New Britain herald., 1929-08-17

had nothing better 10 do.'
 Asset to Community
 Civic authorities are quick to ad- init that the Coolidges are an un- usual asset to the community Chamber of Commerce men say the number of visitors here has in creased greatly since March 4. picture of Calvin Coolidge and his home appear upon the Chambers circulars. Hotel owners report heavier business, and more auto mobiles with license plates from far-away states appear in the streets, than ever before.
 There is White House Inn" here, but the Coolidges seldom, if ever, dine in public places, There is a Calvin motion picture theater, but the former president, not be- ing movie fan. has never gone to it. Mrs. Coolidge, however, does every once in a while.
 In no way have the Coolidges permitted themselves to be "lion- izcd" by the townsfolk. They do not go in for society at all. They are not members of the local country club. They do not take part in Northampton's civic affairs. Mrs. Coolidge is devoted to her mother, who is in a hospital here, and spends much time with her. Sun day finds both MT. and Mrs. Coo lidge at Edwards Congregational church, sitting well in the hack They leave carly before any crowd of curious tourists outside may be- come too large.
 Evening Sees Most Guests
 It is in the evening that North amptcn visitors have their best op- portunity of seeing the family a | home" It is then that MT. anC Mrs. Coolidge cease to be entirely the private citizens they have be come and revert to the role of for mer president and first lady-hos and hostess-to the hundreds tha nass the white frame duplex house These visitors from many place who pass in the evenings are di
 rected by small boys and by q sigl at the end of Massasoit street, read ing Home of Calvin Coolidge-21.
 Mir Coolidge probably will b.
 found sitting on his front porch
 smoking his cigar and reading tn
 evening papers-or strolling aroun'
 the yard. Mrs Coolidge will be ex
 ercising the dogs or visiting witt
 the neighbors.
 A friendly smile and wave of tn
 hand from both MT. and Mrs. Coo
 lidge acknowledges greetings iron
 passing tourist cars or visitor
 afoot.
 Reads in Living Room When it gets too dark to req outside, MT. Coolidge picks up hi paper and goes into the house. : light flashes up in the living rool and the former president settle himself cozily in a chair and cor tinues reading. The blinds in tn house are not drawn. Mrs Coolidg frequently fingers outside q whil longer with the dogs.
 She likes to chat with the neigh
 bors, including Dr. F. w. Plum : mer, who lives in the other half ( l the duplex. Dr. Hummer is prir . cipal of the Northampton Hig school and sometimes discusst l education with Mrs Coolidge, wh Q once taught the deaf and blind s a school here.
 Dr. Hummer also exercises = dog, belonging to his son, and } sometimes takes Mrs. Coolidge : efforts as well as his own to kee s the pets from fighting. C The Plummers and the Coolidg d have lived in the same dupl' g house for 12 years. They rent d from J. w. OBrien & Son, a loc n real estate firm O'Brien is a dem u crat.
 Son Wanted to Go to West Poin l. Dr. Hummer and MT. Coolid q often leave the house at the san 'f time in the morning. Once, wh 'l the latter was vice president, ]
 Hummer remarked to him at O
 such meeting that his son desir S. very much to attend West Poin r. we have a lot of good app s' cants, Hummer" the vice pre- n dent said, and there the matt Il. rested.
 e! A year later, without anythi r. further being said. the son recciv 1T the appointment.
 CT People of the town tell otf H. character stories, most of the ld about Mrs. Coolidge. They are le of the same tenor.