Evening star., 1923-08-11

right of the casket with Secretary
Christian and the members of the
grief-bowed family.
Within. the shadow of the doorway
of the vault the churchmen took their
place, and from the shrubbery that
screened them the choir sang Lead,
Kindly Light" The last service for
Warren Harding had begun.
Prayers by Old Friend.
Prayers followed. spoken by an old
friend of the dead President, the
scriptural passages that hearten men
in sorrow were read and again the
choir sang. The last hymn of this
My God. to Thee" and as the softly
blending voices came to the last
chords Mrs. Harding slowly raised
her Veiled face and stood as though
in prayer to Him above that the dead
husband. who in moment would be
shut away from her forever, might
know that peace beyond understand
ing which Gods mercy holds out to
humanity at the last.
The voices died away. and with
lifted hand. Bishop Anderson. of the
Methodist Episcopal Church 'pro-
nounced the benediction:
Now unto Him that is able to keep
us from falling, and to present us
glory. with exceeding JOY, to the only
wise God, our Saviour. be glory and
majesty, dominion and power. both
now, and forevermore. Amen.
Party Stands Motionless.
The funeral party and the hundreds
who ringed them about stood motion
less and silent "A moment. Then the
soldiers and sailors and marines who
have kept honor watch all the way
from San Francisco, and who alone
have carried this casket, stepped for
ward. Facing the tomb, they lifted
IL slowly and slowly bore it in through
the shadowy doorway. And at that
moment the nation stood silent in
sorrow.
Back to the dim dipth of the crypt
of stone and earth the bearers went
with their burden. then turned TO
file out again and stand stify at at
tention in double lines forming a
corridor of honor.
Mrs. Harding raised her veil
slightly and swept the moisture from
her brow and lips. It was still and
off by the crowding, sorrowful peo-
pie about her, but il did not seem
that even now il was tears she wiped
away.
Halts But Moment.
AS the bearers came out she leaned
!! to whisper to Secretary Christian
Then she stepped forward. leaning on
his arm, to pass just within the ivy
grown doorway beyond which lay the
flag draped casket, hardly visible In
the dim vault. She halted but mo-
ment in this final farewell. then
turned to walk slowly down the road
way to the waiting motor car that
rolled her swiftly away
After she had gone President Cool
idge with Mrs. Coolidge stepped to
her place within the doorway. they.
too. standing but a moment AS they
turned to pass out the great iron
barrier was swung softly shut and
Warren Harding was at home for
ever in the town he loved.
Down beyond where a green lawn
stretched under the trees the khaki
tents OF the guardsmen cleaned. AS
the sorrowing company before the
vault moved away to the waiting cars
the guardsmen again took their
places before the vault. flaming with
the beauty of the flowers that
banked it about. And the hundreds
who had stood to watch the simple
ceremony that committed a simple
American TO the keeping of his God.
drifted slowly away to leave him
alone when dark fell for the sleep
that will never end.
Many Fail to See Body.
How many of Ohio's and the ma
; tion's citizens Joined with the 10000
Marion neighbors and friends of
Warren G. Harding never will be
known. They could only be roughly
estimated.
from everywhere until they literally
crowded every street anu byway
which the late President knew and
loved so we'll
One wish OF Mrs. Harding could
not be fulfilled. She had expressed
a desire that every person who so
desired should be permitted to pass
by the bier and pay their tribute
of sorrow. She issued instructions
| last night that the house be kept
open until morning if necessary to
accommodate all who might come.
They came until 1 o'clock in the
morning.
There were thousands, too, who
early gave up hope OF being able
/ to see the dead President. because
| of the numbers which already were
| in line with little or no chance.
How many were in the cemetery
never will be known. They num-
| bered in the thousands. Only a
faint sound as Of distant echo.
now and anon. could be gathered of
| the funeral service by those holding
/ the most distant positions from the
| tomb Detachments Of infantry kept
| the surgng throng back from the
| sacred plot in front of the tomb
where Mrs. Harding made the final
! surrender of her life's helpmate and
tha nation surrendered her leader.