Evening star., 1926-03-20
PLYMOUTH M0URNS
AS It PREPARES TO
BURY COL. COOLIDGE
Simple Rites for Presidents
Father to Be Held in Home
at 2 O'Clock.
RETURN TO WASHINGTON
WILL FOLLOW FUNERAL
Road to Cemetery Cleared-Chief
Executive Gets Farm on Which
He Was Reared.
BY j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

. PLYMOUTH, VT, March 20.--There
is "A thick, soft, fine snow falling here
to-day az the time draws near for the
burial of Col. John Calvin Coolidge,
the Presidents father. at . o'clock.
The scene presented, while pictur-
csuue is a genuinely wintry and SOM
bcr one. and those who have made the
journey to this remote hamlet, the
home OF the CoolidgeS for five genera
t;ons. To attend the funeral this aft
ernoon found the travelling none too
easy. There was q thaWing through
out this immediate section last night
and early this morning, during part
of which period it rained.
Rain Turns to Snow.
Just before the presidential party
started on its journey to the Notch
from Woodstock, II miles distant
where they have been staying. the
rain turned suddenly into snow-a
sugar snow: at least, that is what the
natives up here call it. explaining that
it tells Of the readiness of the sap to
start running from the maple trees.
While the trip made by President
and Mrs. Coolidge, accompanied by
their son John, was not entirely void
of its disComfortS and momentary
thrills, their destination was reached
safely in nearly an hours time. AL
though all about everything was
snow covered and otherwise Sugges-
tive of Winter, there was no wind
blowing, and the temperature was
high. 1t was above the freezing point,
which is looked upon up here as be-
ing extremely mild for this season of
the year.
Last Miles i'm Sleigh.
The President and his family made
half of these IA miles in a closed
automobile and the remainder in a
sleigh. The latter was the same
three-seated, snug affair used by
them when they journeyed to the
Notch yesterday. They were wen
bundled to protect them from the
elements and, although the going
was rough and slow, and the snow
as it fell upon them was the wet
and melty kind, they did not seem
to mind 1t in the least.
During their stay at the inn at
Woodstock the President and his wife
and son have kept to themselves
within their rooms. Gov. Billings OF
Vermont, whose home is in this viii
lage, called to pay his respects and
to offer coincidence. The only time
the President has been out of his
room, except to go to meals, was just
before the evening meal last night,
the little town.
Received by Sargent.
When the President arrived today
at the quaint little white house, where
lay the BODY Of his father. he was
received by Attorney General Sargent,
who made the trip from Washington
with the President, but who spent
last night at the home Of his son-in-
law. in Ludlow, 13 miles from
Plymouth, and Rev. John White,
Episcopal minister of Sherbourne, VT,
who has been preaching at the little
Union Church at Plymouth during the
Summer and who was a close friend
of Col. Coolidge. 1t was the latter's
wish that his old friend officiate at his
funeral. The services are to be simple.
There will be no eulogy, no singing
or other music. The strict Episcopal
service for the dead will be read at the
home and at the cemetery the Episco-
pal committal service will be read. The
pallbearers will be six men Of the Yer
mont National Guard who have been
doing sentry duty.
Floral Pieces Piled High.
Scores of handsome floral pieces,
mostly from members of the Presi-
dents cabinet and other high officials
of the Government and admirers of
the colonel, were banked high about
the small rooms of the house. The
large wreath made. up by the White
House specialists. which arrived here
by train this morning, was placed at
the head of the caSket.
There was one wreath, possibly not
so large and handsome as many Of
the others, but carrying with Il a very
deep expression of sympathy. 1t
was the one sent by the little hand
full of residents of the Notch. the
men and women who had been in
close contact with the colonel and
who knew him well.
1t is the Presidents intention to
go directly from the cemetery to
The railroad station at Woodstock
and start at once his journey back
TO Washington. where he is sched-
uled to arrive early tomorrow morn
ing.
The President will take with him
the hundreds of kilograms and other
messages he has received since arriv-
ing here conveying messages of con-
dolence. These he will answer upon
his return.