Neronic

A great many rather unlovely characters of history have been compared to Nero, but that President Coolidge should be spoken of in the same breath with the ill-famed Emperor seemed, until last week, almost incredible. The feat was performed, however, by Editor Basil M. Manly of People's Business, a journal which voices the views of LaFollette Progressives.

Discussing the President and the cowboy costume worn by President Coolidge in the Black Hills, Mr. Manly wrote: "And the moving picture audiences [watching news reels]roar with laughter as this bewildered little man teeters down the steps in his vaudeville chaps and timidly grasps the reins of the gift horse he fears to mount. So the Roman populace roared as Nero, seeking their fickle favor, twanged his lyre and in his effeminate voice sang the poor ballads which he had himself composed."

Readers surmised that had the President ridden the horse, Partisan Manly might have compared him to Benedict Arnold, fleeing from his outraged countrymen.