The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-08-16

house built by his father, y. 1. Faru
ing.
He spent his early days attending
the village school and doing chores
on the farm which his father main
tanned to round out the slender in
come of a country physician.
Devoted to Mother
At his mothers knee Harding
learned many of the principles to
which he attributed hs later success.
His devotion 10 her was unlimited
and when she became an invalid he
never failed to have flowers sent to
her every Sunday, even though he
happened to be travelling in distant
cities of America Of in foreign coun-
tries.
Harding grew fast but his ambi-
tions grew faster. At the age Of IA
he was six feet tall, but he was only
~ when he solemnly announced that
some day he would be president OF
the United States.
The youngster learned rapidly. He
mastered his letters in a single al
ternoon when he was still of the
"kilt and underpant' age, could
memorize long poems before ne was
four and was always anxious to
"speak his piece" at gatherings.
Not a "Goody, Goody"
He was not of the "goody, goody'
tvue. however. His manly qualities
soon established him as the leader
of his boy associates. He could
swim farther and dive deeper than
any of the other boys who frequent
ed the "or swimmin' hold" in Whet-
stone creek. and stories are still told
of his tobacco chewing proves
The boy Harding never sought a
fight but was always ready TO battle
for a just cause, particularly to pro-
tect the weak from aggression.
In his fourteenth year, "Doc" las
Harding was nicknamed) entered, as
of academic grade, the Ohio Central
College of Iberia, O. Here he re-
ceived a B. S. degree, though some
times forced to quit temporarily in
order to carr sufficient money to
continue the course.
This he did by doing odd painting
and farm jobs, by driving a team on
a railroad construction project, by
working in a brickyard, and by
working for short intervals in the
village printing shop.
Edits College Paper
Harding achieved distinction at
Iberia as a student, as editor of the
college paper and as a declaimer.
To the college publication he gave
the motto by which he ruled his life:
Semper Paratus ct Excelsior - AL
ways ready to go higher. Through
this sheet he first expounded his
theory of what young men should not
do to succeed.
"Some young men who think them
gifted with genius r inclined
to the kangaroo style of progress
he wrote. "They fatter them
that they at least may attain
the heights of fame by a series of
and that without training and
hard work"
Upon graduation in 1882 Harding
went to Marion, Ohio, inclined to
carry out his fathers wish hat he
study law. But fate and music in
tervened. He joined the local band
sa an alto cornetist. To take trips
with the band required money.
therefore Harding abandoned the
study of law to teach school, which
he felt would be more likely. to bring
immediate financial returns.
Gets Marion Star
He continued as teacher for one
year; then he read law for a year,
insurance to pay expenses.
Came the day when the Marion
Star, a paper which had failed, was
offered at sheriff's sale for $500. DR..
Harding bought it and presented it
o his son. Thus, before he was 10.
Harding became publisher and staff
# a country paper.
Harding now made his first active
into politics, seeking no Office
'or himself, but boosting republican
so strenuously and courage
ously that, before he was 81, he was
4 power in town and county coun-
eils of the party.
The young editor struggled hard
to keen the Star going and succeeded
until he made a trip to the republi-
ean national convention, to cheer for
The trip was expensive and
when he returned he was forced to
sell out
Becomes a Reported
Harding obtained o job as report
e on the Marion Mirror, his enthu-
;iasm for success and Blaine una
oated. The first might have carried
Tim far as a reporter had not the
after been SO strong. The Mirror
vas a democratic sheet and pro-Blaine
ltterances which Harding managed
0 slip into it caused the loss of his
Harding then determined to re-