and with bowed heads and tear
stained eyes the throngs tonight will
greet all that remains mortal of the
late President.
Preparations for meeting the flu
neral train and escOrting the body of
the late President to the White House
tonight and the state funeral process
sion to the Capitol and the services
in the rotunda tomorrow have been
completed by Col. Clarence o. Sher-
rill. military aide to the President.
under the personal supervision of
President Coolidge.
Coolidge Ia Meet Train.
President Coolidge. members of the
cabinet. Chief Justice Taft of the
United States Supreme Court and
Senator Cummins of Iowa, President
pro tempore of the Senate, will off,
ctally meet the funeral train A
guard of honor. selected from the
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, will
the caisson. draped in black. await
ing at the front entrance to the Presi =
dents room of the station.
The Marine Band will play a flu
neral dirge as the small group. with
its load of sorrow Solemnly wends
its way through the great concourse
of the station, through the President s
room and to the waiting caisson out
side
A squadron of cavalry and a bat
terry of field artillery from Fort Myer
will be drawn up about the broad
plaza in front of the station, and as
the casket is lifted to its position, a
soft command will bring sabers flash
ing to the present"
Mrs. Harding to Go Direct.
The Marine Band will again play.
This time it will be an appropriate
air of beauty and solemnity.
At a signal from the commanding
officer, when everything is in readi-
ness, the cavalrymen and artillery
men will swing into column forma =
ton. and the cortege will start on
it's journey to the White House.
Mrs. Harding will not ride in the
professional. With certain members
of her party and relatives of her late
husband. she will proceed Immediately
to the White House upon the arrival
the President, and the wives of mem
bers of the cabinet will be at the
White House to receive Mrs. Harding.
Route of Procession.
President Coolidge and those other
officials who will be with him to re-
ceive the body. when it arrives at
the station. and others who have been
long, sad journey from San Francisco
will be in the cortege to the White
House.
The route to be travelled will be
northeast to North Capitol street,
south on North Capitol street to B
street, through the Capitol grounds
to Pennsylvania avenue, west on
Pennsylvania avenue to 18th street,
north on 18th street to Pennsylvania
avenue, thence west on Pennsylvania
avenue until opposite the White House.
At that point the military escort
will form a line to the left on Penn
sylvania avenue. and will be brought
to present sabers,' remaining In that
position until the caisson containing
the body passes through the grounds
to the entrance and the casket has
passed through the doors into the
stiffness of the interior. The troops
forming the escort will then return
to Fort Myer.
Party to Enter White House.
President Coolidge and the others
in the party that accompanied the
body from the station viii enter the
White House and in the quiet and
stateliness of the big east room, where
the casket will be placed, they will in
| loving and respectful silence look
upon all that is earthly of their friend
and former ruler.
When the casket Is placed in po-
sition in the east room four wreaths
will be placed upon the bier; one
from Mrs. Harding, one from Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge, one in the
name of the Supreme Court and one
in the name OF Congress.
1t had not been determined late to-
day whether or not there will be a
funeral service of any kind during
the time the body remains in the
White House. This decision remains
entirely with Mrs. Harding, whose
wishes have been strictly followed
throughout in the preparations for
the funeral, but who has not yet ex-
pressed herself on this point.
Friends May View Body.
Those close to Mrs Harding are
satisfied that she will ask a number
of intimate friends of the late Presf-
dent to view the body at some time
during it's stay in the east room.
Up until noon today the east room
had not been draped and 1t is no,
thought it will be. All articles o1
furniture have been removed from
this chamber and the blinds at the
long windows have been tightly
drawn. -.-