Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-11-25
HOW COOLIDGE WON
| BURLINGTON GIRL
Courtship of Vice President
Elect Marked by Same Delhi.
Grafton and Earnestness That
Characterize All His Public
Activities


dency." the Boston Globe is printing /,
from day to day the story Of Calvin |
Coolidge, from the pen of NJ. II. Hen
messy, one of that papers best writer's.
Yesterdays installment was headed
"Cupids Arrow Pierces Calvin's Heart
and will be read with particular interest
in Burlington. the former home OF Mrs.
Coolidge. Here is the story:
COOLIDGE CAUTIOUS. AS USUAL
lie, US forget politics and law for
short time end go back to that part OF
Mr. Cooidge's life. just after he had
turned &c. when he had begun 70 manifest
keen interest in the fair sex.
lie was fairly prosperous and felt that
it was his duty to himself and society
to get married but the great problem
was to find the right KIND OF a girl for
u wife
Deliberate IN all things MIR. Cooiidge's
judicial mind refused 10 be hurried III Il
matter of such great personal importance
With his usual cautiousness. he kept his
own counsel and did his own thinking
and choosing
His ideas OF a wife and marriage were
old-fashoned. TO be sure. but time had
long before proven their wisdom and
soundness.
One would think that a quiet. undem-
illustrative man like calvin Coolidge
would choose for life companion
woman of his own type. He did nothing
of the kind He chose lady wholly
| different. Mr.. and Mrs. Coolidge have
been called by those who know them
we'll "a study in opposltes." She is the
! ltfe Of any social gathering she attends,
| Il brilliant conversationalist quick at re-
par,ee and fun of fun.
LOVE At FIRST SIGHT
/ Mrs. Coolidge was Miss Grace Goodhue
! Of Burlington, VT. graduate OF the
| University Of that State and IL teacher
| in the Clark School for the Deaf.
Northampton. before her marriage.
! Vermontsrs have habit OF showing
a Partially for one another. and 1t may
be that had something to do with attract
ing Mr. Coolidse's favorable notice at
their first meeting.
Be that rs it may. the story Of their
first meeting smacks little Of the
romantic Mr.. Coolidge at that time
! 'roomed and boa rded" as New England
ers say, with the steward OF clark
School where Miss Goodhue taught. She
lived nearby and was on friendly terms
with the stewards wife.
one evening. Miss Goodhue was in
vited over for supper. Lawyer Coolidge
was introduced. IT was case or love
at first sight with the young lawyer.
Cupids arrow pierced his heart. leaving
a gaping wound which did not heal until
Calvin months afterward popped the
question and Miss Goodhue whispered
"Y-Y-e-s"
Friends say that the vice president,
elect was an ardent wooer. That is no.
surprising. Most great men have been
but 1t is difficult TO picture Calvin
Coolidge playing the part OF Romeo
Knowing Coolidge's Discrimination TO talk
there are those who question the accurac,
OF the claim that lie pleaded eloquenuy
for the hand Of Miss Goodhue.'
, II is said that Calvin made specia
, trip to Burlington. VT, and appealed tC
his sweethearts mother to persuade hel
daughter to marry him. but Mrs. Good
, hue declined to help him. saying tina
he would have to fight his love battl,
alone
TRIED SKATING ONCE
Most of their counting was done il
Northampton. The lovers made occa
siona trips to Burlington, where Calvii
, was always cordially welcomed. III,
, only criticisms the Goodhues re
ported to have made of Graces beau VA
rega riding his austerity and uncommuni
, cativeness.
, Miss Goodhue enjoyed dancing. Mr.
. Coolidge never "tripped the light rantas
tic" les alone the modern abominatioi
, called dancing" SO 1t was a dance
/ less courtship.
Miss Goodhue liked the theatre. Calvin
! would rather SIT on the screened piazz
and watch the moon, but II Miss Good
q hue Insisted, Calvin would 20 along I
I please her, but most shows seemed &
I bore him
Skating is, great sport in the colieg
city in winter. Miss Goodhue WAS a
expert Calvin vas not. but he oousEt'
pair of skates and Went hlons with he
one evening to join the crowd on n
river He made IA poor jop OF II and at .
ilour de,ing around for awhile, took OF
! hi. skates, threw them across his Shout
i ders and remarked that he 'guesse
1 we'd hotter go home" He has ncve
J sketsd since.
Miss Goodhue was popular in college
! She was prominent In the social artivitie
Of the students, sang the Glee clu
> and TOOK part each year In the colleg
play. She had q part in the variou
Shakespearean plays at the University.
LET INTO THE oFt,N SECRET
When the announcement Of their er
yagsment was made 1t did not create
Juror Of excitement among their friend:
r. They had watched the lovers and knee
- that Il was simply a matter OF time whe
?. the public would be let into the secret.
}. Calvin's father approved OF the ma tel
/, SO did the Goodhues Congratulation
II poured in upon the couple and the
II families. and preparations We're 500
Il going forward for the wedding Octobs
5 t. 1905.
l. It was truly ''home wedding" Onl
h members of the family were presen
0 The Rev. Edward Hungerford. retire
Congregationalist, tied the knot. afte
IS Miss Goodhue had promised to ''lov'
It to take her for better or for worse.
d The wedding took place in the parlor {
h the modest little home of the Goodhue
D. in Burlingto
Is We didn't make any fuss over on
e wedding" says Mr., Coolidge. We sper
lr our honeymoon in Montreal, remaining
week. then returned 10 Northampton
where We lived in rented furnishe
ID apartment until we moved to Massaso
IT street occupying half of a double house,
s. where they still live.
'r Mr. Coolidge II authority for the state
T. ment that, after paying the wedding e1
l. penses. his funds were low. but worf
N things can happen one than a lean pocket
u book, He had his health, an ideal woma
for wife. a good name, professio
and an ambition to make good. He ha
taken upon himself new burdens. Wht