The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1923-09-28
COOLIDCES FOND
OF PLAIN FOOD
"Mao," Their Boston Waiter,
Talks About Their Simple
Gastronomlc Tastes.

ten lately about the simple tastes and
unassuming ways Of Calvin Coolidge
now President Of the United States
and OF Mrs. Coolidge. and those wht
are well acquainted with them say
this simplicity permeates their life
When Coolidge was governor of Mas
sachusetts he and Mrs. Coolidge made
their home at the Adams house, and
their regular waiter there, Mac" who
is known to many hundreds Of Bos
tonians, told writer for the Boston
Sunday Advertiser a lot about theiI
astronomical tastes. Said he:
Their breakfast order was always
the same-Two Special No. is, grape
fruit for Mrs. Coolidge and orange
for me-
Special No. 1 never varied. II
consisted Of two small pots Of coffee,
graham mullins and fruit.
Mr.. Coolidge would give the order
and call for clean glass and q whole
orange. He would squeeze the orange
himself into the glass, and drink the
Juice.
Silent at Meals.
Mrs. Coolidge always had half q
grapefruit.
They were generally alone at break
fast, as their boys were at school and
only visited them in vacation time.
Once, though, when the boys were
there. they wanted ham and eggs for
breakfast. Mrs. Coolidge ordered It
for them, but when the governor found
It out, he frowned on giving the kids
meat for breakfast.
They were seldom at my table for
lunch. as they were both often gone
all day. But they would be back for
dinner, unless they were dining ont.
Then Mrs. Coolidge used to order
chop-the way you do" interpolated
"Mac." who has an uncanny memory
for the likes and dislikes of every one
of his patrons.
Sometimes she would have q steak.
But Mr.. Coolidge always made his din
ner en- cereal-usualiy grape nuts and
tea or milk.
HE was just as quiet at their family
meals as he Is in public life. Hardly
ever said word. Breakfast over, he
would go away in silence.
"They seldom had guests. except Mr..
and Mrs. Frank W. Stearns, who were
with them frequently.
Sometimes there would be one or
two others with them at dinner On
those occasions Mrs. Coolidge would
try every way in the world to get him
to join in the conversation. Nothing
doing. He would look and listen, but
hardly ever opened his mOuth-except
for his grape nuts. Once in a while he
would shoot little smile-like this"
and for q fleeing instant Mac" was
the living image of the President.
Lapsing back to his natural express
sion, which is intense but amiable,
Mac" continued:
HE is hard man to get at, II You
know what 1 mean. But when you
once do get at him. you find he has
one Of the best hearts In the world.
Hu GiNSo mTes SCOItOSe.
"But for kindness and a charming
manner combined, Mrs. Coolidge was
the one. Every waiter in the dining
room liked to serve her. She was al
ways considerable, always appreciative
for anything done for her. If Mrs.
Coolidge once knew you, she knew you
no matter where she hap
pened to meet you. In the hotel cor
ridor, or in the street, she would al
ways bow. She's a fine woman.
II used to look at those boys, and
their good manners, and wonder how
she did it. But then. bringing I'D
six. (Six little McKeoughs, remem-
oer.)
II said to one Of my boys the other
lay, Look at young Calvin Coolidge.
His fathers President of the United |
States. and he's looking for farm work
1t $3.50 day. suppose If I was
president you'd be wanting to take 1t
Easy in the White House"