The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-08-10

the ushers.
The theater was loaned to the
legion by Roland 8. Robbins. man
| ager OF Keith's,
but not awed by the coming of the
great. In their minds they recog.
nize that the slim, boyish-lookina
man from Massachusetts, is the
President, but in their hearts the
President Of the United States Is still
their kindly human neighbor, who
slept again today in the house of his
father. And 1t will be so until the
click Of the iron gates in Marion
Cemetery late this afternoon sends
their neighhor away to that long rest
from which there 10 no return.
Only four hours were allotted to.
day to those who came to bid fare.
well to the late Presidents time
all too short for the urnumhered
thousands who came.
Line Of People Grows.
At o'clock this morning there
was only q line of waiting people
two blocks long, Two hours later
the line had swelled in every di.
rection, until IL extended for ten
blocks down Center street, past the
closed and silent offices Of the
Marion Star, and even down to where
the new Hotel Harding raised it's
uncompleted frame to meet the sky.
There Is a lot of pride in Marion
In the new Hotel Harding, The
object OF its building was born with
Mr. Hardlng's nomination in 1920,
put Undertakings Of that sort are
hard to finance in a small town,
ana only now, three years later,
II - going up-backed by $50 friends
Of the dead President in this com
munity. His funeral cortege passed
it yesterday.
By 8 o'clock it seemed impossible
that all Of those who came to pass
finally before the bier of the Pres
ident could succeed in obtaining
entrance to the little house before
the hour came for closing the
casket at ! o'clock. Not only was
the line long, but 1t was so thick
that people in some places stood
seven and eight abreast for blocks,
and 1t was necessary to be in sim
gle file to pass through the small,
flower-filled room in which the dead
President lay.
All May See Body.
II 1t 10 humanity possible, however,
every person will be permitted to go
through. Mrs. Harding has been
greatly touched by the otupouring
OF friendship and affection that has
come fcom every side in Marion, and
she has ordered that people be al.
lowed to pass until the very last
minute.
So long was the line in the early
YnnFntn0 n ~
parent to Mrs. Harding and other
members Of the family that it would
be impossible for them all to pass in
the four hours. Consequently, at
Mrs. Harding's orders, the heavy
cover Of the caSl1et was raised few
minutes before o'clock instead Of at
as had been planned, and the first
OF those who had stood for many
weary hours passed through the lit
tie sitting room OF the Harding home
and looked for the last time on the
features Of the dead President.
The Star boys" went through at
$3.50 a. m. Boys" they still were
to the mourning widow, even though
many of them had hair that had
grown white in the upbuilding of the
Star.
There was Bill" Bull. He had
been a printers devil" when War
rem Harding acquired the Star, a
struggling young publication OF
doubtful stability and future. Now
he is foreman of the Stars compos-
ing room.
There was Lew Miller. for thirty
seven years in the employ Of the
Star. and Tommy Maher, for twenty
years on the paper. They knew him
long years before anyone-eVen him.
self. perhapsv-had dreamed that he
was a. man of destiny and bound for
the White House.
Boys" Are Griefstricken.
1t was a sorrowful pilgrimage,
this pilgrimage of the boys" of
the Star and there was not a dry
eye among them when they finally
emerged from the simple little sit.
ting room.
Not only Ohioans were represent
ed among the myriad friends of
Warren Harding in Marion today.
Those who came to bid him hail
and farewell came from many
places.
Among them were Henry Ford,
whose political candidacy against
the IaIS ErSSloenL mas Deen much
discussed OF late. Ford and Mr..
Harding were warm personal
friends. There was Thomas A. Edi-
son. the aged inventor, and Harvey
8. Firestone, the tire manufacturer.
These men for years have gone
camping together, and on one of
their trips the President was a dis
tinguished guest and fellow camp
worker. John Burroughs, the vcner-
able and delightful naturalist, who
alSn Of TIA