The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-04
LADDIE BOY STILL AWAITING RETURN
 OF GREAT FRIEND
Harding's Love For Animals Shown By Friendship Of
 His Dog
LOST AND FOUND

WASHINGTON, August S.-(B2 Associated ss)-There was one msmber of the White House houses hold today who couldn't quite com prehend the air of sadness which hung over the executive mansion. It was Laddie Boy, President Hardings Airedale friend and companion.
 Coming to the White House raw boned, calloW pup, Laddie Boy has in two years grown to the estate Of dignity and wholesome respect Tor his official surroundings.
 Laddie Boy knows that his mas ter and mistress made frequent trips away from home, and he always watches for their return. Of late he has been casting an e&pectant eye and cooking a Watchtul ear a{ the motor cars which roll up on the White House drive.
 For. in his dog sense way. he fig ures "an automobile took them away, so an automobile must bring them back" And today as on the other days, he was watching the motor cars, listening for voices he knows so well. The White House att aches shook their heads and won dered how they were going to make Laddie Boy understand. Loved All Animals. N
 Laddie Boy reflected the love and friendship MT. and Mrs. Harding be- slowed upon him, and their feeling for him typified the feeling of both for ali animals Mrs Harding never lost an opportunity in Washington to give her aid to any cause which stood for a decent chance for all animals, and in Alaska recently the President took as part of his oath of membership in an Alaskan or e-pr ivlt n- kind to a horse or dog.
 Warren Harding never referred to them as dumb animals" He oftel said they were far from dumb, that they had their own ways of express sion. It was not fad or fancy with him. Years ago when he was active as editor of the Marion Star somebody poisoned d pup he knew and Warren Harding published an editorial about it that showed how Ee felt This is what he wrote:
 "IGdgewood Hub IS in the register, a mark of his breeding; but, to us, just Hub, q little Boston terrier whose sentient eye mirrored the fi- delity and devotion of his loyal heart. The veterinary said he was poisoned; perhaps he was, his mute sufferinss suggested it.
 'One is reluctant to believe that human being who claims man s estate could be so hateful a coward as to ruthlessly torture and kill a trusting victim, but there are such. one honest look from Hubs trusting eyes was worth a hundred lying greetings from such inhuman beings, though they wore the habiliments of men.
 .Perhaps you wouldn't devote these lines to dog. But Hub was star office visitor nearly every day of the six years & which he deepen
 fsaf II and devoted dog, with a dozen low able attributes and it somehow voices the yearnings of broken com panionship to pay his memory de- served tribute.
 Was Loving And Loyal.
 Tt isn't orthodox to ascribe soul to d dog--if soul means immortality But Hub was loving and loyal, With the jealousy that tests its qua lity. He was reverent, patient, fG1thtul; {; he was sympathetic, more than hu- manly so. Sometimes, for no lure could be devised to call him from the sick bed of mistress or master. He minded his own affairs, especlaIy worthy of human emulation, ana ne would kill or wound no living thing He was modest and submissive where these were becoming, yet he assured a guardianship of the home he sentineled, until entry was prop erly vouched.
 file couldn't speak our language though he somehow understood, but he could be and was eloquent with uttering eye and wagging tail, ana the other expressions Of knowing dogs. No, perhaps. he has no soul' but in these things are the essence of soul and the spirit of lovable life.
 whether the Creator planned 1t so. or environment and human com panionship have made 1t so, men anG fidelity of brave and devoted dog Such loyalty might easily ada IHster to a crown of immortality"