The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1923-08-16
LAST H0NORS TO
DEAD PRESIDENT
Final Simple Service Bring To
a Close the Life of Warren
GamalieI Harding
THOUSANDS ARE PRESENT
LAST ohsequies of Nations Dead
Chief Are SoIemnly Observed In
the Presence Of Many Rela-
tiVes and Host of Friends.

Marion, o., Aug. 1O.-Harding. OF
Ohio, is home tonight; sleeping time
away near the mother at whose knee
his first childish dream of greatness
was prattled
Before his tomb as the Ginning
voices Of the choir sang softly among
the trees, Nearer. My God. TO Thee"
another tender. brave woman stood
with aching heart, her yelled face
lifted 10 the sky. A moment later
she stepped a meager moment into
the dim vault where the dead hus-
bands journey OF life had ended.
Then she turned away, brave TO the
last, to face the lonely years ahead.
She waited not TO see the iron gates
close softly upon her dead
Aside from the multitude that wall
ed the long way from his fathers
home to the vault and those others.
closely packed TO make a living set
ting for the funeral rites there was
not much TO mark it as the burial OF
one who had held highest power in
his grasp. There were the tanned
men Of his guard from the sister serv-
ices OF the nation, the admirals and
the generals who formed his honor
escort. the friend and comrade who
now is President in his stead. the col
leagues Of his grief-stricken cabinet
That was all, except at the last. dis
tant gunfire as he came TO his tomb
and the soft tones OF a bugIe sound
ing a soldier requiem as the gates
were closed.
Otherwise the funeral services were
that OF a simple and much-Ioved cfti
zen OF Ohio. For all Ohio seemed t.
have come today 10 bid him farewell
Throngs. whose number will never be
known. passed beside his casket and
looked their last upon the dead face
before the time for the last Journey
came.
from nls Gathers house ne went
out again carried by the steadfast
men who have stood constantly TO
guard a dead commander. No solemn
music Of bands or military pageant
marked his going, save the great flag
Of the President, dropping in mourn
ing, carried before him to the gates
OF the tomb as he went.
In cars behind the simple hearse
that carried now this honored leader
came President Coolidge and the cab
met and the friends and close kin
There, too, came Chief Justice Taft
and General Pershing. Last To leave
the memoried house was Mrs Hard
ing in black and with veil drawn
close. and just ahead Of her walked
the old father, his face plainly show
ing the agony of his grief.
The last service for Warren Hard
ing had begun.
Prayers followed. spoken by an old
friend OF the dead President the
ScripCuraI passages that hearten men
in sorrow were read and again the
choir sang. The last hymn of this
simple. reverent service was Nearer
Ny God. TO Thee"
And as the softly blending voices
came TO the last chords Mrs Harding
slowly raised her yelled face and
stood as though in prayer To- Kim
above that the dead husband who fin
moment would be shut away from
her forever might know that peace
beyond understanding which Gods
mercy m0ids out 90 humanity at the
last
The voices died away. and with lift
7f hand Bishop Anderson of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church pronounced
the beuedictiou
wow unto Him that fs able -- l,sa-