The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-11
Reverent Stiffness As Tribute To President Harding Un-
 paraIIed In City's History

NEW YORK, August 10.-Hushed with reverent stiffness unparalleled In her history as a metropolis, New York today paid sorrowful tribute to the memory of Warren Gamaliel Marding.
 Her great banks, her brokerages, her stores, her harbor deserted, the city turned to her myrad churches where the sad ceremonies at Marion, Ohio, were being echoed.
 It was more than a Sunday hush that fell.
 Sunday, to New York's millions, Is day as much for relaxation as for worship. It Is a day for the beaches, the parks and the country; a day for motoring, car rides and golf.
 Today It was almost as if there was a funeral in every home. Broad thoroughfares were stripped of their traffic, Subway and elevated trains, running on reduced schedules, were sparsely occupied Trains to the shore resorts were almost empty. The re- sorts themselves as quiet as If in winter.
 Millions Do Homage.
 The apex of the day of mourning came a noon when with millions as- sembled in the city's churches to do sorrowful homage to the dead Presi-
 
 Ing forts and military posts boomin g the presidential salute, and with hundreds of church bells tolllng, the city's transit lines ground to a halt and her connections with tho outside world were temporarily snapped.
 Subway, elevated and railroad trains, trolley cars and automobiles stood motionless for two minutes. Telegraph and cable instruments were stilled for like period. Radio ceased. Telephone operators sat motionless at their switchboards. All thoughts turned toward Marion.
 Another climax came a few minutes after o'clock when the wires of the Associated Press connecting the nation with Marion, flashed taps then subsided for two minutes into an unaccustomed silence.
 A vast hush filled the city. Crews of ships and tugs in the harbor stood at attention. Foreign vessels dipped their colors. The Stars and Stripes of the American lines fluttered sadly at half mast.
 Observed Far At Sen.
 Far away at sea this moment was similarly observed. Many vessels halted in their courses for two to five minutes. Others slowed down to funeral speed. On all, crews stood at attention.
 
 had been consigned to its tomb the mourning continued Legitimate theatres and vaudeville houses were closed. Broadway was almost dark. A few of the motion picture houses all closed during the day-opened this evening, but their crowds were small.
 Some gave, a touch of mourning to their programs by displaying the late Presidents features on the screen while organs whispered his favorite hymn.
 Governor Smith, Mayor Hylan and other dignitaries mingled with the thousands who thronged St. Patracks cathedral for a ceremonial presided over by Monsignor John J. Dunn vicar general and auxiliary bishop Representatives of the American Le- zion, organized reserves of the Sev- enty-seventh division, Military order of the World war, New England so- city American Daughters of the British Empire, Union League clLt and Boy Scouts were present. "Taps" Is Sounded.
 Boy Scouts held an open air me- morial at city hall. trumpeters sounding taps" while the Stars and Stripes and the scout flag were dip ped
 Travelling salesmen who found themselves in the city today at tended a special memorial at the Hotel Pennsylvania.
 On Ellis Island, nearly two thou sand future Americans bowed In de- ference to the grief of their chosen land, at services conducted under the direction Of the immigration com missioner, Mir. Curran.
 Even the city jatls joined in the general mourning. More than 5000 students. representatives of every state in the union and nearly every country in the world attended 6 me morial service at Columbia univer-