The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-08

orders that had been given places il
the rear were just forming In line
beside the White House. As Mrs
Harding's car passed along Pennsyl.
vania avenue only DR.. Sawyer could
be seen within, for the curtains were
closely drawn. Between her and the
casket with its single great wreath
rode the pall-bearers, members OF
the cabinet, representatives OF the
judiciary and senators.
Next behind her sorrowed Calvin
Coolidge, suddenly called to take up
the mantle which had slipped from
the chiefs shoulders
Ex-Presidents IN Line.
| Then followed another President,
William Howard Taft, loved by all
! who know him, who was in his place
| as a solemn mourner and knew what
Warren Harding mas passed through
in the chief magistry Of the nation.
Then came figure who was q re-
hinder, top, of gayer and happier
days. Woodrow Wilson had come
from the seclusion of quiet of the
home where he bravely and patiently
waits for his summons from the Gre
ator, to show his respect and a gen
| uinc sorrow.
If there be an American who does
not feel catch in his throat or
whose heart does not beat faster
when the Marine band plays "On-
ward Christian Soldiers" he did not
stand on Pennsylvania avenue today
as the cortege passed on its way.
AS if in exemplification of the
Christian kindness of Warren Hard
ing's heart the magnificent band just
ahead played the majestic straiBs of
the old hymn all the way to the CAPT
toll, interspersed with "How Firm a
Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord"
the favorite hymn of Theodore Roose-
welt. -
And as the silver notes mounted up
and echoed back in the canyon of
humanity that packed the great
thoroughfare tears flowed down
many cheeks and many eyes were
dimmed but as they entered the
sweeping expanse Of the plaza the
hands fell silent. Amid hush Nike
the quiet of the tomb the infantry of
the escort formed its line across the
entire. front, the marines took up
their station to the north of the steps
of the rotunda and the blue JACKETS
filed into line opposite them on
the south. Only the sharp commands
cut into the oppressive silence.
Body Is Lifted.
AS the troops came into position
General Pershing remained on horse
back in the front Of the center of
the rotunda, awaiting the coming of
the dead. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
designated as marshal of the parade
by virtue of his many years Of pub
lie service under many Presidents,
alighted from his car beside the ro-
tunda steps and likewise stood wait
ing, solemnly with bowed head. It
was wait of only a few minutes.
The long line of automobiles came
TO stop and a non-commissioned Of
ficer stepped up and loosened ~4he
wide-black straps that had bound the
casket to it's funeral car. Then it
was lifted down and with the band
playing LEAD Kindly Light" the
President was carried tenderly and
with loving benediction of a nation
upon him up the steps and across to
the plot where two and a half years
ago he stood to take his oath Of duty.
Then began a new scene in the
great drama of grief. As the BODY
was placed on the catafulque first
built for Lincoln even a deeper hush
seemed to fall upon those within the
sacred precincts. At exactly 11:4O
a. m. DR.. Anderson began the invoca-
ton and with his "Amen" a quartet
OF the Calvary Baptist church, Mr..
fardlng's place of worship, took up
softly the plaintive strains of LEAD
Kindly Light" the favorite hymn Of
Mckinley.
Over the broken body of the lead
er were intoned the solemn words Of
assurance Of David in the twenty
hrst Psalm, selection from the Rev
elations and the frOse from Micah, to
which Mr.. Harding had pressed his
lips when he kissed the Bible of
George Washington on inauguration
day two years ago.
"A simple prayer by DR.. Montgom-
cry, the singing of Nearer Nv God
tol Thee" by the quartet and a bene-
dlctlon by DIR. Anderson and the ma
tiohal government had concluded it's
last rites of its President. From
that moment he was to belong IN |
the people and to history; in his ma
Jesty from the hallowed bier under
the great dome he was to lie in state
for his fellow men to pass by and do |
MIN reverence in their own way un-
I'll the shadows of evening should |
iengthen to announce the hour when
ne should take up once more his long
trail tn thu AL -