Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-11

ing, when the business and com.
mercial activities all over this land
and yes all over the world were
matted, while all that was mortal
oi tnat stalwart American, and be-
IoVed leader, President Warren G..
iardlng, were returned to the soil
Oh MS native Ohio. the Capital CITY
vi MAINE. paid quiet but solemn
and impressive tribute to his life
and work and memory.
Inc memorial service itself in
this city was held at the same hour
ana minute that the simple SER
wees were being conducted at his
Iather's house at Marion, Ohio.
several hundred of the States Ma
llonal Guardsmen were assembled
at the place of exercises here, to
indicate the sincere grief of every
soldier for his Commander-in-Chi
veterans of that World War. the
scars of which are all over the
world, the departed President had
zone so much to eradicate, gave to
MIN that last high honor, the same
Tor a fallen warrior of the ranks, or
tnelr general-three volleys and
"taps."
Stores. shops, factories. mills, and
! of1lces, closed their doors at noon or
community like every other of the
nation might reverently render final
tribute to this leader, who was one
or and belong to the people. Hun
dreds of flags over public buildings.
stores and residences throughout
the city were displayed at half staff.
ana 1t seemed as if these very en-
blems of America, had a conscious
ness of the import of the day and
moment, and during the hour OF
the funeral they draped disconso-
lately about their staffs and hal
yards, rather than flying wide to
the breeze.
That which occurs on no other
occasion was observed at the Fed
eral building, Friday. During the
hours of the burial services the
Post Office doors were closed and
locked to the public. Great wreaths
of galaX, tied with a purple ribbon
We're placed upon the outer doors
by the custodian. In accordance
with instructions issued by Post
Master General Harry S. New. the
post office service was curtailed.
The Lithgow Library, the theatres,
the Country Club, in fact all places
of amusement or entertainment
were closed. This part of the OBJ
servance of the spirit of the occa-
sion was without exception here.
Services At Monument Park
With bowed heads, a hushed and
reverent gathering of over a thous-
and people listened to the volleys
and the sounding of taps which
closed the memorial service for the
late President Warren G. Harding
at Monument Park, Friday after
noon.
Unlike the simple exercises which
marked the funeral at Marion. the
ceremony which was held at Monu-
ment square, simultaneously with
the funeral, was of a strikingly mil
itary nature. Grouped about the
monument were a delegation from
the American Legion, bearing both
the country's flag and that of the
Legion, draped, the Headquarters
company of the Seth Infantry Bri-
gade and Co. f.. of the 1O3rd In
fantry. Maine National Guard. The
entire. park was surrounded a6y q
file Of guns from the 152n4 I'ield
Artillery which is now g. lped
on the Muster Field. The officers
of these various organizations wore
mourning bands upon their sleeves
and black mourning knots were also
Il worn upon eaCn SaDer.
The Augusta Cadet band played
several of the late presidents fav-
orite hymns. and following this
Rev. DR.. Stuart d. Purves conduct
ed the prayer. After another hymn.
Ernest A. Gray. President of the
Augusta Chamber of Commerce in
trOduced Mayor Ernest l.. Mclean
who spoke briefly. Mayor McLean's
l address follows:
president Harding is dead, cut
down it seems to us il the very prime
of his life and usefulness; striker in
the midst of his term with many of
his plans but partly executed and
others only in the outline. In Gods
plan, [ suppose, all lives are COM
/ plete, but to our finite understanding
seems untimely. 1t came with such
unexpected suddenness that it dazed
and bewildered us. We were I'M
L prepared.
Death someone has said. brings
every man to his individuality. A
| man may live as a hero, statesman
l or conqueror. but he must die as a
man. No more beautiful tribute can
be paid to President Harding than
that in death our hearts rather than
our reason first felt the shock. We
thought of him as the orator and the
statesman, but first and most of all
we thought of him as the man. Ora
. tors and statesmen we honor, men
we love. wa loved President Hard
ing. He possessed those simple viz
tues which makes the whole world
kin. He was generous, kind and
patient, lover of peace and har-
mony and honestly and sincerely re-
!. ligious.
: Gentle and lovable by nature, his
life had been such as would develop
in him an understanding and an ap-
probation of his fellow man. His
boyhood's home was one that, while
it may have lacked some of the COM
forts, yet provided the necessities or
life. A home where all were taught
and expected to work and where the
pleasures of each were purchased at
the expense of something of sacrifice
on the part of the other. A home that
develops strength and independence
and at the same time nutures love
and understanding. A home that is
cherished in the memory with FOND
affection and ever referred to with
pride. The kind of home that has
developed the great majority of our
eminent men and many Of our presi-
dents. and whose needs are rot pow
crty but the beginning of wealth.
Such homes develop tho human
qualities in men. They were highly