The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-08-07
LONELY HAMLETS
JOIN IN TRIBUTE
MRS. HARDING IS BRAVELY
BEARING CROSS AS TRAIN
SPEEDS ON ITS WAY.

ENAL MAIN, DLSNNCLi wv
Coursing eastward across the western
plains, the presidential special is bear
ing back to Washington and home
the remains of the nations hoFored
leader
Besides the g-draped coffin in the
rear car sits the silent, bowed figure
of Mrs. Warren Gamaliel Harding.
Throughout the long first day. as
the train Numbered across arid, des-
ert wastes or slowed in its rush to
pass through the little towns where
reverent groups gathered bareheaded
to pay fleeing respect to the dead
chieftain the brave, grief-stricken lady
kept faithful vigil
Sometimes, as was her wish she
remained alone with the casllet and
her thoughts, save for the silent
guards, military and naval, who stand
at attention, on guard for the last
time over their late commander-in-
chief.
Seek to Comfort Her,
What thoughts occupied the dead
presidents wife, she alone knows, but
friends who accompanied her and the
ney that started so bravely, and who
now, admiring her calm strength,
seek to do what they can to comfort
her, recall her fears that the strain OF
the presidency would bring just this
disaster to the Harding household.
The watching woman to whom the
nations sympathy and that of the
world goes out had entertained no
ambitions save those born of her pride
in her husband She would have been
as proud of Mfr Harding in some
humber role.
Throughout all the sorrowed hur
ried preparations for departure from
the western shore, to which the presi
dent had brought his message OF in
ternational accord he was not per-
mitted to deliver in person, the dig
nifty of Mrs. Harding, her forebear
ance in her own grief, had made
things easier for those about her.
81 will not break down." she said
in San Francisco, when the blow fell
and now, as in the first tragic hours,
she is keeping her trust
Others in the party who had known,
and served, and loved President Hard
ing we'll are for more worn with sor-
row and loss of sleep than the quiet
woman who sits beside the casket.
Grief of Party Great.
For the most part they slept late
and rested today The grief of the
party is great = Attorney General
Daugherty, plain Harry" to his friend
Warren" seemed inconsolable. He
had reached the bedside of his chief
and friend short time before the
end
Herbert Hoover, DIR. Work and
Secretary Wallace also are bowed
with sorrow, delaying the inevitable
plans they must shortly make for
carrying on in the way President
Harding had led but under the new
leader now installed in Washington
awaiting their return.
But now, with full realization Of
their personal loss as we'll as that of
the nation, they mourn the presidents
passing
To Mrs. Harding, though, is denied
even the privilege of full, private ex-
preston of her grief For days yet,
as the funeral train roars along the
homeward route, she must bear up.
| She cannot sorrow as she must want
to, nor rest as she needs to rest
The funeral train, pulling out of
San Francisco, slowly gathering speed
past the thousands lining the tracks
to silently bid farewell was soon
rushing into the night at its fullest
| speed.
Citizens Watch Passing.
Redwood City, Stockton Miles and
smaller places turned out their citi-
zens to watch its passing Even in
the midnight darkness there were
places along the line where those
awake at that hour saw faces, under
Pickering depot lights peering at the
laundering train.
By dawn the Nevada line was
reached: the mountains were quickly
behind and with gathering daylight
the swing northward to where the
railroad picks up the river at Love
lock
Each hour, treading silently, the
guard of honor is changed, two sol
diers and two sailors replacing those
| in the last car
There were long stretches between
stations as the day lengtheifed; now
and then nothing but the wide stretch
! eS of desert met the tear Redeemed
eyes of those who looked from the
train windows. But proof that Presi-
dent Harding had been honored here
as in the east was furnished by the
little groups, some but mere hand
full, that gathered everywhere along
the railroad side to see the train go
by. However small the groups, or
humble their community it was the
American people, paying respect to
the dead leader.