Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-07-10
BODY PRESIDENTS
SON ON WAY FOR
BURIAL IN'vERMONT

Washington. July 9-President and
Mrs. Coolidge tonight took their boy
Calvin back to Vermont to be buried
in the family plot Of the little ceme-
terry at Plymouth.
A simple but impressive funeral
way held in the East Room of the
White House late this afternoon, at
tended by government officials, rank
ing military officers. members Of the
diplomatic corps and intimate friends
OF the family.
On the White House lawn several
thousand persons stood with barred
and bowed heads during the ceremo-
ny. having come to give visible ex-
preston of their sympathy.
Typical Of their New England re-
serve, President and Mrs. Coolidge
repressed outward manifestation Of
their grief. The family, broken for
the first time. drew comfort from
the service and Mrs. Coolidge listen
ed attentively to the consoling words
of the scripture. The president, on
her left, sat with head slightly bow
ed. The son, John, on his mothers
right, sat erect and listened earnest
ly to the pastor.
A little later, in the evening, the
casket was closed FOR the last time,
in the presence of the family. and
soon thereafter, almost to the hour
when three weeks ago, bubbhng
with Joy, he. returned home from
school, the boy was carried to the
funeral train.
Tomorrow morning a brief stop
will be made at northampton, Mass,
where Calvin was born and where
services will be held for him. From
there the party, including members
of the presidents cabinet and others
close to him in personal and official
life, will proceed to Plymouth. Bu-
rial will be there late in the after
noon in the lot where the presl-
dents mother and sister lie, anu To-
morrow night those VINO made the
Journey will return to the Capitol.
The services this afternoon were
oc short duration, but the emotons
OF many of those who filled the East
Room, could not be concealed.
Inc quiet CdlIi VI liiS ~
family touched all who saw them.
Mrs. Frank w. Stearns, intimate
friend for years and the comforter
of Mrs. Coolidge in her sorrow, sat
with her husband by their side but
after the departure from the room
OF the president and Mrs. Coolidge
she gave way to her grief. But to-
night she was again by the side or
Mrs. Coolidge.
The East Room. which has seen
many funerals in the past, of presl-
dents and others, probably never
witnessed one filled with more sad
ness. This was evidenced by the
overwhelming floral offerings which
filled every available place. one OF
the most noticeable was that sent
by the Boy Scouts of America, or
which Calvin was member. The
casket itself was completely covered
with a sheath of pink roses.
Seated behind the presidents
family during the services in the
first two rows, were the members OF
the cabinet and their families, then
officials of the various government
departments, members of congress
and the physicians who attended
Calvin. On the other side of the
aisle were the members of the dip
lomatic corps and with them the
ranking officers of the army, navy
and marine corps. Army officers
were dressed in their khaki uni
forms while the navy and marine
officers were in white.
Gates of the white house grounds
were thrown open to the public an
hour before the services and from
that time until they were over. quiet
throngs crowded over the lawns,
filled the driveways and gathered
close to the East Wing of the ex-
ecutive mansion.