The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-02-09
Timely Topics
A MAN OF THE SOIL

anu thC hot iS6ACtOAS S1
way below zero for several days. One
day 1t was so cold and everything
was so frozen up that neither Jack
nor Ruth could go to school. But
this was Saturday afternoon and it
was warm enough, with plenty Of
blankets and a charcoal footwarmer
to go sleighing.
Uncle Ted had gladdened the
hearts of his two chums that morning
by announcing a sleigh ride and now
at last they were on their way, the
sleigh bouncing and skipping over
the rough spots and the beautiful
horses snorting as they, too, seemed
to enjoy this little lark.
What an awful place to live," said
Jack as they passed a little country
home, out in the open where the
bleak wind howled about its four cor
ners. "Must be funny people to live
in a place like that"
Perhaps il strikes you funny,
Jack" said Uncle Ted. "but it may
be that the boy living in that little
modest home will be a greater man
than you some day. When we get
home and you kiddies are ready for
bed tonight, I'm going to tell you
about a boy whose life is brought to
my mind by that little house"
And SO it wasn't so very long be-
fore bedtime and as the three chums
gathered about big, open fire, Un-
Gle Ted said: ~
Jack, when you spoke of that lit
tie country house this morning l was
reminded of modest, country home,
located in an even colder place, the
hills of Vermont. In that little
house, about fifty years ago.. little
boy was born. He had daddy who
made living for his family by work
ing the soil, just as those people do
whose home we saw today. This IA
ther and mother, good, God-fearing
Americans, named the boy Calvin.
His last name was Coolidge. That
little boy grew as all boys do. He
helped his mother and father do the
work around the house and farm. he
went to school whenever the oppor-
tunity was provided, at broken inter-
walls as usual in the country. He
studied hard because he was made OF
tthe right stuff and because he had an
ambition to become lawyer.
Time went by quickly, for Calvin
was working hard. In his young man
hood he moved to Northampton,
Mass, where his honesty, ability and
sincerity were recognized by those
truth-loving New Englanders. In
rapid succession he was elected
member of the Common Council, City
Solicitor, Mayor, member of the
House, member of the Senate, 1t.
Governor, Governor. Vice-President,
and now President! While that list
tells a wonderful story of the rise OF
plain country boy, 1t does not tell
us that never in all that busy time,
did Calvin fail TO return to his IA
theirs home every summer.
"A lot of people may say it was
vacation for him to go back home
every summer. But this sandy-haired,
freckled-faced boy, now grown to
manhood, was not content just to go
home. He worked when he got there.
helping his father.
"You see, kiddies, there are a lot
of politicians in the world, and lot
OF them perform stunts for political
effect. Calvin Coolidge was not Of
that kind. Most public men who go
back to the farm and do some real
work take care to have a photog-
rapher along to take their pictures to
put in the papers. Calvin Coolidge
was not OF that kind. He had been
going back to the farm every year,
not for political effect, but to keep
himself in good health and vigor. He
WOTheu Oh tuci ldiiu ihotCau VI Pioy
ing golf or tennis. And nobody ex-
cept the neighbors knew anything
about 1t until after he became Presi-
dent.
1T didn't take the people of
Massachusetts long to recognize that
he was man who couldn't be swerv-
ed from his honest purpose and for
that reason they felt safe in electing
him Governor of that great common
wealth. Lots of times after he be-
came Governor problems came up
that looked difficult for this Vermont
farm boy. There were times when
the wise politicians said he was
killed. politically. But he wasn't.
and why? 81
Because when he believed in a
thing, he believed in II because 1t was
right, and nothing could change his
mind. The people recognized quick
ly that they had elected a statesman