The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-29

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 Many prerequisites go with position, but personality always counts a great deal. Some people are accepted for what they represent; others, even after they have relinquished office find their engagement book nearly as full. They know that the invitation then is purely personal. Others fade. off the social landscape like last years snow. With them it was solely the position that held them in line.
 Now, before Mrs. Coolidge went to the White House she was really popular In factfI don't believe she ever needed to cook meal at home. She could lunch and dine out the whole year round But that doesn't mean a free meal ticket. Hospitality begets hospitality, and in such matters there must be reel procity. And, oh this business of bal ancing parties. It is as bad as trying to balance a budget! If there is one quality needed in official life, it is tact You have heard of the Senate ladies Tuesday luncheons, haven't you? Mrs. Coolidge used to preside over this simple feast. The whirr of sewing machines drowned the gossip during the war, when Mrs. Marshall had her. team sew ing shirts for soldiers. Since then the ladies of the Senate have continued their weekly reunion, but it is merely a social gathering. It is quite informal and they take turns in bringing the salad and cake, pickles and sandwiches. Yes, it takes tact to provide over such func- tions.
 Mrs. Coolidge believes that the wife of public man, like children, should be seen and not heard. No human die taphone will eyer turn anything she says into press record, certainly not anything she says will create a sensa- tion or cause embarrassment. She ob- serves safety-first week over the entire fifty-two. Mrs. Coolidge is human, but discreet.
 I often think the Vice President the back of a car. It gets the ride and will be no need to use it.
 T never can tell whether it is the Vice President, or Medill Mccormick" " said one ingenious gallery sitter to an. other. F
 "Oh, that's easy" said the second. Both take things seriously, but Me dill was named for his grandfather, who was newspape man, and all newspaper men know that nothing is as serious as you think it is. Then, the top of Medill's head is round, where Calvin Coolidge has plateau. Not ex- aetly handsome, either of them," she concluded comfortably, but the wives have the good looks, and style in both these families"
 Vice Presidents don't get much chance to shine, really. We never really began to know MT. Coolidge until he became President, though Mrs. Coolidge had registered quite definitely and delight fully in the social consciousness of the national capital. 11, !
 MT. Marshall was no mere figurehead, of course, but neither was he a lime lighter. His position was very awk- ward, because he differed vitally from the Wilson policy, in many things, and his friends knew it. I don't believe his enemies ever found out they certainly didn't get it from Mir. Marshall, He steered a safe course and lodged the rocks and shoals and reefs like master seaman. He never committed a breach of good taste. I don't think any man ever left public position with so many friends and so few enemies. And Mrs. Marshall was a big factor in establish ing that record.
 As for Mrs. Coolidge, when she was the Vice Presidents wife, she certainly helped sweeten the social souffles of of- ficial Washington. She graced parties big and little, late and early. She was patroness for this and that. Her motto is, "One church, one club, one husband, one political party" It's wise old motto! She even stayed in Washington in August, when anyone is in danger of being mired in the melting asphalt, be- lieving that she could add to her hus- bands comfort. Devotion could go no further.
 In dress. Mrs. Coolidge prefers a Fremont Street conservatiyeness to the more ultra models calling for an act of faith and one shoulder strap. Dc you remember that blood-red suit Mrs Coolidge had when she first came as our "Second Lady?" The wool for that was grown on one of the Vanderbilt