The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-28
NO B LES I'M
w AL. KER
CLUB
Presid dent Not Persistent
p destriali iii Pub
lie Life
BY JEAN ELIOT.

be named by reclamation pres.
idel1t OF the WaShingto
walk to Work Club which
boasts an illustrious membership !.
were It not, for the fact that his
place OF work and his place Of
residence are separated but by d
length of covered corridor. The
honor then goes by default to
Chief Justice William Howard Taft,
who tramps good mile and a
half to the Capitol every day, with
! Charles Evans Hughes. Secretary
Of State, and Andrew w. Mellon.
Secretary of the Treasury; tying
90 "runners.up.
Calvin Coolidge, President Of the
United States, Il. however. the
most persistent pedestrian among
eminent public men In the Capital
and may well take rank in q roster
Of Chief Executives as its most
famous walker. For the elder
Theodore Roosevelt, although fa.
nous for his furious plunges
through Rock Greek Park, was
much less regular than President
Coolidge and was rather more
celebrated as an equestrian.
Although debarred by clrcum-
stances from walking to work, Pres
ident Coolidge takes. his daily walk
as regularly as he takes his break.
LAST and, not being given to golf
or games of any sort, relies on this
form of exercise to Keep him in trim:
When he was first elevated to the
Presidency, hts fondness for early
morning strolls was a great trial to
White House attendants and the
Inevitable secret service men with
out whom the President can not
stir. 1t is told that one Wintry
morning Edward Z. Clark, personal
secretary to the President, was
reused ERE it was light by q violent
ringing at his doorbell. Susrecting
a telegram and with the thought OF
bad news In the back of his mind,
he hastily donned slippers and
bath robe and stumbled to the door
Ito find the President on the step,
aglow from q brisk walk, and an.
nouncing II just stopped in to wish
you good morning." OF late. how
ever, Mr.. Coolidge seems to prefer
the afternoons for his walks and,
however crowded his calendar, he
usually manages to get In an hour
or two of exercise each day.
Coolidge and Taft Present
Curious Contrast When Walking
The contrast between President
Coolidge out for d stroll and Chief
Justice Taft in his hiking clothes
Is startling in the extreme. Not
only il there a vast difference in
the .cut of their jibs," but whereas
President Coolidge dresses much rs
he might to attend church service
or to make q speech, with never a
hair out Of place, the Chief Justice
doils what might be called tramp
Ing clothes" with distinct hobo con.
notations, and wears heavy sweat
err. Always a fast walker, he ar.
riveS at the Capitol in a glow. and,
after shower and 4 rundown,
changes into .dignified habiliments
suited to the presiding justice Of
the, highest tribunal of the, United
States.
President Roosevelt always got
himself I'D most picturesquely for
his walks and usually left the.
White House on horseback, dis
mpunting at some spot outside the
city limits and starting OFF, with A
crony or two, for a tramp through
the painless woods or brisk climb
among the Virginia hills. He. set
aAstrenuous pace and 1t is of record
that Senator Henry, Cabot Lodge,
who was frequently his companion,
once reigned him 4 In with a pant.
ing Theodore, Theodore. you must
think I'm damned kangaroo"
In, contrast to this, President
Coolidge prefers the city streets
and occasionally even strolls down
r, street at a time when that busy
thoroughfare Is crowded with after
noon shoppers. He selects a diff
ferent route almost every day, for
he dislikes to be noticed too much
or made a fuss over. It 81 Is a
curious thing that despite the
frequency with which President
Coolidge Is encountered in the
streets Of Washington, It is usually
his companion who is recognized
first. There comes young Teddy
Roosevelt, a passerby viii explain,
and then, why It's President Cool.
idge with him." Or someone will
notice the handsome head OF Dick
Jervis, the Presidents special body.
guard, reared above the crowd, and
then, look around for the well.
groomed, sandy haired man who is
President Of the United States.
Although he never hurries and
gives rather the impression Of
strolling, President Coolidge man.
ages to cover e lot Of ground In q
given time. Mrs. Coolidge, too, is
good walker, but she prefers a
more letsurely gait and, unless she
mas shopping in view, which she
usually does on foot, her prone.
nades are likely to be in Potomac
Park or in the woods in the course
OF q motor ride in the country. She
is usually alone except for James
Haley, the Secret Service man who
watches over the Presidents wife.
and for Laddie Buck, the White
House airedale,N for whom she has
a great affection.
Secretary Hughes Covers Six
Miles Per Day in Six Laps.
Eaoratf wv IJuuha-, \, =. $500 49,