The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-05
LIFE STORY OF COOLIDGE

Boston, November S.~Calv1n COOL
idge. vice president elect, former
"law- and order governor Of Mass
achusetts is just what his name i'm
almost taciturn, endowed
with singleness Of purpose and the
same determination that gave his
John and Mary Coolidge.
the courage to make themselves
a home in the wilderness Of forest
that was Massachusetts, in 1880.
Born on a farm, the son of a pros
porous farmer near Plymouth, Yer
mont, Calvin Coolidge spent his early
youth much as any other farmers
son, in doing the chores about the
not lead him to follow In the footsteps
of his father, and the latter with the
wisdom Of one who understands. len
and assisted young Coolidge
in his plans to enter college.
Coolidge was born on Independence
Day, 1872, a coincidence which his
admirers say gave him the singleness
of purpose and Yankee obstinacy
characteristic of the man.
History and affairs OF government
were subjects Of intense interest TO
cialized in these subjects at AM
herst College and graduated in the
class OF 1895. In his senior year he
won first honors, a gold medal offered
by the Sons of the American Revolu-
ton, for the best essay by an under
graduate of an American college, on
the principles Of the war OF American
independence
Career. In Politics.
After studying law for less than
two years in small office at North
ampton; Massachusetts,, Coolidge was
admitted to the bar. He took q
prominent part in the city govern
ment, being elected to the city coun-
ell, and later was elected to the Mass
achusetts house of representatives.
He was mayor of Northampton in 1910
and 1911, and later was elected to the
state senate in which he served four
years. His participation in the gov
step in Coolidge's political career.
After serving in the senate, he was
elected lieutenant governor and held
office for three years until he was
elected governor in 1919. He was
re- elected in 1920.
His firm stand for law and order
during the police strike in Boston
brought Coolidge national recognition,
and was the most significant incident
in his career and the first step toward
been elected.
Coolidge does not answer the des-
cription Of the popular conception Of a
politician. He is reserved even shy.
He Is not a good public speaker, his
voice being colorless and seldom
rises above a certain note. It liz
what Coolidge has to say and the
very apparent air of personal convic-
ton that holds his audiences and
makes makes up for what he Lacks in
he Showed none Of the traditional
traits-bluster and extravagan
promises-ror did he indulge in bitter
personalities. His criticism is calcu.
lated to be constructive rather than
destructive and he propoupds his
ideas OF government upon his prin-
ciple that there will come out Of
government what is put into It,"
Home Life Ideal.
Away from the glare Of public life,
quiet life of the average American
citizen. He is devoted to his home
and family, and is the most import.
ant member In the councils of his two
sons, John and Calvin, Jr., who call
upon him for advice and bring into
play their fathers skill with tools in
boyish "contraptfons"
such as automobiles and kites.
"Cal," as Coolidge is known to his
close friends, whether 1t be at his
home at Northampton or resting" at
the old homestead near Plymouth, Is
the type Of home loving man who
tinkers about the household He still
can plough a furrow straight and
clean, milk COW and toss hay with the
best of them.
At his home in a two. family house,
the other side of which is occupied
by q professor, Calvin Coolidge, fire.
quently elected to wash dishes, dust
the parlor and "tend" the furnace.
He is also proud that he can cook
''middling we'll"
Active In Office
twas while studying law In North.
anipton that Coolidge met his wife,
then Miss Grace A. Goodhue was
teaching school In Northampton and
lived directly across the street from the
boarding house in which Coolidge
ma n a ed small room
filed with ponderous books of law
and volumes Of history. He was any
thing but a ladies man" and 1t
was months after he first saw the girl
that was to become his wife, that