Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-11-06
HERE IS A PEN
SKETCH OF NEW
VICE PRESIDENT


idge, vice president-elect, former
'1aw-and-order" governor of Massa-
chusettes, is just what his name i'm
plies-a sturdy son Of New England,
unassuming, almost taciturn, endoW
ed with a singleness Of purpose and
ancestors, 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 pros
porous farmer near Plymouth. Ver-
mont. Calvin Coolidge spent his ear
ly youth much as any other farmers
son, in doing the~~chores about the
farm. His ambitions, however, did
not lead him to follow in the foot
steps of his father, and the latter
with the wisdom of one who under
stands, encouraged and assisted
young Coolidge in his plans to en-
ter college.
Coolidge was born on Independ-
ence day, 1872 coincidence which
his admirers say gave him the sim
gleness Of purpose and Yankee OBJ
History and affairs of government
were subjects of intense interest to
Coolidge even when boy. He spe-
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 offer
ed by the Sons Of the American Rev.
olution, for the best essay by an un-
dergraduate of an American college,
on the principles of the War for
American Independence.
After studying law for less than
two years in small office at North
ampton, Mass, Coolidge was admit
ted to the bar. He took a prominent
part in the city government, being
elected to the city council, and later
was elected to the state senate in
which he served four years. His
participation in the government of
his state was the first step in Cool
in the senate. he was elected lieuten-
ant governor and held office for three
years until he was elected governor
in 1919. He was reelected in 1920.
His firm stand for law and order
during the police strike in Boston
brought Coolidge national recogni-
ton, and was the most significant
incident in his career and the first
step toward the place of honor to
which he has been elected.
Coolidge does not answer the de-
scription of the popular conception
of a politician. He is reserved, even
shy. He is not a good public speak
er, his voice being colorless and sell
dom rises above certain note. 1t
is what Coolidge has to say and the
very apparent air Of personal con-
viction that holds his audiences and
of oratory. AS politician he show
ed none Of the traditional traits
buster and extravagant promises
nor did he indulge in bitter person
alities. His criticism is calculated
to be constructive rather than de-
that "there will come cut If gov
eminent what is put into ~
N'"ay from the glare of pubic
life the vice president-elect lives
the quiet life of the average Amer
lean citizen. He is devoted to his
home and family, and is the most
ifportant member in the councils
Of hts two sons, John and CALVIN,
Jr., who call upon him for advice
skill with tools in constructing boy
ish "contraptions" such as automo-
Cal" as Coolidge is known to
his home at Northampton or rest
ing" at the old homestead near Ply
mouth. is the type of home-l wing
man who thinkers about the nou Sc
hold. He still can plough a furrow
straight and clean, milk a 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 professor, Calvin Cool
ldge, frequently elected to wash
dishes, dust the parlor and tend"
the furnace. He is also proud that
he can cook "middling we'll"
1t was while studying law in
Northampton that Coolidge met his
wife, then Miss Grace A. Goodhue, of
Burlington, Vermont. Miss Goodhue
was teaching school in NortGamp-
ton and lived directly across the
street from the boarding house in
which Coolidge maintained a small
room filled with ponderous books of
law and volumes of history. He
was anything but a ladies man"
and 1T was months after he first saw
the girl that was to become his wife,
that he was introduced to her. It
was long months after the meeting
that he finally gathered courage to
pop the, question" They were mar
ried in 1905.
Coolidge looks forward to taking
his place as vice-president as an ac-
tive worker in helping to carry out
the policies of the new administra-