Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-11
LAST TRIBUTE TO DECEASED PRESIDENT
HARDING IN SIMPLE EXERCISES HELD
IN hAEM0R|AM AT ELM CITY AUDITORIUM

oyer a thousand Waterville citi-
..ns gathered at the City Hall audi
t,rum yesterday afternoon al .
o,c,ocb to pay their last public trib-
,,s 10 the memory of President
Wren G. Harding. The services
,rore simple but most impressive.
" S,a nv the Opera House orches-
~ Tod by Max Cimbollek, selections
w. a male quartet, prayer by two of
Wotcryille's leading ministers, a
,snrt address by Mayor Leon O.
' nets and a eulogy by Judge
,,,srles +. Johnson, all helped to
20 the service one that will be
, p,, remembered. And last of all,
Inert ,'"I kirkpatrick sounded that
~rondprful but saddcs1 of all army
ca;, Taps.
On the stage there was a single
docoration-the picture of President
Harding drared with a silk flag.
Tso;c who sat on the platform were
members OF the G. \. r., Com
monder f. d. I.unt, .. 2. Richard
an. . Capt. Silas Adams. Barney
lambs. a. @. Libby, Frank Walker.
! l. Mcrrick. and y. T.. Haskell;
'ormer Watcrvillc mayors, T.. c.
wardwcI. Warren c. philbrook, l..
: Bunker. and Ernest F'innemore;
commander w. l. Sterling of the
sngnish War Veterans; Commander
pspl Julien of the George \.
rouroue Post. American Legion;
lev. Walter QUarrington and Rev.
,r.hur Buckner: Mayor Leon O.
~ehbctts and Judge Charles L. john
Nayor Leon o. Tebbetts was the
presiding officer. The orchestra
rItayed 'Lamcnto' by Gabriel-Marie
as the people came in. The first on
ibe program was the singing OF
lead Kindly Light" President
Yardings favorite hymn, by male
orartet composed of John f. Choate,
|. L. Cadwallader. H. Ray Pooler
and Bert Merrill.
Rev. Walter Quarrington offered
rr2vcr in which he raid tribute to
The deceased President. He said:
while we do not understand thy
rurposes, Thou art God for ever
more" He asked Gods blessing on
the services evoked by the death OF
the chief executive of the nation.
He asked that His blessing rest upon
Mrs. Harding and asked Him to be
with her in the hours of trouble nd
sadness. At the end of the prayer
The congregation Joined with KEY.
Mr. Quarrington in repeating the
Lords Prayer.
Mayor Tebbetts introduced Judge
Johnson as a man wonderfully mt
ed to deliver a memorial address
or President Harding as he has
,sen associated with the President
n the Senate in years past. Follow
ne the Judges address the quartet
png Nearer My God to Thee" Rev.
rtlur Buckner pronounced the
enediction and the audience led by
ohm +. Choate joined in singing
America" and Herbert kirkpatrick
minded Taps" on the cornet.
Judge johnson spoke in part as
blows:
One week ago the Nation was
hooked by the news that its Presi-
ent who but six weeks before had
1T the White House seemingly IN
Obust health, was dead. The people
ad followed with great interest ms
rip to Alaska. and had noted with
reat satisfaction the seeming ap-
recitation of the people of that ter
tory of the great honor which had
cen done them by his visit. The
Message of goodwill that he
,rought and the patient audience
which he gave to those who were
with conditions and his
Gomise to remedy existing evils mad
crved to cement them more closely
0 the Nation.
If he could have chosen how he
would have died, who doubts that
Warren c. Harding, the calm, patient
kindly man, would
lot have chosen this quiet exit from
he world? He never loved the
spectacular. Human suffering al
Ways touched his tender sympathy
md we thanl; God that he was spared
/ in the hours of mortal dissolu-
i0n
Away up in this Northeastern sec
ion Of the United States the people
II this city have followed that flu
neral train with sympathetic hearts
ind agoniZing sorrow for the stricK-
IN, bercaved wife. We have read OF |
The crowds with silent bowed heads |
WHO have noted its passing, and as
i rolled into the Capitol we have |
read of the honors accorded him and i
Inc carefully arranged and excellent
Y executed plans which official /,
Washington had made for a funeral |
Of state.
Today We are met to do honor to |
MIN with those friends and neigh
Oors in Marion. Ohio, and to link !
ouf sympathy with theirs, not only |
,or one who has achieved greatness,
Nat for the man whom honors could |
not disguise and whose sincere. hon |
est soul could not he contaminated |
" the baubles of glory and honor.
II Is strange that of the six Pres1- !
uehts who have died in office, three
w them by the assassin's hlllet. !
,nfee have been unable to accomplish |
VI complete the great work of re-
instruction which confronted them ,
a' The commencement of their term. i
while we pay our tribute to Prosl- !
ueht Harding as statesman and his |
as Chief Executive !
~ =, mis- great Republic. vet after all |
we Worthicst tribute which we can !
pay Is to him as man. because after /
a ~, when all the trappings of power
,h1 glory have been stripped from |
tne highest there remains the man
tbvneath them all. 1t is because of MS i
ruaarn kindness, springing from an |
btaSelhsh desire to make others |
rappv: that the heart of the Nation !
.e ss forth with sympathy today and |
lille, nlled with grief at his sudden de-
azure. Kindness. the choicest !
I'VE, NV That blooms in the garden OF |
bss iian virtues, to which all others |
be ol and nod their heads in silent !
,vd is the handspring of life
W. touches us all in all relations. !
n nn can calculate, who is discern
NJ NJ =, enough to weigh. the influence
i i ~. Kindly disposition of one who
i \ nj, ms contact with his fellowmen
l.s sulded by a feeling of charity and
h '' re 10 benefit them? If such there
:, nc only can truthfully record the