The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-09

Harding was gone from Washing ton, splendidly. fittingly gone as went the day that for him had cup of life, heavy with its draught of greatness scarce tasted when death so ruthlessly struck it aside. Gone from the place and the com rades of his greatness-gone with his loving care of brave woman who sheltered him on his last journey.
 For in thois whole day of pomp and circumstance that men have made to surround the great. there was no thing more touching than the rauntless courage with which Mrs. Harding carried through the public ordeal As her black gowned figure passed out of the crowded stone circle where the funeral rites were held. every glance was for her every sympathy. There was admira - ton that brought the clutch of smothered sobs to many throat at the brave, simply dignity of her carriage that still could not hide the turned misty then that had shed no tear before.
 Would Have Sought Solitude.
 It ran in mems minds that this brave little woman had waited long to be alone with her dead, had even. because of the greatness of his place. found courage to loan him here t" the nation whose service had de manded his life that he might be rendered the honor men would do him. Even she had cru ushed back her tears and come th1s to pray m pup lie over the bier when her heart cried out to be alone with her dead and for the surceaSe of unchcckeu tears and the animate things or sorrow.
 But 1t could not be. Dead. the na- tion claimed him as living it swept him to his high office And there was no mark of honor denied through the long hours that the pages of history could recall for his acclaim.
 He was carried from the White House. which had sheltered his Sleer for those last brief hours, with all the military prmp and glory thal dead Presidents or such heroes as the Unknown Soldier alone may know. Not in the memory of living man has such high honor been paid save at the death of such martyrs to the cause of freedom symolized and glor- flied in the flag.
 Bright With Sunshine.
 From the dim cast room and it's heavy scented flowers. the dead President was borne out into day bright with sunshine. The clear peal ing of a trumpet sent long lines of steel flashing to salute; a moment later it marshalled the ordered array of soldiers, sailors and marines down the long avenue to the capitol with General Pershing riding ahead in command, his only actual command since the first division. home from France. trudged westward over this same route in victory.
 Band bv band, the old hymns of courage and devotion rose in the still air as thep passed. Rank by rank, in khaki. blue or white, the sturdy youngsters who served the flag moved by their sahers and bayonets glittering In the sun. their dull hued guns rolling slowly. In a tolling church bell singing with solemn slow strokes. pierced the harmonics of the bands al intervals; distance minute guns from Fort Meyer across the Potomatic, thudded faintly over th~ miles. But along the way banked motiouleSs and in silence were thou sands upon thousands who stood there waiting since daylight 10 add to the great tribute to the dead The hushed reverence to these told more strikiugly the sorrowful nature of the pageant than even the crepe that streamed from the passing standards or the mourning bands ot uniform jackets or the knots of black at the sword hilts of the officers.
 O O Q
 Coolidge In Procession.
 Down through the long valley Of sorrow the cortege wound to the capitol with that other, living presi- dent, thrust overnight to high re- sponsibility, first among the nation s tf.r f,l, dead.
 President Coolidge was there both to symbolic the sorrow of the nation and to show his own great personal grief for his dead chief, And behind him rode TWO other men who have known the hard service of that hie I office, one of whom was stricken all
 (Contlnued On pace Two)