The Washington times., 1923-08-11
Mrs. Harding Returns,
With Fears For Health
Gone; Plans in Doubt
By GEORGE r.. HOLMES,
Tnknenahinnal Mara Rar.zino


Mrs. Warren G. Harding, widow
OF the late President, elected 20 re-
turn to Washington immediately
after the funeral services at Marion
in order to complete the vacating of
the Executive Mansion as soon as
possible, so that it can be turned
over to the Coolidges. It is esti
mated it will take about a week for
the removal Of the Harding belong
tngs.
Bears Ordeal Well.
Mrs. Harding came through the
ordeal at Marion in Excellent fash.
ion, according to her physicians
Of her physical collapse are now
said to have been allayed. Her
plans for the future, however, are
stil somewhat undecided.
1t is definitely understood, how.
ever. that she will not remain in
Washington. Ultimately it is ex-
pected she will return to Marion
to make her permanent residence.
Until she adjusts her private at.
fairs, she probably will stay either
at the home Of George B. Christian,
5r., the late Presidents secretary,
or at the home of E. B. Mclean
the Washington publisher.
The eight members of the Hard
Ing Cabinet who are in this coun.
try, returned to Washington with
the late Presidents widow.
Funeral Car Missing.
The only car missing from the
original Presidential train today
was the Superba, the private car
which bore the President and Mrs.
Harding westward and which was
the funeral car on the return trip
from the Pacific coast.
Mrs. Harding ordered the car re-
leased at Marion, saying she never
wanted to ride in it again.
She returned to Washington today
aboard the private car ENQUIRER.
belonging to the McLeans.
After bidding a somewhat sad
farewell to all those of the party
who were on the history-making
trip. she entered a White House
car at the station and was driven
directly to the Executive Mansion.
The emotion that filled her almost
broke the surface as the car swept
up the circular drive and she
alighted on the broad portico that
she Is soon to leave forever. Miss
Laura Harlan her secretary, stood
there to welcome her. Mrs. Hard
Ing stood looking at the familiar
grounds for an instant, and then
turned quietly and entered the
mansion.
Whatever fears her doctors NAV
have entertained that the widow
OF the President would collapse
when the strain was over was dis
appearing to a large extent today.
Except for an unusual paIlor,
accumulated by her heavy mourn
ing. and her lack of strength, she
appeared this morning to be in
excellent condition to complete the
trying week of removal from the
great house that has been her
home for two and one-half years.
Inside the mansion, Mrs. Coolidge,
soon to be the new mistress Of the
White House, met Mrs. Harding.
She expressed her sympathy and
preferred her services in any way
possible to the bereaVed woman
che is succeeding. She also took
occasion to assure Mrs. Harding of
her own and the Presidents wish
that she remain at the White
House indefinitely. Mrs. Harding
only shook her head a bit sadly,
AMI thanked her.
Mrs. Coolidge retired shortly, and
returned to the temporary White
House at the New Willard Hotel.
There will be no delay on the
part of Mrs. Harding, widow Of the
deceased President. in packing her
personal effects and quitting the
confines of the White House, which
was her home for more than two
years, while her husband served as
Chief of the Nation.
This is the open declaration OF
persons, who are in the confidence
Of Mrs. Harding, who reached
Washington with her this morning
at $50 from Marion, Ohio.
Her prompt and decisive action, Is
predicated on the elimination of q
series of small, but important, Incl
dents that have happened since the
announcement of her husbands
death
President Coolidge's invitation e
Mrs. Harding, extending her the
use Of the Executive Mansion, has
been marred by these incidents
which resulted in the widows de
termination to Immediately leave
the White House for good.
Back of the death scene where
the drama was enacted, those in 1.-THE
know" sum up these incidents al
follows:
First and foremost, Mrs. Hard
ing felt That the swearing In O
President Coolidge in the middle o
the night, following her husband
death, was a bit hasty.
The second incident. characterize