The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-09
GRIM GUNS BOOM
 OUT FAREWELL. TO DEAD LEADER.
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 most as was he to whom such honor followed President Coolidge, then Woodrow Wilson, coming from his retirement once again for a brief moment to give reverent homage be- side the bier of an honor-laden Amer ican.
 All the great folks of Washington followed after. Among them were the diplomats who speak here with voices of their kings or governments 10 testlfy that human sympathy to a nation in grief knows no barrier of sea or land There also were the great judges and the sorrowful cabi- net officers; the senators and the members of the house called back from their varied occupations for this sad moment. Again block after block behind. stretched the ranks of all the civilian organizations of Washington, out in full array; the men who head the bureaus and divisions of the great government departments; the army and navy and marine corps officers serving here and walking now in ordered lines, their tunic sleeves wound with black.
 Muff1ed Drums Heard.
 Coming thus to capitol hill, the bands ceased for the climb to the wide plaza on the east front where new presidents take oath. The muffled drums took up the tale as the colum climbed up the winding, tree-shaded way. And it was ethis distant throbbing of the drums that carried word of their coming to tho Sc waiting in the flower-filled chamber beneath the towering dome, throb- ping that grew nearer and nearer un- til at last 1t gave place to the softly rising tones of & great army band that played Lead Kindly Light" as the flag wound casket was lifted slowly up the long, wide stone steps.
 No sight of the spectacle on the plaza was visible to those within the rotunda. Only it's four great arch ways, facing north, east, south and west, give access to that stone floor; its only windows are ranged in rows far above at the base of the dome gently shaded as 1t poured down to illumine the catafalque waiting in the center.
 Thanked by it's honor guard of high general and admirals, the heavy casket was carried slowly to it's place, a single wreath of bright col ors resting above the quiet sleeper. Then from the Senate side the erect, slender figure of the sorrowful wid-
 
 who served most intimately with the dead chieftain to a place near the head of the bier. Her face was all most invisible behind the black veil she wore, but no man who saw her carriage could doubt the couraget that had brought here there, or the bitter woe that filled her heart. The religious services were striking in their simplicity aganst the back ground of military pomp and grand eur given by the funeral parade. old Hymns Sung.
 Just the short prayers, the mur- mlring of low voices joined in the old, old words of the Lords Prayer, the scriptural readings and the blending voices of male quartet in the same hymn that marked this flu neral everywhere, Lead Kindly Light" the hymn best beloved by the Nearer My God To Thee" with its message of Christian resignation.
 Hardly a word of the invocation, spoken by Dr. A. Freeman Anderson, of the Baptist, church President and Mrs. Harding attended in Washing mercy made by Dr. James Montgom cry chaplain of the House reached through the chamber. Jealous echoes from the circling walls caught up the voices and made the words ln- audible. But every word of the old hymns, or the chanting voices of the singers, came clearly and the organ-like chords rose and fell with wonderful and touching effect un- der the vaulted roof. Tears flowed freely everywhere among the stil4 audience as the last chord died lin geringly away, far above.
 O O O
 Service Simple.
 That was all-save the benedic- tion. It was as simple as Warren Harding himself would have had It. for he made no parade of his trust in the goodness of God. And, too, as he had given himself in life to the services of the people of his cot ntry' he was given now in death for brief hour that they might see him, sleeping so peacefully in that great casket to which tender hands had confided him before the Golden Gate d week ago.
 When Mrs. Harding had gone and with her the sympathy and blessings of those who briefly glimpsed her triumph over her own sorrow, the new President and his cabinet, the diplomats and generals and radmirals all filed slowly out, the great cham, Der was cleared except for the armed about the bier and others who quickly carried away the chairs ana set long lines of floral offerings in place to form broad aisle from east to west across the stone floor, Then the flag was gently drawn back, the heavy steel of the cover was set aside and those who knew him in life saw again the face of Warren liar ding. ', .4 .siss1
 o o o
 Face Is Peaceful.
 It was q peaceful face, untouched Ai