Imperial Valley press., 1923-08-09
BY TOM w. GERBER

Dy 1oh w.
United Press Staff Correspondent.
MARION, o., August 9.--Mar-
ion awoke today to face the sad
dest ordeal of her history. The
home town, only year ago festoon-
ed with flags and bright colors in
celebration of the last previous re-
turn of the President, was today
decorated with the sombrc colors
of mourning.
Early today Center street along
the route from the Union Station
to the home of the President S faith
er, was ropcd off. Militiamcn were
stationed at every intersection to
keep back the throngs eager to
watch the procession. Outside the
city on the main highways leading
into Marion were other soldiers,
diverting automobilists to parking
spacc'in the county fairgrounds and
nearby fields.
). AT the station a gray motor
hcarse and so automobiles awaited
the arrival of the funeral train.
The crowd around the station stead
lily increased The people had the
demcanor of mourncrs at the
funeral of friend, rather than
witnesses of the last rites for a
President of the United States.
Warren s Home Town
Many of those who lined the
curbstoncs of Warren s home
town. knew him personally. They
felt that one of the home folks
had died.
Although there is to be no mil
itarv display III connection with
the funeral the presence Of thou
sands of militiamcn gave the
town almost the aspects of Il city
in Il war zone.
In the downtown section the lit
tie restaurants were jammed.
Lobbies of the three small hotels
seethed with excited strangers.
Hundreds of cottages are hung
with white and black mourning,
and almost every window displays
photograph of the dead Prcsi-
dent, black bordcred.
The house where the President
will lie in state, that his friends
and ncighbors may look upon him
for the last time, is Il two story
white frame dwelling with an old
fashioned cupola. 1t is typical
small town home, with Il moderate
sized lawn. Similar houses and
smaller cottages flank it. Across
the street a flaring advertising
signboard confIbnts it from va
cant lot. But this eyesore has been
toned down by having its edges
decorated with crepe and its face,
whercon the deliciousness of a
breakfast food is described, is Gov
cred with white gauzc through
which the lettering hardly can be
seen.
Neighbors Await Dead
All the neighbors were out this
morning in their Sunday best cloth
es and with very solemn faces, to
great their friend On his last home
coming. They sat in chairs on the
lawns and stared at the old house.
They had invited their relatives
and some had brought along babies
who cried at intervals.
The air i'll the vicinity of the
house was heavy with the odor of
flowers. Scores of floral offerings
were displayed on the lawn. They
bore the cards of the people who
had been associated with the Prcsi-
dent when he was just "plain
folks" like the rest of the people
here.
Six carloads of flowers, bearing
cards of diplomats and other dis
tinguiShed personages are enrouto
here from Washington to be
mingled with the home tributes.
Along the curbstones of East
Center street for a block in each
direction from the house, boyisll
looking militiamen sat in groups
of two or three, their rifles stacked
beside them, ready for duty If
needed to hold back the crowd.
Gordon To Guard House
Later on, when the caskct arrives
an entire national guard company
will be thrown around the house,
one man every three yards.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock thou
sands of people were lining the
railroad tracks leading into Marion
to see the train come in. The line
stretched for miles.
Through Center street the heart
Of Marion S business district the
concourse will 90 directly to DIR.
Harding's home, where, after 2 p.
m. the body will lie in state. The
funeral itself will be of the simplest.
No sermon viii be preached, no
bands will play, there will be neith-
er flashing of sabres, rumble of
artillery wheels, nor firing of sal
utes to mark the laying away of
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