, 1921-07-30

clung 10 even after Mr.. Coolidge be-
came governor OF Massachusetts=the
heavy demands of her social duties
must be more -or less of a burden.
At the end of her first three months
in. Washington. 1t was TO sec how
heavily this burden-if 1t were that
lay upon her shoulders that ! called on
Mrs. Coolidge by appointment one
morning at the Willard. A girlish
looking secretary. her hair bobbcd.
answered my ring and showed me into
the d~rawinGroom of the Coolidge suite.
1t was u delightful room. decorated
In cool shades of Give green and wood
brown. The big. easy chairs ovcred
in green satin damask. lamps shaded
in bronze silk. tables covered with
books and flowers. an open piano.
cushioned window seats from which
could be scen the fashionable r street
promenade-all looked invitingly com
Portable and honey. And when Mrs.
Coolidge entered. dressed in white
flannel skirt. black silk sweater and
hemstitched blouse. so did she.
Her hair!s marcelled in loose waves
and coiled low on her neck. was as
black as. her eyes. which look you
squareiy in the face, expressing frank
inttest. Obviously, human contact
was to her an enjoyable privilege
rather han a tax and a bore.
Live in Hotel.
what decided you to live In a.
hotel?" 1 asked. after the customary.
preliminary sparrinE.
Partly the CUSTOM" she replied
referring to what has come to be a ira
dition. that the vice president can
maintain a more dignified hospitality
on his small salary at a hotel than in
a private house, which would neces.
sarily mean a large corps of servants
and added expense for proper upkeep
and partly because it seemed the
most sensible thing to do under the
circumstances. We did not want to
Interfere with tho schooling OF the two
boys or take them away from their
friends just yet. so decided to keep
the home at Northampton, with a
housekeeper in charge. and make the
Same arrangements as we did when
Mr.. Coolidge was governor. Then. di-
vided my time between ME- Coolidge
at a hotel in Boston. and tho boys at
home"
when you went up to Massachu-
sets in May. Mrs. Coolidge" I said.
coming Il the main purpose of my
visit. II saw a little interview that
YOU granted a Boston correspondent.
headed What Mrs. Coolidge Thinks OF
Washington Society," As / recall. the
sum and substance OF 1t was that you
considered too much time was wasted
here in mere social intercourse that
could be better devoted to some real
rnd-such as brinbing about a better
understanding between the different
countries. l believe o said. Would
you mind specifying just how you
think this could be done?"
Mrs. Coolidge looked alarmed.
Mercy" she exclaimed. How ! am
quoted and misquotedl I wonder IL ]
didn't get a reprint OF that article you
refer to, which certainly put things
much more strongly than /. n new
conner to Washington. would have
dared do. even IL I were a critical
person, which l am not at ALL Let
me see" and. going into her private
workshop in the next room. returned
with a memorandum book in her hand.
Running through this she located the
name OF the interviewer. date and so
on. and remarked.
Require Full Time.
a matter OF fact, what I meant
10 say vus that the social duties Of
the wife Of a public official in Wash
inston are 50 heavy hat there is little