The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-08
BODY OF HARDING REACHES CAPITAL AFTER LONG TRIP
(ContInued From Page one)

ried through the Presidents room.
 Mrs. Harding reached thS h Se House at 1o:45 p. m. just as her husbands body was being taken into the Presidents room at the station. She walked into the house unaided.
 Inside the executive mansion, which she had left six weeks ago as the first lady of the land, the widow was greeted only by old friends and members of the family. A plan to the cabinet present to meet her was cancelled at her own request.
 The little group that were to con sole her while her dead lay in the east room consisted of Mrs George T. Harding, Jr., wife of the Presi- dents brother; pr. Heber Votaw, the Presidents brother-in-law, and Mrs. Votaw: Clifford Klng, Mrs. liar ding's brother and Mrs. Kling; Gov ernor Crissinger of the reserve board and Mrs. Crissinger. and Director Scoby of the mint and Mrs. scoby. - As Mrs. Harding stepped into the White House a shooting star dropped out of the heavens, shedding a brief but mellow light upon the scene. A crowd of a few score who had been admitted to the grounds stood at a considerable distance until Mrs: liar ding had disappeared beyond the portals,
 President Coolidge gave formal greeting to his dead chief as the casket reached the head of the aisle of soldiers before the Presidents room. He stood hat in hand as it passed, then turned to follow slowly with bent head.
 Flag Drnped Cnsket.
 The flag draped burden that car ried with it the sorrowing heart of a nation, then was taken through the long room to the plaza beyond and lifted to the black draped gun cais- son. It was strapped in place as the troopers of the escort sat with sabres raised high in present" A moment later, at a low command. the troops turned slowly away to lead the march to the White House.
 Six bay horses with two khaiki klad out riders drew the caisson. The escort moved off across the plaza in platoon front. then halted while the motor cars took on their pass engers. President Coolidge and Speaker Gillette were in the first car
 It was a few minutes before eleven o'clock when the sad procession be- gan moving toward the capitol grounds where it would swing into Pennsylvania avenue. The hidden flooded lights that usually bathe the capitol with white glow had
 
 stood against a moonless sky as If in mourning, a thing of majestic beauty lifting above the great pile it surmounts
 Other Officials.
 Behind President Coolidge in the cortege rode Chief Justice Taft and Secretary Hughes, in a second car, then Secretaries Weeks and Denby riding together. The newspapermen of President Hardings party walked beside President CoolidEes car and the other side. A picked guard of honor from the headquarters com pany of the District of Columbia walked beside the caisson.
 Down the winding roadway under the trees the escort moved turning into Pennsylvania avenue around the Peace monument and swinging up the street at a slow walk.
 An utter hush filled the broad street, lined again despite the late hour with thousands who had waited long to pay their humble need Of acclaim to the dead. The following troop of the cavalry swung down, then the rolling rumbling guns that brought up the rear.
 Up the broad way ahead the cor tese rolled and no sound except the chatter of horses hoofs and the rumbling of the gun wheels marke ct its passing. Far ahead the solemn hush held among the thousands. The cry of fretful child, cradled in it's mothers arms sounded oddly loud. Street Lights Dim.
 The street was dim in the subdued glow of it's tall lamps; the build Ing dark. almost deserted, with few lighted windows. A black sky stud ,f,,lr 1AI 1 ;.., and far away spread above. Flags on the high building were invisible in their dejected, half droop in the all but windless air.
 It seemed long after the rattle of hoofs a block or two away became audible, before the escort came abreast.
 The troopers were half visible as they passed. save for the dim lights flashed back in countless variations from the naked steel of their blades. The caisson rolled noislessly on rub Der shod wheels with 8 single wreath of sombre hues rested over the still heart of him who thus retraced the way he came in triumph to place and power two brief years ago.
 The wide straps that bound the casket to it's place looked like bands of mourning against the flowing glory of the great flag that covered 1t.
 Behind the casket in long single file came the silent cars bearing the mourners, their dimmed headlights sombre night Behind these and the last hoFseman came the rolling guns the guns-the dead leader hoped might never again give vpice in anger.
 Mrs. Coolidge Looks On.
 As the funeral party wound slowly beneath the high windows of the Will lard hotel. Mrs. Coolidge looked down upon it to ponder who knows what lesson the solemn cortege carried for the husband so ruthlesSly forced tc high place by the death of his chief
 Swinging wide around the old cor. ner beyond the hotel where the bulk of the gray treasury blocks the road the slow moving troopers turned UT the gentle hill of 18th street in 8 canyon of stone and steel where the steel on the horses hoofs rang sharp CT in the heavy, close air. Another wide turn carried them in- to Pennsylvania avenue again and the last stage of the journey. Thou sands were banked silent and bare headed along the way and deep into the park over the way from the White House gates.
 The troopers swung on to turn ir | line and sat rigid with lifted sabres The caisson rolled by them and on in to the east gate at 1l:40 D. m. ant then around under the great old tree | to the huge door through which greal