Class of 1893
At Greenfield, Mass., January 18, Winthrop P. Abbott suffered a paralytic stroke while attending the annual meeting of the Second Congregational church, of which he is deacon.
The Springfield, Mass., Union soon after the death of former President Coolidge printed an interview with Rev. B. F. Gustin, in regard to his calling upon Mr. Coollege at Plymouth, Vt., in the summer of 1931, which seems to us so interesting that we are devoting to its reproduction our space for this month as follows: "I wasspending part of my vacation at a lakenear Plymouth, and had occasion to takesome friends to see Mr. Coolidge's home.
"Not knowing he was there, we wererather surprised to find him actively engaged in directing the loading of somepieces of antique furniture into a truckbacked up to the barn door.
"One of my friends and I passed by thehouse and visited the cheese factory a fewrods up the hill. When we returned Mr.Coolidge was sitting upon the piazza, oneof his pet dogs lying near, and Mrs. Coolidge was in the garden across the street.
"As we neared the house I remarked tomy friend, 'I wonder if Mr. Coolidge haslearned of Dr. Parsons' death in China?'My friend replied, 'Why don't you go upand tell him about it?' and my friendturned immediately and went to speak toMrs. Coolidge in the garden. My friend wasa gold star mother, and so I felt that Mrs.Coolidge would very graciously receive her,but with two cheeses under my arms I hadgrave doubts as to my reception by Mr.Coolidge. I would have had greater doubtshad I known that at that moment theman doing police duty at the end of thestreet was saying to my wife, 'He won'tspeak to him if he goes up there, he neversees strangers.'
"However, I approached Mr. Coolidgeand taking off my hat, said, 'I beg yourpardon, sir, for speaking to you. I am oneof the clergy from your neighboring townof Amherst, and am now at the lake for avacation. Have you heard of the death ofDr. Parsons in China and that his widowwill soon be in this country? I know youwere at the service and met him when hewas commissioned in Washington.'
"Mr. Coolidge removed his cigar from,his mouth and replied, 'Yes, I know aboutthat, and I believe I have sent a letter toher. I intended to, anyway. Now what canyou tell of Dr. Tucker and the situation heis in?' Fortunately I had read this latestnews and gave a brief resume of the caseas the papers stated it.
"Then Mr. Coolidge gave me his impressions of the situation. He talked oflaws and territorial rights and international rights and international protection and then referred to cases he hadknown about during his presidency wherecomplications had been straightened out
amicably for all concerned. Then Mr.Coolidge asked, 'ln what church in Amherstwere you?' I told him and then said, 'I am
a Dartmouth man of the days when youand I were not so friendly, as Amherstand Dartmouth men are today.' 'Yes,' saidMr. Coolidge, 'we were bitter rivals whenI was in Amherst in '95, but that is all past.'
"I said, 'Mr. Coolidge, when I came toAmherst, a Williams College man said tome, "What on earth is a Dartmouth mandoing in Amherst territory?" '
"Quick as a wink Mr. Coolidge said, 'Youmight have told him you were a missionaryto the Indians'
"Of course he was calling to mind theobject for which Dartmouth was founded.Mr. Coolidge was very much amused at hisreply and we had a good laugh.
"Still he continued, 'I hope you arehaving a good time at the lake.' I said,'Yes, only I think we would enjoy it moreif our roof did not leak so much.' Mr.Coolidge replied, 'You tell the proprietor toget a roll of tar paper and tack it on theroof.' Again, we laughed together.
"During the conversation while Mr.Coolidge was speaking about the situationin China and Dr. Tucker, I was much concerned as to how I should properly takeleave of a former President when it wastime for me to leave.
"I had not expected such a chat withhim, and the longer he conversed the moreconcerned I became about a polite andproper departing. However, as he finishedspeaking about the tar paper, I said, Ihope, sir, that I have not annoyed you byspeaking to you,' and Mr. Coolidge repliedwith a smile around his eyes, 'Not at all. Ihave enjoyed this chat with you.'
"I shall always cherish as one of my veryfinest experiences this friendly chat withour greatest American citizen. Mr. Coolidgewas a friendly man."
Secretary, 104 North State St., Concord, N. H,
