, 1923-08-08

mt countrymen grouped along
self as he would TO the sorrowful duty
of the day. Behind these. in endless
array. marched the great body Of
American citizenry and tho men who
keep the wheels Of n great govern
ment moving in the huge. silent build
ing about.
Military bands, interpreted in the
columns. played old, old hymns that
stir and comfort. The hush and dim
mystery of last night. when the flag
draped casket came to its brief space
of quiet in tho White House, was
lacking. But there was no sound or
movement in the great crowds that
lined the way until that fateful bur
den under its colorful. glorious hunt
ing had been carried by on silent
wheels to be lifted to tho catafalqus
In the great stone chamber of the cap
itol rctunda.
There in keeping with the simple.
ity OF the man who lay dead, the
funera services were Of brief. i'm.
pressive nature. Afterward. in its
place OF honor beneath the dome, The
body was to lie unit nightfau willis
thousands upon thousands filed past
the bier with bent. heads
to bid farewell to tho upright. kindly
man SO soon to cave Washington for
ever.
PROCESSION OF 1,[aIrl
SORROW IMPRESSIVE.
It was a few minutes past ten
O'Clock when the great procession Of
sorrow swung out form h white
House gates to begin its pilgrimage up
tho historic avenue where so many
other long ava OF grief and OF
rejoicing. Of regret and of triumph,
had preceded II In years gone by.
Tenderly the president had been
carried for the last time from the
portals of tho White House and
placed again on the artillery caisson
that had borne him last night from
the funeral train to the east room, to
lie for n few hours amid tho flowers
that had been placed there in tribute
by the potentates OF the earth and
by the plain people the fallen chief
tain loved so well.
As the funeral hour approached. the
casket was opened 20 that near re.
latives and friends might have their
last look there in tho east room at
the bier of their beloved dead who
lay with a peaceful smile In the re-
pose OF eternity.
Former President Wilson, himself
broken by the cares OF the chief
magistry, came to the great portico
just before the hour of departure 10
take his place In the cortege at tho IN.
vitation of President Coolidge. Chief
Justice Taft. the only other living
ex-president, also was waiting when
the casket, %enshrouded in the Starr
and Stripes like hat OF other soldieru
who hove made the supreme sacrifice
in the service OF their country, was
lifted from Its setting OF flowers to
be bore to It's amid another and per
haps a grander array OF floral color
ing and fragrance in tho rotunda
President Coolidge. who enters thus
with heavy heart upon the duties OF
the highest office in the land. ar.
rived TO take his place also Just at
the hour set for the departure.
As tho cortege was forming under
meath the shRdows of the great trees
through which many presidents have
looked out upon the world. sometimes
in triumph and many times in sorrow.
the bell in ST. Johns Episcopal
church across Lafayette square.
known as the church Of tho presi-
dents. began tolling in dolefil lament
ut the passing Of a great heart into
the galaxy OF immortals.
MRS. HARDING WITH ~
BODY EARLY IN DAY.
Only as tho procession started aid
IL become known that Mrs Harding
had been with the body in the east
room for a half hour At 1 o'clock this
morning. She was alone at times and
at other timer attended by one or
two relatives. But while officials
were gathering at the funeral hour 20
take up their places in the cortege
she remained in her room. alone with
her grief.
Before the casket As II was car
ried down tho steps walked tho two
ministers who were selected TO Of
flciate later at the funeral in the
Continued On Page FourJ