Evening star., 1921-03-04

I BOt, dICeT ali, lloiuliS PdoA.S
comes naturally enough to the ne"
Vice President. For generations: ever
since his forbearS settled in water
town. Mass. in 1880, and later wen.
to the rough. backwoods section OF
Vermont. where he was porn on ,s In.
been identified with public AFFAIRS:
His father served in the Vermont
state legislature and on governors
STATS. and for years has been known
as a sort of unofficial magistrate anu
counselor in his section. 1T was tne
crowning event OF the fathers life
! to witness today the inauguration OF
his son.
By intellectual preference. Vice
President Coolidge has since carry
youth demonstrated a taste lor prop
lens of statecraft.
Mr.. Coolidges career at Amhers.
was marked by a quiet, sustaineo
earnestness in his work. Walter X;
Stone, writing of him. said: HE hao
more than the respect of his feilows,
he had the power to attract their
youthful regard. and he holds TO-DAY
the sincere affection of his classmates,
not because Of the honors he has ac-
quired. but because of the character
they learned to admire in the days
when he scampered with the rest up
the steps and into the chapel to beat
out the last quick strokes OF the oid
bell.
Native OF Vermont.
"Calvin Coolidge was born in Ply
mouth, VT. July 4. 1S72-a significant
birth date for an exponent or rear
Americanism. His father. Col. John
Coolidge, enjoys rare reputation Tor
ltrustworthiness in the section of Yer
mont where he lives; 1t has been
said by a prominent man in Vermont
that beyond any man OF his acquaint-
I ance he admired Calvin Coolidge's
| grandfather for his sterling qualities
and his uncanny horse sense.
calvin attended school at Ply
mouth, and later was a student at
Black Rock River Academy. Ludlow,
VT. He entered Amherst at n neteen
and received the degree Of p. A. with
high honors in 1895. Coolidge was
grove orator at commencement, and
in his senior year he won the first
prize-a gold medal-qffered by the
Sons Of the American Revolution, for
the best essay on the Principles OF
the War for American Independence
This was won in competition with the
undergraduates Of all American COL
ieges.
Takes Up Study OF Law.
"Determined on following that pro-
fession. he read law in the offices of
Hammond & Field at Northampton.
and after twenty months study was
admitted to the bar. He thereupon
opened an Office in Northampton,
where he soon established his repu-
success in the field Of politics. and
gained his rating as a good citizen
and Jealous, broad-minded pro-
moter OF the community's welfare.
HE was appointed to fill a vacancy
caused by the death Of the Hamp-
shire county clerk. but refused his
party's nomination for election to
succeed himself. His natural bent
for doing the days work. combined
with his ability and integrity, SO
brought him into the esteem OF his
fellow-townsmen that he was elected
to the city council of Northampton
and soon after was chosen city solic-
itor and served with honor in that
position for two years. In 1907 and
1908 he represented his city in the
but was called from this service to
returned to his home city as its mayor,
which Office he held for two years
He was then chosen senator and
served with distinction for four
years, during the last two of which
mediately following his term as SEN
ator the great commonwealth of
Massachusetts, called him to be lieu
tenant governor for three years. and
his record in that office was brilliant.
He became naturally the candidate
of his party for the governorship and
was elected and served with dignity
during the trying days of the war
1t was his intensive study of affairs
of state that first attracted to him
the attention of prominent republican
leaders, notably the late Senator w.
Murray Crane of Massachusetts. For
a number OF years these watched the
DEVELOPMENT of his career with a
view to directing him into the ma
tional political arena. Their oppor-
tunity came when the spectacular
Boston police strike, during his first
term as governor, attracted nation
wide attention.
Exhibits Power and Courage.
The crisis, which was precipitated
by the strike, according to these
friends, merely revealed the powers
and courage of the man, and they
frankly and openly seized the oppor-
tunity to press for him claims for the
republican presidential nomination at
Chicago last June. They pointed out
that as councillor in his home city
and later as solicitor and mayor. as
member of f'bOth branches of the
Legislature, including term as presi-
dent of the senate and then as lieu
tenant governor. and finally as gov
ernor. he had been elected with ever
increasing majorities eliminating in
the vote Of confidence after the po-
lice strike, when he was again elect |
ed governor by q plurality of 1885,
900.
Probably the most attractive part
Of Mr.. Coolidge Is his home life. Ever
since his marriage fifteen years ago,
to Miss Grace Goodhue of Burling-
ton, VT, a University of Vermont
graduate. whom he met as q school
teacher in Northampton, he has lived
a quiet, modest life, most OF the time
in the shadow of Smith College in a
house which he has rented for $3.50
a month.
"Save. no matter what your salary
may be-" has always been his motto
and. as he has enjoyed beyond the
income earned in public Office only
meager returns from his law practice
because of pressure of public duties,
he has been obliged and content to
live simply. There are two boys in
THAR M r1v staAna h,1t III A. thcfe hS$