The White House Week

The White House Week

P: John C. Coolidge, father of the President, turned his back on the White House, went home to the hills of Vermont. Ten days in the Capital were enough for him; besides, it was haying time. A Secret Service man was reported to have summed up the President and his father as: "They are just alike, only the old gentleman is more so."

P: The President, by telephone, addressed a banquet of 53 Boy Scouts aboard the Leviathan, on which they were about to sail for Europe. Said he: "Every boy who has the privilege of growing up on a farm learns instinctively the three fundamentals of scout-hood: the first is a reverence for nature . . . the second is a reverence for law . . . the third is a reverence for God."

P: The President began work on his speech of acceptance, but interruptions were frequent, as politician after politician stepped in for a word.

P: Tige Coolidge, White House cat, left on a spree one month ago. Hope of his return has now been abandoned.

P: Luis Angel Firpo, strong of fist but somewhat weak of English, went to Washington for a visit. He saw Arlington Cemetery, and the Pan-American Building. His car then drove up to the White House Office building. He was announced, and the President ordered him admitted. The immense man walked into the President's room. Mr. Coolidge shook hands and throwing back his head looked up at Firpo. "Well," drawled Mr. Coolidge, "you certainly look all that your records have made us imagine."

Firpo stood on one foot, then on the other, but no words came. At last he was ushered out. Some press despatches reported that he had asked his interpreter as he went out, "Who is that man?" This is hard to believe. Firpo is partly sublingual in English, but he is not completely subnormal in mentality.

P: The President addressed a letter to Frederick J. Libby, Executive Secretary of the National Council for Prevention of War, strongly upholding the proposal for a "National Defense Day" on Sept. 12 and objecting to its being called "Mobilization Day" as if to give the impression that it is to be a militaristic festival.