San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-08

eternity.
Wilson Reaches P0rtic0.
Former President Wilson. himself
broken by the cares of the chief mag
istry, came to the great portico just be-
fore the hour of departure to take his
place in the cortege at the invitation
Of President Coolidge.
Chief Justice Taft. the only other
living ex-President, also was waiting
when the casket, enshrouded in the
Stars and Stripes like that of other
soldiers who have made. the supreme
sacrifice in the service of their coun-
try, was lifted from its setting Of
flowers to be borne to its place amid
another and perhaps srander array
of floral coloring and fragrance in the
rotunda. President Coolidge arrived
to take his place just at the hour set
for the departure.
As cortege was forming under
meath the shadows of the great trees
through which many Presidents have
looked out upon the world. the bell in
St Johns Episcopal Church, across
Lafayette square. known as the
church of the Presidents, began tolling
its doleful lament at the passing of o
great heart into the galaxy Of immor-
tails.
Ministers Walk Together.
Only as the procession started did
it become known that Mrs. Harding
had been with the body in the East
Room for half hour at 1 o'clock this
morning.
She was alone at times and at other
times attended by one or two relatives
But while officials were gathering at
the funeral hour to take up their places
in the cortege she remained in her
room. alone with her grief.
Before the casket. as it was carried
down the steps, walked the two min.
listers selected to officiate at the funer-
al in the rotunda. They walked side
by side, DIR. A. Freeman Anderson,
pastor of Mr.. Harding's church here.
and DIR. James Montgomery. chaplair
of the House of Representatives.
Then came the military and naval
aides who had been near to the Pres
ident at all the dramatic moments Of
his brief. full service as the first leader
of his people.
In Pennsylvania avenue the long sill.
ence that hitherto had been disturbed
only by the champing of the restless
mounts Of the troopers was broken by
the strains of Chopin's funeral march,
played by an army band. There was
only brief delay then until the last
journey Of Warren Harding along the
historic thoroughfare had begun be-
tween the dense crowds of humanity
that made long aisle of grief from the
very gates of the executive mansion to
the towering capitol a mile away.
Guns Roar Across Potomac.
At the same time q bugler came
TO the portico and sounded shrilly the
single note of the soldiers call 10 at
tention. The cavalry opposite the
avenue came TO a sharp salute with
their blades flashing in the sunlight.
drums, Just as the guns Of Fort Myer,
across the silent Potomac, awoke the
echoes with a salute.
Mrs. Harding came down the steps
a moment later. heavily veiled, her
frail figure making a pitiful picture
amid the splendor and pomp of the
great honors to which, by a full meas
ure OF devotion, she had, helped and
inspired her husband to achieve. On
one side of her walked Secretary
Christian and on the other Brig. Gen.
Charles Il. Sawyer, her lifelong friend
in Marion and the Presidents phys.-
Clan.
Just before. within the East
Room. she had stood with these same
friends and. with the new President,
cabinet and members of the Senate,
sat with n brief service at the bier.
At the end. just before the casket was
taken to its martial funeral car out
side. they had repeated the Lords
Prayer.
Onward Christian Soldier
Before the little woman. fighting
to remain calm in the shadow of her
grief, had entered her car, all the
other members of the funeral party
had taken their places. She was helped
up into the big automobile by Mr..
Christian, and. as it started TO roll
away behind the caission, the cars
bearing President Coolidge, Chief JUS
tice Taft and former President Will
son followed in turn.
The military escort, which had been
placed in the line of March ahead OF
the funeral caission, previously had
taken station on the avenue. winding
around as far as the south entrance
of the Treasury. 1t moved off at the
word of command. an army band
ahead with its crepe muffled drums
PLAYING Onward Christian Soldier. "
General Pershins's erect figure on
his splendid mount, commanded a re-