The Washington times., 1923-08-06
MRS. HARDING
PLANS TRIP
ABROAD
Expresses Wish to Travel AZ
Funeral Train Nears
Former Home.
Continued from First Page.)


Usually there was. a color guard,
the brightness of the flag dinmed
by the unwonted streamers of
black crepe.
Even In the green cornfields the
farmers halted their work and
their teams to come to the fence
to stand, hats in hand. and thus
mutely express their sorrow at the
untimely- passing OF him who
little more than a month ago dis
carded his silk hat and his Presi-
dental dignity that he might
mingle democratically with them
in the fields and learn at first hand
their problems.
From Omaha, early this morn
ing, the funeral train swept into
Iowa and settled down for a days
run which by nightfall will bring
it within the borders Of President
Harding's home state OF Ohio and
less than "a hours distant from the
National Capital A stop of fifteen
minutes was made at Omaha in
order to change engines and move
the train from the Union Pacific
to the Northwestern Lines over
which the run to Chicago will be
made. Chicago win be reached
shortly after three o'clock this after
noon and there the train will be
switched around the outskirts Of
the city to the Baltimore and Ohio
system for the final run TO Wash.
ington.
Mrs. Harding is slowly and me-
thodically gathering strength for
the trying ordeal that awaits her
in the Capital and at Marion. where
the Presidents remains will be
Nh
cult week ever confronted woman.
Realizing this. she is spending most
Of her time In bed. obtaining as
much rest as is possible against the
time when she will stand sorely in
need of all her slim strength and
taut nerve.
She has at last convinced even
the skeptical doctors. however. that
she will be able to withsta nd the
strain Of the two sad homecomings.
One Of them told the International
News Service correspondent today
that when the train left San Fran
cisco Friday night he was gravely
fearful there would be a collapse
en- route. but that now he felt sure
Of his patient.
Courageous. and with that an1azf
ing strength Of will which continues
to evoke the admiration OF those
about her, Mrs. Harding has gathered
herself together and has even given
some thought to the future. While
she has not made any definite plans
and will not until after this trying
week is over, 1t is understood that
she will not make her home in Wash
ington. In this respect, she will,
her friends say, follow the example
Of Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, reside
away from the Capital with its
intimate associations and when she
visits Washington from time to time
1t will be not as the widow OF
President, but as any other private
citizen.
VIII Live In Marion.
Announcement at Marion that Mrs
Harding will make her home TOR
the immediate future with DIR. and
Mrs. Charles e. Sawyer at their
place on the outskirts of Marion. Is
regarded BY her friends aboard the
train as premature. She probably
will return to Marion after the sor-
rowful days OF moving from the
White House are completed, but
whether she will reside with the
Sawyers or at the home Of her
brother in Marion has not been de-
cided.
Ultimately, she has told her
friends, she would like to travel q
bit abroad, If her health permits.
Thus far the funeral trip from
the Far West coast has been an
epochal one for speed and smooth
ness of travel. The only untoward
event across nearly 1000 miles of
desert mountain and plain was the
throwing Of a shoe by the engine at
Chapel, Neb., late Sunday, but,
fortunately 1t came at a time when
the train had slowed down for the
approaching station. The mishap
was inconsequential except that it
necessitated the hurried drafting of
a new engine from a nearby passen-
ger train.
Throughout the night the train
ran steadily away from a severe
thunder and electrical storm which
was constantly on its heels. The
train only escaped from the rain and
lightning when 1t crossed the Mis-
souri, river early this morning and
struck out through the Iowa grain
belt. Officials aboard the train re-
ceived assurances from Washington
today that Mrs. Harding's desire for
the Capital ceremonies to follow the
presidents established in the rites
for President Mckinley will be car.
ried out to the letter.
Career Like McKmley's.
There is a remarkable similarity
in the careers and lives of these
two Ohio Presidents which is FIRE.
quently commented upon by those
aboard the funeral train. Each had
served his State in Columbus and
in Congress before going 10 the
White House. Each was known for
his sane conservatism and kindly
human qualities and each expired
during his term of office.
Even in their domestic lives the
parallel extends. Mrs. McKinley:s
health was, after a severe illness,
very precarious. and her husband
was ever solicitious Of her physical
well-being even as President Hard.
ing was so tenderly watchful over
Mrs. Harding ever since her severe
illness a year ago and yet, despite
her illness Mrs. Mckinley survived
her husband even as now Mrs
Harding, despite her illness, has