Evening star., 1923-08-08
Thousands Brace S,ueltering Sun
For Last Vie,u of LOued Chief
Reperently Sorro,uing Horde, Young
and Old, Crippled and Sound, Despite
Suffering From Heat, Press on.

Many thousands of men. women
and children or the National CAPITAL
this afternoon are passing in two sol
emn lines past the bier of their late
beloved chief, Warren G. Harding. as
he rests for the last time in the Capt.
toI of the nation which he loved so
well.
Huge throngs, duplicated in the
past only when the Unknown Soldier
lay at rest on the catafalque. began
passing into the Capitol at 1 o'clock
from the entrance point at 1st and
East Capitol street, while great lines
stretched away for blocks to the
north and south, winding in lines of
sorrow around the Capitol building.
The line will continue till o'clock,
when the doors will be closed.
Even Crippled Wait Turn.
The tribute OF tears stained the
faces of men as they stood In the
lines beneath the pelting hot sum-
mer sun, awaiting their turn to file
past the mortal remains of the late
President. There were men on
crutches, moving along with the
slowly but steadily progressing lines.
There were women seventy years
old there, and there were men even
older there, and there were babies
carried in arms. little ones who Will
never remember that they went past
the bier of Warren G. Harding, but
will be told about it many times In
future years by their parents.
Marines on duty by the hundreds
at the Capitol had their hands full
in directing the long lines. but were
so uniformly courteous and capable
in their work that the thousands and
thousands of persons passing around
the Capitol and into the rotunda this
afternoon are moving forward stead
lily.
Disregard Noontide Heat.
Despite the great heat of midday.
as soon as the funeral procession
had passed into the Capitoli, .ne
crowds began to leave their positions
surrounding the grounds of the ma
tional structure and stream along
B street, past the government hoteis'
down Delaware avenue to lst ana A
streets northeast. and along 1st
street to East Capitol to the east
front entrance to the halls OF Con-
greSs.
From 1st and streets southeast
a similar throng, kept in lines two
by two by Marines, came north 10
meet the other line. They were kept
here until o'clock, when the lines
were started moving directly to the
Capitol, up the east steps. through
the rotunda, past either side OF the
catafalque, and out the west doors
Of the building.
Gather Early In Dayy.
The great throng, drawn from
homes in all parts of the District, ana
numbering thousands of out-of-toWn
persons, began to gather at 3 O'Clock
this morning. although the nrst op-
iectiye of most of them was to witness
the funeral procession. 1t was evil
dent, however, from the look OF grim
determination on the faces OF many,
that they had come primarily to pay
their last respects to the body or the
late President.
Fearful questions were asked con-
stantly of the police, some or Whom
seemed unable to answer 1ne i,,au,,hten: her
especially the women. one MEMBER
of the metropolitan police 1orce
standing at delaware avenue ana d
street northeast, seemed to answer
all questions by shouting. Beat II:
means neai = Beat n it,. s'1 N
Members of the Marine Corps. on
the other hand. were ever courteous
and were the recipients or many
words of thanks and praise from the
ranks.
Crowds Press In.
After the crowds around the sides
of the Capitol grounds had ABOUT
settled themselves. after much mill
ing around, marines called for them
to come forward" and the crowds
broke ranks and swarmed farther In
toward the Capitol at the side OF the
road through which the funeral
cortege was to pass
The Senate Office building at Della
ware avenue was thronged with
people, among them being a small
girl. bearing a huge pair OF bfnocu-
lars. through which she watched the
passing of the procession.
office building constantly throughout
the procession made much noise, and
drew many unfavorable comments
from those standing at this point.
Despite the intense heat, men blocks
away removed their hats throughout
the passing Of the procession. and
many held their hats over the heart
as the bier Of the late President came
within the range of their vision.
Move in Reverence.
1t was a democratic crowd that
surrounded the Capitol, and 1t Is this
same democratic gathering, composed
Of old, young, men, women children
of all races. seemingly, of all colors,
of all conditions of life, all passing
quietly into and through the Capitol
to gaze for a brief instant upon the
dead chief.
1t is noticeable that as the lines
pass along the sides Of the Capitol
grounds, the members are much as
other crowds, without the joking
usually indulged in by people in
the mass. But as the lines come