Evening star., 1924-12-21
BY MARGARET II. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET II. DOWNING.
Coolidge, the Boston University has
blazed a most important path in the
public laudstion of an exceptional
First Lady of the Land. Mrs. Cool
idge had previously won her hache-
lor's degree in the University of Yer
mont and she was II every sense ell
glble for the plimentary honor 1t
fits neatly into fhn scheme of things
that having been among the first
presiding ladies of the White House.
after the passing of the Nineteenth
Amendment comforting equal rights,
that she should be the first TO occupy
this exalted role hallowing
thorough collegiate training with the
climax of an academic degree. No
other of tho presidential ladies could
write the magic letters after her
name. although Mrs. Taft took
course In music in the Cincinnati
Conservatory and received the regu-
lar teaching certificate. Mrs Cleve-
land studied at Wells College. and
among her classmates was Mrs.
Charles Evans Hughes, but she did
not complete the course. having yield
ed to the lure of the higher destiny.
involved in wedding the President
of the United States Mrs Harding
SIOQ1pu
and Columbus. The first Mrs. Will
son, being the daughter of a Presby-
tcrian minister. was educated in the
nranse in Rome, Ga, and then de-
reloring an artistic trend. she went
to New York and took lessons In the
school of Designing. The second
Mrs Woodrow Wilson had private
teachers only, and never took what Is
known as the advanced studies. Mrs.
hos
with becoming grace and il is safe
TO predict. now that the Boston Uni
versity has pointed the way. she Will
receive many other honorary degrees
from various established seats OF
learning, and will become familiar
to the public in her cap and gown,
But, though Mrs. Coolidge is the
FIRST university graduate to grace the
lofty post indicated. many OF the
first ladies have followed professions
sad with preeminent success. That
superb set of silver which adorns the
ruffet of the Chief Justice and Mrs.
Taft's dining room attests the esteem
felt for the latter by the cincinnati
Orchestra. of which the former mis-
tress of the White House was the
organizer and for five years the
treasurer. She had made it one of
the great orchestras of the country,
and this while she taught music in the
conservatory. The first Mrs. Wood
row Wilson. during the lean years in
which her husband was establishing
himself as writer and teacher
added to the family eXchequer by
landscape architecture. That lovely
formal garden In the south grounds
of the White House Will be a lasting
tribute to her talents in this line
business capacity Of a high order
when occasion required it, Mrs. Har-
ding also was a business woman OF
unusual aptitude and for ten years
was the manager of her husband s
paper. the Marion Star. One mistress
of the White House, though but
briefly, Mrs. John Tyler. jr., was an
actress. Priscilla Cooper, and she had
reached tho heights of fame when
she married and retired from the
footlghts
Almort imperceptibly the calling
problem has adjusted itself and thi:
official season opens without any OF
the uncertainty about such obliga
tions which usually marks ii. Cabi-
net hostesseS during the first Wilson
administration raised the standard
Of revolt against keeping every
Wednesday of the month at the dis
cut their days down to two each
month. Several also limited the calls
which they returned either in person
or by leaving cards. Mrs. Harding
espCused the cause of the women OF
the official world and declared against
the tyrannous customs which have
held since they were instituted more
>than 100 years ago. by Mrs. James
Monroe. So cabinet receiving days
were further cut down to one
Wednesday, and that only for four
months. beginning Immediately after
the convening of Congress. \ still
further innovation will by mutual
agreement hold during the present
season, and only two days at home
will be held. Entire days devoted 70
calling or leaving cards no longer
figure in the official routine, nor do
the members of any division of So
ciety deem it essential for themselves
or for others. Mrs. Hughes in the
nature of things will be compelled to
receive oftener and to return more
calls than any of her colleagues. for
in addition TO the regular obligations
incurred by a cabinet hostess, she
must treat the vast diDlOmatic corpS