Evening star., 1929-06-30


The Eadley champion appeared with a cheese
for q shield and dirty mop for a weapon.
He strove so well that the Engiishman cried
out:
"You must be the devil himself or Regicide
Cont"
These and other stories of our past delight
the ex-President.
Mr. Coolidge handles no law business in these
ofices. He has not practiced law since he
became Governor of Massachusetts, and he
thinks he will never undertake the work Of that
profession again.
HERE his time is given to handling an enor-
NOUS correspondence and seeing-or avoid
ing-calers. He tries to be patient under these
unasked-for attentions.
Many of us believe that by no means all OF
the throngs who write to him or seek to call
upon him or even to get closeup look at
him, are mere curiosity seekers. Many of us
believe that the effort often springs from a
genuine regard for President who had great
personal following
Mr.. Coolidge's clear eye looks through the
argument. He believes it is impossible for any
man to judge himself in that respect. to esti-
mate what is the real feeling of Others toward
him-unless in the case of certain friends
found and proved true.
He Is aware of the great danger which con-
fronts any one who holds high an Office as
the presidency-that Of confusing the respect
himself. He Is aware-he was, as President,
aware-of the danger Of power.
In no philosophical generalities does he see
these things. Some people like a man in public
life. Some people hate q man in public life.
Every man In public life has both experiences
1t is all as simple as that.
Perhaps that is another reason why he slips
SO easily into the daily life Of the private citi-
zen in Main Street.
Only in one respect does the presidency seem
to have changed Mr.. Coolidge. 1t taught him
to play.
put to him In the guise of public duty by
the White House physician-that genial medico,
DR. Boone-Mr. Coolidge chose the sport of
fishing.
FOR him not the sport OF kings nor the sport
Of the wealthy, but the old-tinne sport of Main
Street. He went into it with conscientious
thOroughness. He acquired great collection
OF flies and reels. which he keeps with him.
He can concentrate on the relative merits OF
q silver doctor and parachene bell, and can
exchange anecdotes Of fishing prowess with the
best of anglers.
Not even his recent accident discourages him.
He was crossing q brook the other day with
his rod In his right hand. His foot slipped on
rolling stone and he went down-breaking
bone In his right arm
He remembers how at the age of he broke
bone in his right arm by being thrown from
horse, and again at the age of l3 similarly
was injured trying to do an exceptional stunt
ON trapeze.
Trapeze and horses have passed out of his
life. but he is sure that fishing never will
He knows exactly how many fish he has
caught to date and he clicks it out-187. He
has fished on the private preserves of ex-Sen-
ator Mclean, In Connecticut; In Mitchell Pond,
near Petersham. in Massachusetts,. and in many
other places. And If he keeps he hopes
to- before long he win have explored all the
possibilities of all the fishing waters of New
England.
LIE will not 60 abroad, at least not for some
years to come. He would like to see more
of America. But European trip, with all the
formalities inevitable to man of his position,
presents possibilities distastefui to him.
He is perfectly contented and satisfied with
his life as 1t u.s. divided between the green wall
boarded Office and the little house in Massa-
soft street.
If people will let him enjoy it!
But there is the question. viii they let
him?
The housekeeper, who is satisfactory
cook has little time for tending the door. In
creasingly with Summer weather that door
stands open. Increasingly the prying stranger
finds Mr. Coolidge Mrs. Coolidge just inside
the doorway or clearly visible from without
1t is situation becoming more and more in
tolerable
In time 1t may be that this very interest
of the public itself viii defeat its own aim.
Reluctant though he may be to move some day
Mr.. Coolidge may be forced to do SO from that
little house in Main Street-in Massasoit street.
There were no motors to pursue Cincinnatus,
nor to weary washington. If and when Mr..
Coolidge. after 80 years leaves his little famous
house for another more comnfodious, more con-
yenient 1t win not be because he has been
spoiled by the possession of presidential power
beyond the satisfactions Of simple things
II and when he moves to q residence more
adequate for his new needs than mo- a.
A. WYA@ L