Evening star., 1923-08-17
Laddie Boys Loss
Death of President Harding Loss
Also to All Animals.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
With The deepest emotion / have
| mourned with my country for our be-
loved President. L watched the
funeral train slip through our quiet
town of Garrett Park, Md: 1 paid
tribute as the casket was borne
through the stately Capitol grounds;
during the impressive memorial serv-
ice in the pretty little Presbyterian
Church at Kensington l thought of
tho last loving rites being paid at the
Presidents own little town Of Marion
and OF his widows grief. At the same
| time. however. in the midst of these
solemn ceremonies, my mind pictured
one wistful face standing out from the
vast mourning throng-that OF War
rem Harding's faithful canine friend.
Laddie Boy, the White House Airedale.
In a few hours the whole country
, realized its loss in the death of its
chief. How long will it take the
stanch, true heart OF Laddie Boy. the
hopeful dog mind, to accept the fact?
Or does he know? Did he have a pre-
monition and howl forth his grief and
! loss e'er II came. as he Is remembered
to the sad news. and as other dogs
have howled before a death? Did he
see the nower-laden casket and un-
derstand who lay therein; or Is he
! still clinging to the assumption, AN
! bring him back?" A friend Of mine
saw him Sunday with his nose pressed
close against the front screen door OF
his home. Was he still waiting? My
heart goes out to Laddie Boy in his
bereavement, for whether he realizes
| or not what has happened. he longs
for his masters kind hand. which IN
moments of relaxation from welding
! the official pen Of state found refresh
ment in resting on Laddie's head and
| stirred anew the dog heart in re-
sponsive devotion.
Washington humane workers Will
miss Laddie Boy from his place of
honor as first dog of the land" In
their annual "Be Kind TO Animals"
parade in the spring. though they
hope to have him somewhere near
that place, should he stay in Wash
ington. I feel that animals all over
the country have lost a great friend
| in the death OF tho kind President, for
though. perhaps, he could not often
personally relieve a suffering animal
| or bird, yet because of his exalted
position he had the unique opportu-
nifty to make their cause popular, and
I feel that rarely did he fail to take
advantage OF II and help plead for
| them. One OF his every latest exam
1 pito VI PuUiiC ICtoS Hilioh VI
their rights was the signing of a
| pledge of some humane organization
| in far Alaska, believe, never to mis-
treat those most faithful friends OF
| man, the horse and dog.
Mrs. Harding, too, has always
whole e-heartedly co-operatad with her
husband in his kind acts and has
| done many personal ones herself.
| was present when she unveiled the
bronze tablet in the State, War and
Navy building. erected some three
years ago in memory OF the faithful
services of the horses and mules in
the world war: earlier In the day she
had attended the memorial tree plant
| ing in the White House grounds for
the same cause, under the auspices
Of the American Humane Association
! OF Albany. Since her residence in the
White House Mrs. Harding has also
been first honorary vice president of
the Washington Animal Rescue League.
In my mind / will associate the
name of our late President with that
Of that other great leader of our
country, Abraham Lincoln-two hon
ored and great men who proved their
Christianity and greatness by prac-
ticing Christ's broad gospel of mercy
to the exalted and lowly alike of man
and beast. BE ye, therefore. merciful
! as your Father also Is 'merciful''-
Luke, 6.36.
May our new President and his
family prove themselves such friends
and protectors to the wronged and
VIRGINIA W. SARGENT.