New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-08
CROWDS GATHER AT
WASHINGTON EARLY
Vast ThrOneS Lime Streets to Pay
Homage to Harding

Dcnedlu q ClOudleSS SKY, out with the
hot haze of midsummer almost OBJ
securing the sun as 1t mounted the east
to look for the last time upon War
rem Harding, among the scenes of his
greatest labors. Now and then how
ever. as the crowds of watchers began
to gather along the funeral way, fit
full breezes rustled benediction
among the branches of the elms and
naples that line the historic avenue.
Mrs. Harding who re-crossed the
threshold of the White House but a
short time after midnight after her
long journey homeward with the
dead, was up at 7:45 this morning,
refreshed by several hours sleep, She
renewed to the few close friends and
relatives about her in the house Of
SORROW her determination to bear up
bravely through all the trying funeral
hours-a determination which carried
her three thousand miles through
scenes of sorrow which never have
been surpassed in the nations his
tory.
Shortly after she awoke and while
the city was stirring itself in prepara-
ton for the great events of the day,
the widow of the great white man.
sion, who had been SO lately the first
lady Of the land, had her breakfast
alone In her room on the second
floor, across the hall from the bed
room which had belonged to him who
now slept at the foot of the great
stairway.
The morning sun. despite the haze
that gave a touch Of unreality to the
! he oil
chandeliers In the east room with a
salvo OF light and gave new glory
to the majesty amid which the dead
i president was sleeping his last sleep
within the portals which had held
for him so much of hope and
promise.
Great Floral Tributes
with the dawn the tale of tribute
told by the floral offerings that al
ready hid the walls of the great room
/ was taken up again by others who de-
sired to pay q need of praise and |
gratitude to the kindly leadership of
lthe sleeper. The first wreath to ar
rive this morning was from the
! scouting fieet-a great anchor of
asters, white on blue. 1t was laid
reverently among the offerings of
princes and Of barefoot boys banked
about the casket In a great smother
ing profusion of beauty and fragrance.
From Far Off Alaska
In a place of honor near the cas-
ket was one wreath that would have
brought a tear of gratitude to the
kindly blue eyes of the president,
could they have been opened once
again to behold the grandeur of his
last rest amid the flowers. 1t was from
the government of Alaska, woven
mass Of purple and white orchids yell
low roses, lilies of the valley and snap
dragons set thereto symbolic the
appreciation of a far land to whose
interests the fallen chieftain had
given his last hour of health and
strength.
Two hours before the sad march
from the White House to the Capitol
was to begin, the crowds were gath
ering along the way to pay their rev. '
erent homage during the last journey 9
to their leader along the avenue where {
he had passed SO many times before l
with the high light Of unselflsh en-
deavor fu the eyes that now were
CLOSED forever.
Services Az Capitol
Outside tho capitol the watchers
tamo earlier Than elsewhere, In the ,
vaan hope that somehow some of q.
chem might find . way into the ro- :
tunfa to see the simple funeral rites. :
But the little enclosure beneath the I.
dome could only hold handful Of
the many thousands and the places
OF honor there had been reserved for =
the highest government and diploma i
tic officials and the friends who In
life had stood closest to Mr.. Harding.
As he would have desired, the cere- 4,
monIals chosen to express the nations .
Last loving farewell were Of the SIM =
plest. The pastor Of his own church /,
In washington and the chaplain of !
the house Of representatives were the 7
od1cAnk1ng minister's The brief scrip =
ture reading selected included the
verse he had kissed on his Inaugural
ton day, as, with hand uplifted he
took hts oath Of duty, and pressed his
iips against the Bible that had been G
1t was the eighth verse p
Of the sixth chapter Of Micah. s. "
~He hath showed thee, o, Man,
what is good and what doth the
lord require to thee, but to do II
Justly. and to love mercy. and
To walk humbly with thy God7"
Thousands In Line
The thousands who could not be
Kfven places In the funeral hall were
formed In line at a distance so that
afbar the service they might file past
he casket to pay their last reverence.
n other thousands before them had
paid similar tribute in the same cham
Der to Loncoln and Mckinley and
more recently to the unknown dead.
Hours beforehand the long line.
,our abreast, began to form in the
ieep shadows Of the capitol grounds.
by tho sad Lesson Of the last
tate funeral to a president, when
many were injured in the crush OF
,aserness to pass in tribute past the
,offin Of Mckinley. a wide space in
ront of the capitol itself was kept
feared of all except those who had !
ards Of admission. i
Caslxet Is Opened :
Shortly after 9 o'clock the casket
ras opened as II lay among the flow
rs In the east room and the relatives
nd close friends said their fearful
God by to the dead. All the White
House employees who had loved him
or his kindly thoughtfulness and his
trong heart. filed past with the
theirs, dim-eyed and inconsolable. 3.
Ie lay In his last sleep with an in
"a. - Ii .v,,sta on5