The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-01-06
SOCIAL EVENTS OF
CAPITALCANCELLED
AS nation MOURNS
Presidential and Congressional
Parties Will Attend Cool
idge Funeral
FLAGS FLY At HALF.MAST
Congress Adjourns Over Week.
End; President Proclaims
Mourning Period
FLAGS FLY At HALF.MAST

Mourning over the death Of former
president Calvin Coolidge pervaded
the national capital Friday, extending
through all governmental depart
ments and on into the social and busi-
ness life of Washington, according to
Associated Press dispatches.
AS flags flew at half-mast in res
pect to the late executive, President
Hoover and members of his cabinet
made plans to attend the funeral at
Northampton Saturday and both
houses Of congress adjourned over
the weekend in order that senators
and congressman might attend the
rites also.
President Hoover has proclaimed a
30-day period of mourning.
This obeiSance to the dead bespoken
by the chief executive in the name of
all the people, contained q tribute to
Calvin Coolidge hard to surpass:
'Sagacity and Wisdom
"His name has become in his own
lifetime q synonym for sagacity and
wisdom"
The deep feeling Of president Hoo
yer was matched from every side in
an amazing stream of utterances, al
most all of which showed apprecia-
ton of the humanity Of the man
whose habit of silence and calm had
become almost a national legend.
Whimsical stories were in the ma
jority for almost everyone Coolidge
came in contact with had some evil
dence of his humor while few indeed
were allowed to see the depth Of emo
ton to which the most intimate at
tested.
y Edward T. Clark, his secretary for
eight years, pronounced the Coolidge
silence q myth.
"He could talk, always with the ut
most freedom to those in whom he
had confidence"
Mrs. Harry s. New, wife of Cool
idge's postmaster general attested to
the depth of his emotions.
II don't think people knew how
really warm-hearted he was and what
understanding he had" she said. Il
remember the funeral services for his
boy in Northampton. The President
and Mrs. Coolidge sat and listened
with faces that did not show their
grief. But just at the end, saw him
reach toward her hand. He took it
softly in his and held it for mo-
ment. That one gesture told more
than words or tears"
Many newSpapermen recalled his
answer when some years back he was
asked what he thought of the then
current attacks on the private life Of
George Washington. He turned from
his desk, walked to a window which
looked upon the tall white shaft to
the south Of the white house. He
smiled as he turned and said:
monuments Still There
'eWell, see the monuments still
there
The white house staff attested to
the many pranks he would play on
those about him, usually without even
cracking q smile to betray his amuse-
ment.
They had to move an alarm but
ton once to keep him from stepping
from his office on days when MOTH
ing pressed him. ringing the alarm
that rushed all guards to their posts.
and then disappearing before they
could find him at it.
Mourning for Coolidge slashed into
the washington social season.
The period from January to Lent
sees virtually all Of the really formal
functions of the white house. The
30-day mourning period swept from
the social slate events which fall
within the week on which the mourn
Ing period will close,