Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-09

consideration for the sick man be-
side him touched every heart and
dimmed many eyes that day-it
touched Woodrow Wilson'S heart as
few things had, and today he came
to pay it back and put his heart
upon his sleeve. Little did anybody
dream that Woodrow Wilson would
be helping lay Warren Harding I'M
der the sod, but death had given a
respite to the one and abruptly sum-
moned the other.
Catch i'm Every Throat
| IF there be an American who does
not feel a scatch in his throat or
whose heart does not beat faster
when the marine band plays Onward
Christian Soldiers" he did not stand
on Pennsylvania avenue today as, the
cortege passed.
AS if in exemplification, the
Christian kindness of Warren Har-
ding's heart, the magnificent band
just ahead of him played the majestic
strains of the old hymn all the way
to the capitol, interspersed with
"How Firm A Foundation Ye Saints
of the Lord" the favorite hymn of
Theodore Roosevelt,
And as the silver tones mounted
UP and echoed back in the canyon
of humanity that packed. the great
thoroughfare, tears stole down many
cheeks and many eyes were dim
But as they entered the sweeping
expanse Of the plaza the bands fell
silent. Amid a hush like the quiet
of the tomb the infantry of the es
| cort formed It's line across tho
entire front the marines took up
anti, r,ta rth 81 "a
steps of the rotunda, and the blue
jackets defiled into line opposite
them TO the south. Only the sharp
commands cit into the oppressive
| silence.
AS the troops came into position
! General Pershing remained on horse
back in the front of the center Of
the rotunda, awaiting the. coming
of the dead to this new scene Of
fearful, splendid glory. Senator He'll
~ Cabot Lodge, designated as mar
shall of the parade by virtue of his
I many years OF public service under
! many presidents. alighted from mis-
car beside the rotunda steps and
likewise stood waiting, waiting sol
! emily and with bowed head, for
! the coming of the friend whose desk
had been near his in the senate
chamber in the years when Warren
Harding was happy in the lesser
/ before the nation called him to the
burdensome duties that crushed out
his life. .
Stilled BY Hush OF Tragedy
1t was a wait of only a few min
4 utes. The troops in front of tue
capitol presented arms as the cas-
son reached the east front of nte
rotunda, and Pershing joined in
the salute. The long line of auto
mobiles came to stop, and noI-
commissioned officer stepped up ar /
loosened the wide black straps thai
had bound the casket to it's funeral
car. Then it was lifted down ana
with the band playing Lead Kind
ly Light the president was car
ried tenderly, and with the LOVING
benedlction of nation upon him,
up the steps and across the spot
where two and half years ago, ne
stood to take his oath of duty
Then the plaza was filled vita
cheering humanity. Today it was
once more picture of reverence
\ and high respect, but stilled this
time bU the hush of tragedy.
Senator Lodge walked up the
steps beside the casket and the
empty caiSSon moved away The
dignitaries and the ministers fol
! lowed along step by step, for the
| progress up the steps was very,
I very slow. Fourteen soldiers, sailors
and marines helped lift the load of
sorrow up the steep and long ascent
! to the chamber where Lincoln and
Mckinley rested in grandeur and
! where now Harding was to receive
/ the last pouring out of a great peo-
| pies love and gratitude.
| President Coolidge, Chief Justice
! Taft, and former Vice President
Marshall, who also had been allotted
a place in the procession, reached.
the rotunda just behind the casket.
Mrs. Harding's car had driven to
| an entrance below the big steps so
! that she could be taken to the floor
above by elevator.
Then began a new scene in the
| great drama Of grief.
Lead Kindly Light
AS the body was placed on the
catafalque first built for Lincoln
ever deeper hush seemed to fall
upon those within the sacred pre-
cincts. Al exactly 11:40 a. M, DR..
Anderson began the invocation, and
with his "amen" quartet Of the
Calvary Baptist church, Mr.. Har-
uing's place of worship, took up
softly the plaintive. beseeeching
strains of Lead Kingly Light" the
favorite hymn of Mckinley.
Over the broken body of the lead
err were intoned the solemn words
of assurance Of David in the Twenty
third Psalm, a selection from Rev.
elations, and the verse from Micah
to which Mr.. Harding had pressed
his lips when he kissed the Bible
of George Washington on Inaugural
ton day two years ago.
A simple prayer by DR.. Montgom,
cry, the singing of Nearer, My God,
to Thee" by the quartette, and a
benediction by DR.. Anderson. and the
national government had concluded
it's last rites for it's president. From
that moment he was to belong to the
! people and to history; in his majesty
on the hallowed bier under the great
dome he was to lie in state for his
| fellow men TO pass by and dc him
reverence in their own way until the
shadows of evening should lengthen
to announce the hour when he would
take up once more his long trail to
final rest in his home town OF
Marion
The benediction at the funeral
service in the rotunda was pro-
i nounced precisely at noon.
Then with slow steps and in silence
the little funeral party separated.
Mrs. Harding walked from the ro-
tunda on the arm OF Secretary
Christian with DR.. Sawyer walking
beside her. Thus she reached the
private elevator of the supreme
court near the north door, and in it
was taken to the street level.
Immediately the widow entered her
car and again. accompanied by her
! husbands secretary and physician,