The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-22
is
FRIEND OF
PRESIDENT
Man Whom Coolidge Thanked
for Position Gives
Philosophy.
By s. II. FAIRBANKS
A Service staff Correspondent

NEA Service Staff Correspondent
ORTHAMPTON, Mass, Aug. %.
LIN The spotlight of fame has
Ill thrust its pitiless, penetrating
finger into the half-submerged and I'M
obtrusive shop of James Lucey, poet,
philosopher and cobbler, and left him
much disturbed.
Since President Coolidge, right in
the midst Of the tremendous pressure
of assuming his high office, found time
to write in his own hand to the cob
bier an unusually warm and affec-
tionate letter, Lucey has been be-
sieged by callers.
The letter reads:
My Dear Mr.. Lucey-Not often
do l see you or write you, butsI
want you to know that If it were
not for you I should not be here,
and l want to tell you how much
I love you.
do not work too much now
and try to enjoy yourself in your
wellearned leisure Of age.
Yours sincerely,
CALVIN COOLIDGE"
EHSb IMPRESSION wrong
The first impression the man con-
veys is deceptive. One is inclined to
agree with the opinion of few fellow
townsmen that he is too "crabby."
But If one weathers his frequent
suggestions that he is too busy to
talk and his unconcealed desire that
he be rid of visitors the real nature
Of this man shines forth For be-
meath the rather crusty shell he pre-
sents to strangers there is the sensi-
tive soul of the poet, the warm heart
of a friend and the level head of a
philosopher.
Apparently Mr.. Lucey wastes no
more words than does his friend, the
president. And his terse remarks
are punctuated by the steady thrust
of his needle through tough sole
leather.
1t was suggested to him that the
philosophy that had interested and
affected the president through the
years of their friendship should be of
help to all good Americans.
Mr.. Lucey grunted noncommittal-
". He's not to be stampeded. is this
cobbler. Later, however. he summed
up his creed with admirable clarity
and brevity.
BE honest--it seems to be out of
fashion now-give your best to what.
ever job you're doing and live so that
you may walk unashaned in the
presence of any &ne."
Mended Coolidge Shoes
Mr.. Lucey practices what he
breaches. He wouldn't put machines
into his shop because he believes he
couldn't turn out the right kind of
work.
did Mr.. Coolidge like to watch you
work."
Used to sit right in that chair.
there" He indicated a worn. UNI
backed chair. on the seat Of which
were a number of shoes to be mended.
$50 did Mrs. Coolidge Used to
bring the boys down and sit right
over there. They needed lots of taps.
Cal was courtin' her when she used
to teach just above here. A couple
years and wrote poem about her"
Talks of President
Getting the cobbler to discuss the
President is like drawing teeth. His
summary was: I've been mighty
lucky to have Cal Coolidge for a friend
and the United States is mighty lucky
to have him for a President. He has
turned out just as good a man as he
was boy when he first started coming
into this shop when he was a soph-
omore up at Amherst.
y Il don't remember that he was
much interested in politics then, but
he was a real serious. sensible young
fellow-more than most of EN- seem
to be now. He began to get into poll
tics when he went into the law
here" He paused and peered over his
glasses. Seems to have been doing
pretty we'll at 1t SINCE" he chuckled
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