Evening star., 1924-07-06

Although there is little in his ex-
preston or general bearing to indi-
cate it. President Coolidge has been
greatly worried and alarmed during
the three days that his son has been
critically i'll.
The President is one of those in
dividuals who do not easily or read
lily show their feelings. The Presi-
dent, to all outward appearances, ex-
cept to those who know him or are in
his presence frequently, has appeared
cool and calm and unworried. He has
been at his desk each day and has
gone about his duties in the same
quiet, unruffled and methodical way.
He gave no intimation nor outward
evidence that his heart was heavy
and his mind was troubled-that the
ever before him.
Parents Anxious.
1t was nearly a week ago when
young Calvin, during several games
of tennis with his elder brother John,
wore the blister on his right foot that
resulted so seriously. Only scant at
tention was paid to it at the time
Only simple remedies were applied
BY Thursday serious complications
were noted and the boy began to
show evidence of an alarming illness.
The two White House physicians un-
hesitatingly acquainted the parents
with the true situation. Specialists
were summoned, and, from then on,
the Chief Executive and the First
Lady have been merely two anxious
parents Il father and mother
hoping.
Although Mr.. Coolidge received only
a few hours sleep that night, he was
at his desk at the White House the
following morning at the customary
hour, and he went through with his
engagement schedule, which for
tunately was not an extensive one,
and gave his attention to the routine
of his office, in a manner not in the
least suggestive of the true state of
his mind. He took no one into his con-
fdence. He looked serious, but he
usually does. That indicated moth
ing. He talked seldom, but that is
habit, and he walked to and from the
White. House and about the grounds
with his head bowed, which also is
characteristic.
Birthday Brings Bad News.
Then followed another night of
anxious waiting on the part of the
two troubled and distressed parents
This was followed by morning that
the contrary, it was then. Friday
morning. the independence day, the
Presidents birthday anniversary
that the five physicians in attendance
diagnosed the boys illness as being
the medical men found that the poi
son was generally throughout the
body and therefore could not be
fought by local treatment The lads
frequently became delirious His suf
fering was intense. Following their
consulta ton Friday morning these
men. learned and experienced in
medical me- science: told the President
was. very seriously ILL The only hope
they could hold out was that afforded
by the patients youth. He might
pull through, they said.
This probably was the Presidents
saddest birthday. He and Mrs. Coolidge
had been in the sickroom most Of
the night. But beyond the portals
of the White House the President,
even when this gloom was the great
est, gave no outward sign Of his feel
heart.
Speech Is Emphatic.
1t was with this burden and in this
frame of mind that President Coolidge
left the sickroom Friday morning to
keep an engagement to address sew
eral Thousand delegates attending the
National Education Association as
sembled in the large stadium of Cen
trail High School. His address was
long one. and he delivered it with
feeling. Never once did he appear to
give way to his inner feelings. His
face was grave and he spoke with
much seriousness, but this meant
nothing to those who knew him.
The little group of newspaper COR
respondents who cover the Presi-
dent daily. and who should know him
and his manners better than the
casual caller at the White House,
never for an instant detected the
truth. They commented upon the fact
that the President was using more
gestures while speaking, and that he
seemed to put more feeling and
..punch" in the striking parts of his
speech They had not been inform ed
about the i'll boy on the second floor
of the White House. They little
dreamed how grim must have been
the thoughts of the Executive as he
stood upon that little platform in the
center of the stadium field and went
through with his speech.
He bowed and smiled acknowledg-
ment to The greetings -a0soe1eAAAin