Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-03-11
by ALLENE SUMNER.
NNA Service writer.

Goodhue Coolidge, first lady of the
land for nearly three years, is known
TO social Washington as "the best
dressed woman who has ever graced
the White House"
But this doesn't mean Mrs. Cool
idge has deserted the cause OF Cool
idge economy. No presidents Wits
within memory spent as little on
her wardrobe as does Mrs. Coolidge.
She has solved woman's hardest prob
lem-how to spend little, but be well
dressed.
And she makes no bones about it.
She even chuckles bit over the
CONSERVATION she sometimes sees on
the faces of high-hat guests when
they see her in made-over gown
at White House reception.
DisIilzes Formally.
Mrs. Coolidge dislikes formal dress
of stiff brocades and glittering stuffs.
Hundreds of pictures of her have
been taken-but rare indeed is the
picture showing her in decollette.
THE president doesn't like it"
says one picture agency
Besides, the expense! This is an
economical administration.
Although Mrs. Coolidge lis rarely
Seen without a string of beads of
some sort she does not wear expen-
sive jewels. In fact, it is said that
she owns no diamonds but her simple
little engagement ring. But she
Z loves earrings. Are
She is. as conservative in dress as
her husband is in politics. No mat
ter wha the mode, she wears skirts
that reach nearly to her ankles She
seldom pays more than So for a pair
of hose, although she buys large
quantities of them, owning hose in
hundred shades to match various
costumes.
! Looks for Bargains.
When she does her own shopping
; in one of Washington's Speciality
shops, she is not above picking UP u
''bargain," flower from the tray of
those slightly soiled," a sample"
comb or string of beads
An incident at recent glittering
White House reception is illuminat-
ing.
The cream of Washington's society
was in the line that moved past her.
AS the gowned and jeweled women
walked UP to take her hand, wo-
, man less modishly dressed came up.
She was a society tattler''-a woman
who has made her living for years
by attending Washington's functions
and writing articles about them.
Her eye We're buy as she approach
ed Mrs. Coolidge, trying to note every
detail of the first lady's costume,
Mrs Coolidge noticed it. Her eyes
sparkled. She leaned forward and
whispered:
"You can get the description from
some old clippings, Miss -. It's
an old one again. Just made over a
little bit"
1 know this is true anecdote, for
heard it myself. I was next in
line.
Always Genuine.
White House attaches who have
attended countless receptions in many
| administrations marvel at Mrs. Cool
idge's poise. Always she manages
to inject real warmth and sincerity
into the hundreds of greetings she
must give to strangers.
And she seems to enjoy it, too.
She almost grins when she comes
down the marble stairway into the
Blue Room while the Marine band
plays Hail to the Chief Some of
her intimate friends say she has said;
Il rarely go through this act but
what 1 am thinking of the days when
my daily promenade consisted of
going to market in Northampton
with a basket on my arm, while L
tried to decide whether to buy steaks
or chops for supper
Another woman, who knew her in
the days before She entered the
White House, says:
Still Light-Hearted.
"She has refused to be made mis-
cradle by the demands put upon her
chatters as/ much as in the days when
we lived together at the hotel and
! borrowed one anothers ironing
board"
Everyone in Washington in fact,
| has a good word to say for Mrs
Coolidge. 1t has been many years
since a first lady was as well liked
as the present one.
The young woman who comes to
the White House to dress her hair
is one of her boosters
4 was scared to death the first
, time I was called in," she says. Il
! kept thinking, what if I get water
down the back of her neck" But
honestly I'm not afraid of it at all
now. In fact 1 did spill some water