Evening star., 1923-08-03

He had an easy. friendly way Of talks
ing. His voice was deep bass, but hs
spoke in a low tone. In fact, some
times he spoke so softly that il was
saying. Respecting his voice and his
manner of talking, Mr.. Harding had
the habit when speaking of letting
his voice drop at the end OF sen
tence. This trait Is believed by many
to have cost him applause during the
delivery of public speech. He was
we'll aware of this fault, If it were
such. but. as he once referred to it.
81 am too old to change now"
On one occasion the Pesident
asked a small group of newspaper
men how message he had just read
at the Capitol had gone over" OnF
of the group felt courageous enough
to say: "Mr. President. if you wouli
and would put lot of loud punci
in the high spots OF your talk yoI
would have them on their feet all thu
time"
The President accepted this witi
the good nature he always displayed.
Because of just such instances al
that and many others of SIMILAR ma
ture, when the President mingled
around in that easy democratic man
ner of his 1T was not always easy TO
picture him as the ruler of the United
States BY that l do not intend to
convey an impression that he was
lacking in dignity. He had any
amount of dignity. But ] attribute
the feeling to his gentleneSs and his
friendliness He was what is so COM
monty referred to as human.
He liked people and he loved his
friends, especially those old friends.
Those he knew as young man,
struggling along in Marion. One OF ms
loyalty to his friends. l could narrate
many instances that would bear this
out
He was rarely alone. l have heard
some of his intimates say that there
was nothing he disliked more than
to be by himself The evenings at the
White House were happy and in
formal ones. There was generally a
house guest. and invariably there
were guests for dinner. 1nasmuch as
the President cared very little for the
theater as a medium of entertain
ment He enjoyed cards and music,
and quite frequently he would go for
stroll in the evening. Often ne
would walk from the White House to
the home of a friend. He dtsliked
making plans ahead of time.
He preferred to act on impulses.
In speaking of this trait, Mrs. Hard
ing told story to the erect tnat
Warren came home from the office
one night d good many years ago and
said Let's take trip. Three hours
later we were on our way to New
York and two weeks later were in
Europe"
His chief recreation was found upon
the golf links. He cared little for
motoring about the city or the nearby
districts of Maryland and Virginia.
He liked automobiles only as quick
means of transportation. He looked
upon golf as a necessity. He once
said that outdoor exercise to him was
rest His face and his voice showed
the effects if he failed to get out in
the open two or three days in sue
cession.
He enjoyed the cruises on the pres
! idential yacht Mayf1ower and always
| benefited by them.
| Mild in Reproving Wrong.
| During the whole time Mr.. Harding
was in the White House he has never
been known to speak sharply to any
one. If something was handled
wrong he would merely say: II am
sorry you did that" in low, kindly
tone, and let it go at that.
1t is the opinion of most news
paper ment that President Harding was
a poor press agent for himself. 1t
was difficult for them TO understand
how a man who had been in the
newspaper profession as long as he
had been could be SO lacking in this
respect.