Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-15
COOLIDGE PUZZLED
OVER HIS FUTURE
Friends Doubt He Would Be
Content in Senate; Observes
Small Town Routine.

While the, Senate listens to speeches
WARNING Calvin Cooldge against being
'sidetrackeG' from an opportunity ior
Roosevelt Club demands to know whether
he will run for the senate, the former
President goes on Twins silently III
4 reporter visited Northampton to see
pi 2M T BACK into the lp"i routine big ma
tional ilgure in small cityLhow ne Is
former President.
NORTHAMPTON Mass, December
ID (N.ANA).-It is long after 5, and
lights CLEAN on the snow across the
wide main street of Northampton when
Calvin Coolidge swings around in his
old-faShoned high-backed office chair
to push the bell on the wall. He in
structs the girl secretary who appears
at the door 10 call his car.
But he is not yet ready to dismiss
his late afternoon caller. He has put
in a full working day at the task of
being an ex-President. But it is leis-
urely time for Mr.. Coolidge at the end
of the day. There is still an inch re-
manning of his last cigar before supper.
He has no train to catch. Northamp-
ton is unhurried by commuters tear
ing for the Sis.
From his Office window Mr.. Coolidge
can see other men starting home to
early SuppeIS lIoIl lIlGlL MdIIl SCleeC
Offices. They take a comfortable pace,
hands deep in overcoat pockets COL
lars turned up against the brisk De-
cenber evening Some pause to glance
meditatively into the Christmas win
Cows of the brightly lighted stores, just
freed of the afternoons flow of women
shoppers.
Beyond the stores they turn from the
central stem of, the town into side
streets, where frame houses are widely
spaced and sitting room lamps are
lighted. They walk home at night, gen.
orally alone and unhurried.
Daily Walks Given Up.
1t is one of the satisfactions that Mr..
Coolidge knew as a lawyer of North
ampton. but which he must now forego
as an eX-President. His daily walks,
familiar detail of his routine in Wash
ington, he has given up since he left
his Secret Service escort behind.
Too many would impose upon him,
stop him with Just a minute. Mr..
President" solicit him to do something
that he would not want to do, harry HIM
to make a speech or espouse Gauss.
To protect himself from perpetual an
rloyance and exploitation he rides TO
the office and home again.
That is part of the penalty of having
been President. The two efficient-look-
ing girls in the outer office suggest the
further penalty. Mr.. Coolidge maintains
a staff and puts in a working day at
the unavoidable chores of his unpaid
position as former President of the
United States.
On his way out he dictates a final
letter that needs attention tonight.
Then he walks down the single flight or
wide marble stairs to the curb, where
John Buloski waits hunched in his coat
I'm the drivers seat. John drives at an
easy speed the single mile up Main street
to where Elm street forks of to the
right, by Smith College, and around the
corner into Massasoit, where the Cham
her of Commences sign with the arrow
still points to Home of Calvin Cool
idge." 4
Reaches Haven at Home.
At home Mr.. Coolidge reaches his
haven, as quiet and content as the high
school principals home in the other
half of the house. He does not take
the ex-presidency home with him. That
stays at the Office. He has his homC
telephone calls screened through the
Office secretary. Many who think to take
advantage CT Mr.. Coolidge on the teIc-
phone as thav could not do on the street
are disappointed.
MISS Mae Hays, secretary, Is gem
orally in the Office in the evenings. On
Sundays calls go to her house. Mr..
Coolidges home is reached only after
Miss Hays has decided it is call that
should reach Mr.. Coolidge at home.
The only business at home is the
home making. Mrs. Coolidge has dont
the family marketing for supper as in.
formally as in the days before Wash.
dngton, and she has done some Christ
mas shopping. The only hustle at home
is to prepare for the occasional evening
with friends. which is as unadvertisec
and as informal as though Mr.. Coolidge
had not yet been the mayor of North
ampton. The only break upon the quie
of an evening at home is the Cheerful
chatter or song on the radio, in which
Mrs. Coolidge finds endless enjoyment
Mr.. Coolidge has always been mar
who liked his home, and now II take
strong pun to get him out OF it. Ere
quently he reads at home through thu
evening and makes no secret of his full
enjoyment of these peaceful periods
He is not fond of bridge or whist. anC
is distinctly impatient of the endless
bridge playing he sees and hears about
Radio Fails to Charm Him.
The radio fails to charm him as ]
does Mrs. Coolidge. He has heard abou
all the speeches a man needs for on
lifetime. When on occasion he goes t