Evening star., 1928-12-02
COOLIDGE HAS POOR
LUCK WITH QUAIL
First Covey Too Far Away.
Gets Five Other Chances,
but Misses Them All.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG,
stan Correspondent of The Star.


lots of fun and no end of exercise in
the open, but ne returned home empty
handed Worst of all. Mrs. Coolidge
was out in front of the clubhouse to
greet him with a shower of high COM
plimentS when he arrived back with
his sad story. 1t was '3ith a crest
fallen expression and disconsolate tone
that he told briefly of how they all got
away from him.
Bat Mrs. Coolidge only smiled all the
moro proudly as she assured him, at
thc conclusion of his gloomy report,
that she knew he had shot beautifully,
and, besides, he had had a good time.
He only mumbled something as he
walked toward the doorway to the ef-
feet that he had several good chances
and missed. 1t was apparent that he
was not casting about for any alibl for
his ill-fortune. Nor did his expression
give any hint that he considered the
moment appropriate for glee or laugh
ter. He soon turned the subject by an
nouncing that he was going to lie down
a while before preparing for supper.
First Covey Too Far Away.
A box score of the Presidents first
experience with Virginia quail reads
something like this:
The first covey flushed by the dogs
was too far away, at least that was his
excuse when he did not fire. During
the remainder of the n.I e than an hour
he was trampLhg about, he had five
chances. and he missed each time.
BY that time the light of the after
noon was beginning to fade and the
air was getting brisk and raw, and he
decided to call it a day and return to
the clubhouse.
The place selected for the Presidents
first try at Virginia quail was in re-
mote section of the estate of DR.. w. B.
Dodge, near Mountain Lake, about q
miles from Swannanoa. There had
been no cunning in that immediate
section for a number of years. and
quail are known to be most plentiful
there. The President was accompanied
by Clyde Moorehead, reputed to be one
of the best gunners in this part OF
Virginia: Writ Hatcher of Richmond,
another lover of the sport: Col E. w.
Startling of the Secret Service, who has
an enviable reputation with the gun,
and Harvey Ingley Of the Secret Serv-
ice. The President, however. was the
only one in this little company who did
any shooting.
Wears 1O-GaIIon Hat.
The Presidents attire on this shoot
ing expedition was not only highly
.colorful but suggestive of the sports
man. AS might be guessed, he wore his
Black Hills 10-gallon hat, He had on
the green, mackinaW coat presented TO
him up in Wisconsin last Summer, be-
meath which he wore hunters
smainder of his garb consisted of riding
breeches, lace boots, a high lay-down
starched collar and very gaudy yellow
necktie.
Clyde Moorehead said afterwards that
the l0-gallon hat had something to do
with the Presidents blank score. Ac-
cording to him the big headpiece was
in the way, not only interfering with
the Presidents aim but his movements
through the thickets and the tall broom
sage Mr. Moorehead was reminded of
how President Coolidge priced that
broad hat. and he discreetly lowered
his tone. Writ Hatcher was represented
as blaming the Presidents gun for the
poor showing. Mr. Coolidge used one of
the two 12-gauge guns brought by him
from Washington, but, according to Mr..
Hatcher, the barrel was too long The
gun was described as being all right for
clay pigeon shooting but not for quail.
To this the President was heard to
remark that he guessed he had better
stick to clay pigeons. He can hit them
in fine style.
Uses Pedigreed Settlers.
During this cunning experience the
President had the services of four
pedigreed, highly trained Elewellyn set
ters, three of them belonging to Mr..
Moorehead and the other TO Mr..
Hatcher One of Mooreheads dogs,
Folly" is considered the best bird dog
in this part of the country. The
President derived a great deal OF
pleasure watching these trained dogs
hunt. s.
He took another fling at the traps
yesterday morning preparatory to his
going after quail and he popped them
of wi at h eseHe posed for pictures,
too, during his trap shooting. Nearly a
dozen camera and motion picture men
were grouped on either side of him as
he fired away at the clay objects. Mrs
Coolidge, who has taken keen interest
in his acquired liking for shooting, was
in the group of photographers with her
little motion picture camera. She said
afterwards that. she wanted to make a
reel Of Mr.. Coolidge shooting while be-
ing photographed and she hoped her
film would show up well when de-
veloped.
Mrs Coolidge demonstrated last night
at the clubhouse that her musical talent
is not confined to piano playing but
that she has a sweet singing voice.
During the showing OF talking pictures
at the temporary White House after
supper. one of tn epictures included
the singing of angelo Mo" tune of
which Mrs. Coolidge is especially fond.
She hummed a little before the reel
was finished but when it was all over
she sung the song through unaccom-
panied. She did 1t in a most pleasing
fashion. AS she left the room she was
humming the tune, A little later the
strains of her singing OF this song could
be heard coming from her living suite
on the second floor.
Hosts at Clubhouse.
The President and Mrs. Coolidge
were hosts tonight at the clubhouse to
about 80 men and women, from this
section. who have been identified with
their reception to the Blue Ridge Noun
tains. The company was entertained
with motion pictures and talking pic
lures and the radio and later were
served refreshments.
Tomorrow morning the President anc
Mrs Coolidge will go to the First Pres
byterian Church at Staunton, about Il
miles from the Swannanoa Club, K
attend services 1t was at this church
that Woodrow Wilson'S father was pas
tor for a number of years and where the
late President first attended Sunday
school and religious services as a boy
This church is only stones throw from
the handsome old home where Mr.
Wilson was born and which is still the
parsonage of the First Presbyterian
Church
e It was not at the church where tht
President and Mrs Coolidge will worshiI
tomorrow where Mr. Wilson'S father wal