New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-10
Final Services This After
noon, After Which Mrs.
Harding Will Leave for
Washington
Collection of Family Be
longings at White House
Will Be One Of Her Hard
est Tasks.

| By The Associated Press.
| Marion, o.. Aug. 10. - The, days
when human eyes would look fheir
last on the face of Warren Gamafiel
Harding. 29th president of the United
States, dawned with many who loved
him still waiting to pass slowly beside
the bier, resting in his fathers home
Before the shadows of evening steal
across the wide peaceful fields OF the
valley where he was born the gates
of his tomb will have closed behind
him and the long. long way of his
funeral ended.
| Mrs. Harding Bears Up -.
In gracious kindness, the soTowful
woman who longed for the end of the
public ordeal that has stretched into
more than a week of ceremonial and
pageant that the people of the nation.
the state and the town that claimed
| him as its son. might testify to their
grief, set aside her own wish to be
alone with her dead at the last
Throughout hours of darkness last
night the casket which held him lay
open in the humble home and all were
freely welcome to pass beside It again.
Today the face of the dead chief was
made visible. for the last time to the
boys" who knew him as ~the boss'
in the offices of the Marion Star when
he sat there as editor A few others
came privately to the casket because
of their close associations of their by
gone years with the dead. In the
depths Of her great sorrow, Mrs.
Harding had not failed of the thought
full Kindness that has marked her
every action before and since death
came to her husband in San Francis
co.
Thousands Pass Bier
Last night it seemed that every
man. woman and child in Marion
stood long on the shaded, quiet streets
to pay their last honor to the dead.
No man knew with exactness how
many thousands had walked through
the modest room where the casket
lay and gazed a moment on the peace
full face under the glass.
There was a hush of mourning
about the dark streets despite the
hundreds waiting to enter and the
other hundreds streaming slowly
away, talking with hushed voices of
the neighbor and friend whose great
ness they had acclaimed They had
seen him in death as they had known
him in life. The calm. kindly dignity
that marked him in his hours as
president remained with him even
when life had ceased. He was the
same Warren Harding some of them
had known for years and seemed only
to sleep as he lay there. 1t was hard
for them to realize that this old
friend was dead.
Scene of Peacefulness
The last day before the tomb shall
claim these "hallowed relics" began
peacefully and with no stir of march
ing legions 10 Join in last honors. Hero
and there on the streets walked men
of the Ohio National Guard, but they
walked for the most part unarmed
and merely to see that the peace and
quiet of the sleeper was not disturbed
in thoughtlessness. They would not
go with him to his tomb.
Again today the stir of movement
Of life in Marion was hushed in honor
IF the dead, The great mills that
it were silent and deserted.
No rattling traffic OF commerce broke
he quiet of the shady streets. On
he railroads, long trains came in to
i'd new thousands from distant
places to the throng already gathered;
,ut no whistle blew and the changing
# the bells was stilled
Except for the multitude that grew
hourly to fill the sidewalks with NOV
ng humanity Marion was a city OF
silence in her sorrow. a silence that
Tould not be broken until the simple
uneral train gathered late in the day
o bear the dead president to the tomb
hat awaited him. Then there must
ome an added stir and movement
hat could not be avoided; then would
-oices be raised in prayer or sacred
melodies as the last rites were said.
'ut the morning hours were peaceful
nd calm and as untroubled as tho
leep of the man thus honored.
Another president was riding to-
Yard Marion during these morning
lours, coming to say his farewell TO
man ne loved and a chieftain to
Fhom he had been Loyalty devoted in
ublic service. Arrangements for re-
option of the special train bearing
resident Coolidge from Washington
ad been completed long before his
rival and for once the first coming
{ the nations chief executive to an
Lmerican community would be
1arked by no cheering or clamor
Back TO Washington.
Before darkness falls. the presiden-
ial train will be speeding over the
ails again to Washington for the
usiness of the state cannot wait for
lore than a brief moment of sorrow,
owever great the loss. Then also
i'll Mrs. Harding have turned back
the dreary task still before her n
fConf4nr.nd an De nea fra