Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-08
COOLIDGE ARTICLE.
ECHOES SAD SCENE
Former President DwelIs on
Sons Death in Story
for Magazine.
BY the Associated Press.


NEW YORK, March 8--The most
important private citizen of the United
States appeared before the Nation as
a writer yesterday, three days after he
retired from the White House to No.
81 Massasoit street, Northampton, Mass.
The first of q series of articles on
his career and his life in the White
House by Calvin Coolidge appears in
the April number of the Cosmopolitan
Magazine, which went on sale today.
Mr. Coolidge Is also under contract to
write articles for the American Maya
zine and for the Ladies Home Journal.
At 10 O'Clock one Saturday morning
about six weeks ago. Ray Long, editor
of the Cosmopolitan Magazine, was
ushered into President Coolidge's office
in Washington. The President handed
him a sheaf of papers.
I've got something DONE" he said.
81 don't know how good 1t is, but any
way it's here"
THAT Something" was Mr.. Coolidge's
story of his years in the White House.
The outstanding passage IN the install
ment that appears in the Cosmopolitan
today is his description Of the death OF
his son, Calvin, jr., and the cost In
House.
my own participation in the cam
paign of 1924 was delayed" Mr.. Cool
idge wrote, "by the death of my son
Calvin, which occurred on the 7th OF
July. He was a boy Of much promise,
proficient in his studies, with scholar
" mind, who had just turned Is.
HE had a remarkable insight into
things.
"The day became President he had
lust started to work in tobacco Held.
When one of his fellow 1aborefs said
to him: If my father was President I
would not work in tobacco field Cal
vim replied: If my father were your
father you would
Cites Letter of Calvin.
after he was gone some one sent us
letter he had written about the same
time to a young man who had con-
graduated him on being the first boy
In the land. To this he had replied that
he had done nothing, and so did not
merit the title, which would go to some
boy who had distinguished himself
through his own actions
I'VE do not know what might have
happened to him under other circum-
stances, but If I had not been PreSi-
dent he would not have raised a blister
on his toe which resulted in blood
poisoning. playing lawn tennis in the
south grounds.
I'm his suffering he was asking me
to make him well. I could not When
he went the power and glory OF the
presidency went with him. The ways
Of Providence are often beyond our
understanding. 1t seemed to me that
the world had need of the work that
it was probable he could do. do not
know why such price was exacted
for occupying the White House"
The first article described Mr.. Cool
idge's entrance into the White House
on the death of President Harding and
some Of his early experiences as Presi-
dent The work, says Mr. Long, Is
really an autobiography.
Mr.. Long described today how he
went about perSuading Mr.. Coolidge to
write the story.
When he made the announcement
that he did not choose to run again, in,
the Summer of 1927" Mr.. Long said, II
Immediately wrote him-he was then in
write for US. As soon as he was back in
Washington went down to see him.
Cites Lack Of Confidence.
ST got no direct answer. MIR. Cool
idge had no confidence in his ability to
write.
Then I decided to keep after him.
Every so days from that time I went
down to Washington to see him. Still
I could not get him to promise.
Finally I was called to the White
House on Saturday. January 25-about
six weeks ago. I arrived there at 10
o'clock in the morning. When I went
In the President looked at me, grinned
and said:
Mr.. President, I replied, beneath
this business suit beats the heart of Il
Canadian mounted policeman. I've come
down to get my man
After a few more words, Mr.. Cool
idge handed me a sheaf of papers. I've
got something DONE" he said, I don't
know how good it is, but anyway its
here
He then had me go into the cabinet
room to read it. But before went
in he said: If you're not pleased with
It, none of the things we've said need
bind you
MIR. Long said that Mr.. Coolidge
wrote his story first in long hand, later
debating to a stenographer.