The End

At the westernmost edge of the country, having completed something more than half of his great tour of the nation and having served something more than half of his term of office, President Harding died.

The ptomaine poisoning, which had compelled him suddenly to abandon his tour, was followed by a slight attack of pneumonia. For a day or two it did not seem as if he were throwing off the poison. Then gradual improvement followed. His temperature abated, his pulse approached normal. The bulletins of physicians in attendance had at first pronounced his condition " serious." Succeeding bulletins gave more and more encouragement to the hope that he would recover. Public apprehension was allayed.

On Thursday, Aug. 2, the physicians announced: " While recovery will inevitably take some little time, we are more confident than heretofore as to the outcome of his illness." The President showed an active interest in his plans. He inquired whether he could not start for Washington in two or three days. He asked for some "old-fashioned blackberry juice." During the day his sister, Mrs. E. E. Remsberg, of Santa Ana, paid him a short visit.

Towards evening the President seemed in good health. Mrs. Harding and a woman nurse were with him. Mrs. Harding was reading aloud. Without warning a tremor shook his frame and he collapsed. Physicians were summoned. It was announced that the President had died of cerebral apoplexy at 7:30 p. m., Pacific time.

Mr. Harding's final illness was undoubtedly brought on by his strenuous exertions on the last few day of his trip, especially his arduous day at Seattle after landing from his Alaskan journey. Indirectly his death at this time may undoubtedly be traced to excessive work which fell to his lot as President. His death, following the severe illness of President Wilson produced by the same cause, has led to many suggestions that the duties of the Presidency be divided so that they should not fall with their full heaviness upon one man.

Messages of condolence to Mrs. Harding poured in from hundreds of people in public life in this country and abroad. Those who had known the President personally expressed their grief at the loss of a friend, kindly, honest and sincere.

Twenty-four hours after the President died, his body was conveyed from the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, with simple ceremonies to the special train which had carried him .on his outward journey. On a fast schedule it started across the continent to Washington. Plans were made for formal obsequies in the Rotunda of the Capitol on Wednesday and interment at Marion, Ohio, on Friday. Calvin Coolidge, who succeeded to the Presidency, appointed that day for national mourning.