Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-08-11
THE COUNTRY HOME
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BY MRS. w. H. FELTON,

THE PASSING OF PRESIDENT HARDING
WHEN l first saw President Harding
w and heard he was born after the Civil
W war, and was therefore in the prime
of his mature manhood, / was impressed
with his fine physical appearance, his stall
wart frame, and the idea which came first
into my mind was his particular and person
al fitness for the heavy responsibilities of his
high office. He moved around so easily on
his feet, stepped so lightly and with grace
full ease, l said to myself he can pull off his
stunt in good time and good order, if he
does not get killed by accident or is not
picked off by the weapon of the assassin.
Since l was nearly thirty years of age
four American presidents have gone away
because of an assassin's bullet. / never saw
Mr.. Lincoln, but I had some personal ac-
quaintance with Messrs. Garfield, Mckinley
and Roosevelt.
The three last named were fine specimens
of physical manhood. Mr.. Harding would
rank among the four the equal, and per-
haps the strongest person of them all. But
the impression prevailed also in my mind
that he might die before his term expired
an impression born of my fears. I suppose,
that the worlds turmoil, great as it was
might expose him to violence and the frenzy
of madmen can always be reckoned with on
this line. But human foresight is so ir
responsible that it is scarcely ever to be re-
lied upon in even planning for the future
Something snapped in his BRAIN" some
thing failed with his heart action, and his
vital spark went out in a moment of time
while he was fully conscious and his mind
in good action, and his family and friends
believing he was doing well.
How little we know, and tomorrow may
prove we know less than nothing, when
death comes to make the final call! Mrs.
Harding has gone through with most crit
ical and prolonged illness during the current
year. That she might depart, short no.
tce, was feared by her husband and her
friends, but President Hardings visitors
never dreamed that his stalwart frame might
become lifeless in q few seconds and the
spirit forever departed to its eternal destiny,
while he was so near, and still so far, in
his sudden death. 1t is understood that Mrs.
Harding was reading aloud from Mr.. Blythe's
late story headed Calm Review of Calm
Man" l had read it in the Saturday Eve
ming Post more than a week ago. 1t was
an appealing story, when the writer fully
expected Mr.. Harding to fill out his allotted
time as president. When we recollect it was
the last of earth to the stricken statesman,
we will read it time and time again, as a
wonderful tribute appreciated by the Calm
Man in the hour Of his departure.
This calmness was the principal feature in
his daily life and conversation. Some of his
critics thought he was dull because he was
habitually calm. In no sense did he appear
to indulge in eXcitement-political, social or
religious. He held himself steady, and never
appeared to Be irritated when he was eXcit-
eddy arraigned in congress by his political
foes, and they were merciless.
If the workings of his mind and heart
were in unison with the apparent calmness