Evening star., 1923-08-11
MRS. HARDING BACK
AT WHITE HOUSE
Begins Preparation for De.
parture-Sti|I Bearing Up
CourageousIy.

On the same train that bore her
from San Francisco and then to
Marion for burial yesterday Mrs
Harding returned to Washington to-
day to pack up her personal belong
ings at the White House and to ar
range for her final departure from
the capital.
AS the train. which will have a
place in history by virtue Of the
momentous journey it had travelled,
approached Washington to be broken
up finally for other uses. the widow
of the President called to her state
room every member Of the party
which had made the pilgrimage TO
Alaska and back and thanked each
one individually for remaining with
her until the end" She appeared
still to be bearing UP courageously
after yesterdays ordeal in Marion.
Goes Directly to Mansion.
She was driven directly to the
White House, where II was said that,
only few days would be required
for her to finally close out her af-
fairs there and take leave of the
mansion which had been her home
since 1921.
Shows No Sign OF Strain.
Mrs. Harding showed no evidence of
the severe strain under which she has
been and continued to display that
splendid courage and spirit which have
served her SO well during the days
of her ordeal.
She was accompanied to the White
House by George Christian, secretary
to the former President. and Brig.
Gen. Charles E. Sawyer, the Harding
family physician. There she was
affectionately greeted by Mrs Coolidge
When Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Coolidge
met 1t was as two warm friends and
the greeting was void of all formality
despite the unmistakable solemnity of
the surroundings
Mrs. Coolidge had arrived at the
White House some ten or twenty
minutes in advance of the arrival Of
the former mistress and as the latter
appeared in the corridor on the first
hoor Mrs. Coolidge. who had been
! waiting on the rear portico. hurried
to her friend. They clasped hands
and tenderly and affectionately kissed
each other. 1t was a most human
and touching scene and to those who
witnessed 1t at a distance there was
no mistaking the depth of friendship
between the two.
Invited by Friends.
They chatted for several minutes
and when Mrs. Coolidge excused her
self, Mrs. Harding retired to her
private quarters on the second floor
IL Is thought likely that Mrs. Hard
ing during her temporary stay in
washington will not spend her nights
WITHIN the White House. Secretary
and Mrs. Christian have invited her
lto be their guest. as have several
other of Mrs. Harding's Intimate
| friends here.
! The preliminary work incident to
the packing Of the personal affects OF
the Hardings already has been begun
ana those who are in q position to
know are of the opinion that Mrs
| Harding will have removed all of the
thlngs from the White House within
tne next week or ten days, at which
time the President and Mrs. Coolidge
| If they so desire. will take up their
abode.
Those who had served her for more
than Two years met her reverently
and administered to her wants just as
they had always done. Miss Laura
Harlan. the White House secretary
was there and had arranged her mail
the thousands of cards and notes and
kilograms of coincidence as conyen-
ient!y as possible. and every comfort
of the house was placed at her dis
posal just as when she. entered the
mansion as It's mistress -
This was the wish of the President
and Mrs. Coolidge, and the residence
OF the President is practically the
home Of Mrs. Harding as long as she
wishes to remain. Mrs. Coolidge has
explained that she finds 1t no hard
ship to remain In her suite at the
New Willard over which the Presi-
dents flag floats at half mast and In
fact feels perfectly at home there.
Mrs. Harding has hundreds of
| friends in Washington who will wait
Il o