Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-31
BETROTHAL Of MAN
FRIEND IS BELIEVED
! REASON FOR ACTION
Girl Killed Self With Fathers
Revolver at Home in BoS-
ton-FareweII Note, Left
for ather Found by Maid
BY JOHN EDWIN NEVTN
Geased Wire Service to The Journal.)
lEnuvrirht 1904 \

(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1920
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Wash-
ingtons smart" set was inclined
today to resent the declaration of
w. P. c. Harding, governor of the
federal board of Boston, and for
mer head Of the federal reserve sys-
tenn, that the suicide of his daugh-
ter, Miss Margaret Eliot Harding,
in Boston, was due to the demands
made on her bX local society. The
bereaved father flatly declared that
dancing every night and smoking
cigarettes had broken down his
beautiful daughters health and
caused a nervous condition, which
resulted in her taking her own
life.
While society leaders here frankly
admit that the social pressure is eX-
IRENE, and that probably 80 per
cent of women smoke, as well as
dance, they insist that one Of the
compelling reasons for Miss Hard
ings act was the shock that fol
lowed announcement of the engage
ment of Stanley Hawkes., an at
tache Of the State Department. to
another youg woman.
Devoted to Miss Harding
Hawkes. had been devoted to Miss
Harding, it was declared, and every
one here, had expected that they
would be married next summer, al
though no formal engagement had
been announced.
1t is certain, however, that Miss
Harding, during the 10 years she
lived in Washington, and especially
since she "came out" into society,
has found the demands on her time
very strenuous.
Beautiful, and Of very winsome
disposition, she has been very popu-
lar here, and ever since the war
has been a factor in the various
functions given by exclusive Wash
ingten society. Friends here said
today that she was an excellent
dancer and never missed an oppor'
tunity to participate in that eXer-
else.
She was in Washington a few dayH
ago, returning to Boston last Fri
day.
Showed Extreme Nervousness
81 Friends said that she was ex-
remely nervous, and complained
that she missed her old friends very
much. At that time the ahnounce'
ment- of Mr.. Hawkes. engagement
to- Mss Margaret Baldwin had just
been made. Hawkes. now is in
Boston, according to his friends
here.
1t was recalled here today that
Miss Harding's mother shot and
killed herself in their home in Biz
mingham June %. 1910. Almost
simultaneously, in his home in an
johnson, a friend, also committed
suicide. From Washington Miss
Harding went with her father to
Boston when he was made governor
of the bank there, but the lure Of
Washington proved too much, and
she soon came back here on a visit.
She returned to Boston from time
TO time, but always came back to
/. the capital.
According to her friends, she
threw herself with abandon into
the many social events that mark
the life here, but they do not agree
with her father that the exactions
Of this life We're sufficient to cause
the nervous breakdown which APP
parently caused her to end her life.
FATHER SAYS SOCIAL
LIFE CAUSE OF SUICIDE
BOSTON, Jan. 29.-The whirl OF
social life, dancing and cigarettes
resulting finally in a nervous break
down, are blamed by w. p. G.. Hard
ing, governor of the Federal Reserve
Bank of Boston, for the death OF
his daughter. Margaret Eliot Hard
ing, who committed suicide Satur
day
Governor Harding IN a statement
Monday night made public the cir
cumstances of Miss Harding's death
lie said his daughter. since leavins
school several years ago. had de
} voted herself to social activities to
such an extent that, a few months
ago, her health had become seriously
impaired and that he had warned
her c1ntinuouSly against late hours
and cigarette smoking. She spent
much of her time in Washington
and fortnight ago. after a stay OF
several months at home. again Wis.
tied the capital On her return to
Boston last week. Governor Harding
said, Miss Harding told him that she
:. was suffering from a breakdown.
Governor Harding was in New
York visiting another daughter Mrs
Eugene V. Il Thayer, when news OF
Miss Harding's suicide reached him.
Funeral services wehe held here Mon
day.
Miss Harding shot herself late
saturday with her fathers revolver,
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