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Prosperity and Thrift: The Coolidge Era and the Consumer Economy, 1921-1929

Boone Papers. Chapter on President Coolidge from the Memoirs of His Physician, Joel T. Boone.

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"This is true in the case of the Academy Chapel; although marvelous in its construction, its real glory is the evidence of the Lord's spirit inside its walls. . . .

"Only in dedication can there be divine manifestation of power. The dedication of souls even greater than the dedication of structures. . . .

"The same divine spirit is in the very heart of the Academy hymn: 'Jesus, I live to Thee', which was written by a Mercersburg Boy who later became a minister, the Reverend Henry Harbaugh."

Then Doctor Irvine delivered the "Words of Dedication" which were in part: "This building is the outward and visible symptom of what Mercersburg has tried to put into the hearts of all her boys through the long years,--strength, Beauty, Sweetness, Consecration. It stands for strength of character, beauty of life, joy of work and play and consecration of self to work God's work. It is a place not to admire, but to revere; not a place to be praised for its beauty, but a place in which to worship. If this house does not make our boys better men, then we have failed. . The message of the Chapel is that man must give his very best to God."

Following Doctor Irvine's "Words of Dedication", there was a hymn of dedication L : "O Comrades of the Human Heart", written especially by Doctor Henry Van Dyke for the dedication of the Mercersburg Chapel, inspired by the building of the Chapel. He was a very, very intimate friend of Doctor Irvine's and visited at Mercersburg many times. Doctor Irvine had challenged him to write the hymn for

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the dedication. He was loath to do it, as he said he had been devoting himself in recent years to certain forms of prose. After he had had a visit at Mercersburg, following another experience of preaching for Doctor Irvine at the Academy before the Chapel was built, inspired, watched the beautiful Chapel beingbuilt on the hill. So enthusiastic did he become watching this new construction of a great religious edifice, he called it a {ILLEGIBLE} {begin inserted text}dream{end inserted text} of perfect beauty, inspired him to give something to the world in the form of poetry. As a result, the beautiful hymn of dedication resulted. The first verse came to him fishing in one of the nearby streams at Mercersburg. In the middle of the stream he stopped, took from his pocket a scrap of paper and wrote the first stanza of this hymn, so beautiful that I shall herewith quote it. It is carved on stone now and recessed in one of the walls of the Chapel:

One of those in attendance at the dedication were asked for comment. I would like to show excerpt briefly from some of the comments.

Mrs. Coolidge said: "Doctor Irvine has told me that he considered it a great honor to have me here, but I feel as though it were of more of a privilege to be here. I always like to return to Mercersburg and to me Mercersburg is the Irvines and the Irvines are Mercersburg."

Doctor Ralph E. Stearns, Principal of Philips-Andover Academy, said in part: "Doctor Irvine's remarkable work at Mercersburg stamps his as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, of American headmasters of all time. His work, his record is a constant inspiration to those who as headmasters themselves are alone able to appreciate the vision, the unfaltering faith, and the most unbelievable energy and sacrifice that made his achievements possible. Mercersburg Chapel will always stand as a symbol of that spiritual element in education in which Doctor Irvine so deeply believes, and without which education, however showy, must remain only a superficial veneer and a sham...."

Then from Doctor Lewis Perry, Headmaster of Philips Exeter Academy, excerpt of what he said: "We all felt the beauty of the Chapel, inspiring messages of the speakers, but most of all the triumphant note that was struck; not so much a triumphant note for the amazing Doctor Irvine as for the things for which he stands."

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Doctor Mather A. Abbott, Headmaster of Lawrenceville School, stated: "My impressions of the Chapel are that it is the most beautiful school chapel that I have ever seen, in fact, the most beautiful chapel in the scholastic world--better even than that of my old school in England, St. Edmund's, where they know how to build chapels."

Then Doctor Boyd Edwards, Headmaster of the Hill School who after Irvine's death in 1928 became his successor as Headmaster at Mercersburg, where he served as such for 15 years, and to quote Doctor Edwards on the occasion of the dedication of the Chapel " : "I cannot say too much for your Chapel, the most beautiful I have ever seen anywhere. It emphasizes the fact that Doctor Irvine, through his vision, has done the biggest, strongest, and most courageous thing of our generation."

The architect for the beautiful organ in the Chapel was a Mr. Bell. He commented: "Certainly this Chapel is the finest thing connected with any educational institution in the world. The details are nothing less than marvelous. I have never seen anything to equal the wonderful capacity of your Headmaster's mind for detail. This {MISSING} has that you may contribute a great deal of the success of this gigantic undertaking."

Then to quote from the architect, Mr. Ralph Adams Cramm: "I was very much impressed by the magnificent dignity and simplicity of the services of dedication. They were carried on just as I would have wanted it if it had been my chapel. I cannot say how pleased I am in {begin inserted text}with{end inserted text} the working out of the scheme of the glass {begin inserted text}for the{end inserted text} windows. Wonderful

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when one considers that the contracts were let to eight different concerns for the various windows. I am more than satisfied with the final result of the Chapel. It has surpassed my greatest expectation. I can say no morethan that."

There were many others: heads of schools and colleges, architects, as well as the organ and other great areas of the Chapel.

As I am writing my memoirs, quote from the comments that I made when I was requested to comment on the Chapel, at which time I was in my late 30s: "To me, the Chapel is the most inspiring thing, not only in Mercersburg, but with which I have ever been associated in my life, because I feel that one who is inside cannot help but feel that he is on the threshold of heaven. It embodies the four things which Doctor Irvine emphasized in his dedication address: strength, beauty, sweetness, and consecration, which he has tried to inculcate in every Mercersburg Boy. Any man that possesses these qualities in his character is sure to succeed in life and will pass out of this life having stamped his character indelibly on all who may have come in contact with him. He will therefore have fulfilled these ideals, for he will have served his fellow man by personal example, Christian living, and service to one's fellow, our greatest accomplishments."

The carillon was a gift of Henry Swoope, who was the first President of the Alumni Association at Mercersburg. I was elected to succeed him after he retired from the office and I held that office for 14 consecutive years.

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In narrating at such length on the Mercersburg Chapel while in the midst of writing of the administration of President Calvin Coolidge, because President and Mrs. Coolidge and their sons were such a part of Mercersburg and because, as stated, the ground for this Chapel was broken by the then Vice President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. The cornerstone was laid by Mrs. Coolidge. She attended the dedication, later a funeral the following year after its dedication of the first Headmaster, builder of the Chapel, and the founder of Mercersburg, {begin inserted text}Doctor{end inserted text} William Mann Irvine. Too, because of the relationship that I have had to Mercersburg since 1909 {begin inserted text}and{end inserted text} in many ways to this magnificent Chapel. Every visit to the Chapel I have had refreshment of the soul, new inspiration provided to meet the obligations of the day, whatever they may have been or whatever they are even presently. So I am forever grateful for what Colonel Cheney graciously stated after he had attended the dedication of the Chapel. If I have had in life successes, as he felt that I had, and they probably came because of my relationship to Mercersburg, it is since 1908.

When I saw Mrs. Coolidge after we returned from Washington Mercersburg, she said that she would be willing to give up five years of her life for such an experience as she had had in the last few days at Mercersburg.

Mrs. Irvine told my wife that Mrs. Coolidge had said to her that Helen and I were more constituted alike and with more simmering {begin inserted text}similar{end inserted text} characteristics than any two persons she had ever known, adding that Mrs. Coolidge had said we had the same spirit and readiness

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to meet any situation common ideals. To me this was a very heartwarming x tribute, deeply appreciated coming from such a source as Grace Coolidge.

In mid-July {begin inserted text}?{end inserted text} on a Sunday evening when I had paid my professional calls on President Coolidge, after they had gone in to dinner in the formal State Dining Room, I looked in and was very impressed to see them both sitting {begin inserted text}there{end inserted text} at the large table with the beautiful silver, lovely sparkling glass, roaring fire lighted behind them. Over the mantle was the portrait of President Coolidge. The room was very formal setting, very formal in every regard, and {begin inserted text}just{end inserted text} the President and his wife sitting there with no guests and the warmth of the fire, picture of them that I like to remember and keep afresh. It had a home atmosphere, not the kind that the Coolidges were accustomed to before coming to the White House, evidence that they created it into a home. They did not need to have official guests or personal guests to enjoy sitting in the state just as husband and wife.

Mr. Pratt of Standard Oil felt that the President was too limited in confining his exercising most part on walking. Thinking he ought to have some other type of exercise, he purchased a large mechanical horse. The President just did not know where to place this artificial animal. He finally felt the only place he could use it and not be observed in its use was in his own bedroom; however, the steed was so heavy, a heavy base had to be placed on the floor to which the horse was securely attached. It looked like a horse in every respect. There was a bridle, a bit in the mouth, and a pair of reins going from the bit to the hands of the rider. There was a

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French flat leather saddle and stirrups. The President seemed to enjoy using this horse and rarely missed a day of doing so, but his procedures were faulty in taking this form of exercise. Instead of taking his evening bath, as he was accustomed to doing, changing his underclothes and dressing for dinner in his tuxedo after he exercised, he could not be dissuaded from taking his bath first, putting on his underclothes, and even in summer he wore long-sleeved ones and drawers, lighter weight than the winter time, and putting on his semi starched tuxedo shirt, tying his black bow tie and putting on his trousers and tuxedo coat, he would then mount the horse, riding at a canter or a trot, which he could control by mechanical lever right in front of the saddle behind the horse's neck, and ride until he would get in a real perspiration, as one would say, sweat, then dismount after a time, mop off his face, dry off his hands, and go to dinner. Common old adage, he was putting the horse behind the cart. The exercise was very good for him, but not the way he carried it out. It disturbed me very much when I first noticed it and for some little while, but then I thought if he didn't mind going to dinner all perspired in dress clothes, why should I worry about it.

Another faulty procedure he had, and that was to eat a lot of nuss and some fruit large center table containing these edibles, among other things provided for him in his bedroom, before going down to eat a large evening meal, even a great state banquet. There were times when he would indicate or it would have been obvious to me that he needed certain medication which normally would be taken at bedtime, but he would ask for it before dinner with suggestions of

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of how much he should take of the medication and when he should take it, and when I would give him the indicated dosage, he would insist on double the quantity. Then when I would say in answer to his inquiry as to when he should take it, informing him to do so at bedtime, he would take it immediately before he went downstairs for dinner, which would cause some disturbance in the middle of the night. That too worried me, for I believed that he was proceeding unwisely and contrary to sound medical procedures; but, if he wished to be disturbed in the middle of the night, I came to a philosophical concept of "why should I worry", knowing it would not make him ill, or I would have taken more drastic steps in preventing him from taking it, the size dose he insisted on taking or when he took the medication. I realized it merely caused him a lack of sleep and inconvenience at a time when effectiveness could be produced without the un {begin inserted text}n{end inserted text} ecessary loss of sleep. I had come to the realization it was just one of those strange quirks in his nature . even a physician to him had to accept without worriment.

Mrs. Coolidge had great qualities of versatility, could measure up to any circumstance or occasion. She could meet all the official requirements of her position, both as to proper formal attire, dignified conduct, or she could be simple, plain, natural person, which made people love her so dearly. She was really a charming contrast, always ready to meet any occasion or circumstance required of her or which she elected to create herself.

I remember so well one contrast that was very impressive. I had occasion to treat her collie, Rob Roy. She would sit on the floor, the holding her {begin inserted text}the{end inserted text} dog to facilitate my treatment of him. Then of seeing

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her sitting for long hours knitting, crocheting, and sewing in her bedroom, as would any other lady in her own home, contrasted with her charming, almost regal, presence receiving Queen Marie of Rumania the afternoon of the Queen's arrival and then acting as the hostess of the dinner she and the President gave for the Queen and her entourage. I know I was favored to see her in various and sundry contrasting circumstances. Marvelous sense of humor. Never seemed, even with her great poise of dignity as occasions required, at heart the very simple, natural lady from a small, medium, or large community in New England, which was Plymouth Notch, Burlington, Vermont, or Northampton, Massachusetts.

Queen Rumania visited Washington. She brought with her her son the Prince and the young Princess, besides a great number of officials of her court. It was thought she came to procure large sums of money from the United States for her country, and that her visit was not just merely a courtesy call on the President of the United States. She was very fond of publicity and having her pictures taken as frequently as possible. She seemed to have made even her own arrangements as to photograph ers {begin inserted text}y{end inserted text} . I remember seeing her enter the lobby of the White House after her car drove up under the north porte-cochere. She was a very, very beautiful woman, beautifully gowned. The young Prince and Princess were attractive. He was dressed in uniform, carrying his sword, instead of having it hooked up on his belt. They were formally greated by President and Mrs. Coolidge. For tea {begin inserted text}?{end inserted text} returned to the Rumanian Embassy, the Queen to wait the return call of President and Mrs. Coolidge.

The President had issued orders th at {begin inserted text}ere{end inserted text} would be no photographs taken when he called on the Queen at the Embassy. When he arrived a

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and entered the front door into the ground floor reception rooms, much to his displeasure, which he tried to conceal, he saw chairs all set up very definitely in an arrangement for picture taking. As soon as the handshakings had been consummated, the Queen pointed to a chair at her right for the President to sit, and on her left for Mrs. Coolidge to sit, members in her official party in chairs or standing behind them. The President evidenced by his expression, appearance that he was not at all happy. There was nothing he could do about it. They were then taken up into the living quarters of the Embassy where they were entertained and {MISSING} atterned, their own respective foreign countries. Embassy was foreign soil.

That evening President and Mrs. Coolidge f gave a state dinner in the White House for the Queen of Rumania and her entourage, besides a great number of other guests. Very beautiful and elaborate affair in the State Dining Room. Of course, the Queen sat on the President's right. Mrs. Coolidge, as was customary in the Coolidge Administration, sat opposite the President. In the absence of the Queen's husband, who remained at home when she came to the United States, I do not remember, but I believe she had the Prince seated on her right. I would imagine she had the Rumanian Ambassador on her left. Of that I am not sure, nor do I remember or have a record of who sat on the President's left on the occasion of the dinner for the Queen of Rumania.

How valid the {ILLEGIBLE} story is, it was quite broadly narrated, that the President did not give Queen of Rumania very much attention during the long formal banquet, but rather, gave more attention to the lady

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on his left. If so, I am sure Queen of Rumania was not happy. She was a very proud person. If such a thing occurred, I am sure she would have felt that she had been practically officially slighted.

President Coolidge was the sort of individual who did not up to a person if he didn't feel disposed to, he felt disposed to give them rather a cold shoulder.

After the dinner the {begin inserted text}there were{end inserted text} extra guests invited into the White House for musical entertainment in the East Room. I do not know who the artist or artists were. I am sure that Mrs. Coolidge and the State Department saw to it that the entertainment was a very high order of excellence, becoming the White House and to suit the tastes, as it were, of the honor guests; however, he or she were never conferred with in advance what form of t entertainment would be pleasing to them.

From what I learned, I think the President felt quite uncomfortable as long as Queen Marie was in Washington particularly. I have no knowledge how beneficial her trip was to her own country or whether she had made it as any richer by her visit to the United States.

Arrangements were being made to celebrate on October 23rd, 1926, Irvine Day at Mercersburg. I was, naturally, to be at Mercersburg with my wife for that occasion. Mrs. Coolidge told me before I definitely made plans to go that she wished to send with me flowers to take to Doctor and Mrs. Irvine. I noted that she would miss very much being there, but she would be with us all in thought and would be anxiously waiting until the time when she could return to Mercersburg for another visit. I asked to be away for a rather long

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weekend, but Brown felt that I should make sure that I had the President's permission to be away for that period, also to arrange for a relief to stand by as ship's medical officer while I was gone, in case the President should suddenly decide to take a cruise of a day or two of that weekend. I discussed the matter with Coupal and wanted to make sure that he would be on hand to look after all of the professional attentions required at the White House, and if he were not desirous of making a trip on the MAYFLOWER should the President decide to go, wish him to find somebody that would be agreeable to him to take my place as the ship's medical officer that period.

I did go and ask the President's permission to be away for the weekend, not having made such requests heretofore. The President felt I should certainly go to Mercersburg and said that he would send a letter to Doctor Irvine. The President was really very splendid in his attitude about my going and urged me to do so, feeling that I should.

Quoted herewith is the letter that President Coolidge sent to Doctor Irvine, which I carried with me to Mercersburg:

"The White House
"Washington

"October 22, 1926

"Dear Doctor Irvine:

"Although I cannot be present in person, it gives me great pleasure to join with those who will be honoring you tomorrow night in celebration of your 61st birthday.

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"The proper training of our youth for their duties as men and citizens is of vital importance. Your devoted, highminded work in this field is appreciated by the fathers of those fortunate enough to have been under your influence. It deserves the recognition of all who know that character-building is a real service to the country.

"My heartiest congratulations go to you, and the wish that many years of happiness and usefulness may be yours.

"Very truly yours,
"Calvin Coolidge

"Doctor William Mann Irvine
"Mercersburg Academy
"Mercersburg, Pennsylvania"

I suggested to Mrs. Coolidge that I take a boutonniere for Doctor Irvine to wear as a gift from her e , {begin inserted text}and{end inserted text} white roses , to be placed on the altar memorializing Calvin on Doctor Irvine's birthday. My suggestion pleased her very much.

Helen and I had a lovely trip as we drove from Washington to Mercersburg.

There was a religious service held in the Chapel that same evening after our arrival with the sermon directed to the alumni who were there in large numbers.

The next day on October 23rd, Doctor Irvine's birthday, {begin inserted text}{begin handwritten}See p. 634{end handwritten}{end inserted text} which was designated Irvine Day, there was a great turnout of alumni for the occasion. The Alumni Council held a meeting in the morning and the Alumni Association in the afternoon with a luncheon in Keil Hall. Mercersburg was quite ambitious, taking on the Princeton freshmen

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for the particular football game on that notable day. {begin inserted text}Un{end inserted text} Fortunately for Mercersburg, Princeton freshmen won, 13 to Mercersburg's nothing. That was not a happy circumstance to Doctor Irvine who himself was a great All-American football player for four years at Princeton and again while at Franklin and Marshal Seminary , . Having been the football coach in the earlier periods of Mercersburg Academy, he was not at all happy with the defeat of Mercersburg. He was a goot sportsman. He was always gracious to visiting teams. Would not let his inner feelings be shown on his countenance. He congratulated the winning team most heartily.

{begin inserted text}At{end inserted text}
The Alumni Dinner that evening in Keil Hall for Doctor Irvine I presided as toastmaster as the President of the Alumni Association. Speechmaking continued from 8:30 after the dinner until 11:30 in the evening, but noone seemed a bit tired or bored. A great deal of enthusiasm about the dinner and the speechmaking, and it was proclaimed as a great success by not only the Headmaster and Mrs. Irvine, but all those present and particularly by the alumni and members of their family who accompanied them for this great and notable Irvine Day event.

The next day was Sunday. The first Communion service ever to be held in the Chapel was conducted that morning. Helen and I went forward among the first to the rail. In fact, I believe we were signaled out to be the first to go take Communion because of my being the President of the Alumni Association. I realized that this was a very historic occasion, one that meant a great deal to both of us. The entire service moved us tremendously. Almost every boy in the congregation of the student body took Communion. It was a wonderful

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sight to see. I realized there were not only Protestants, but Catholics and Jews went to the Communion rail. My classmate, Reverend Earl L. Douglass, assisted in serving the Communion. The entire service was beautifully conducted in every regard. I was so thankful that I was permitted by President Coolidge with the hearty blessing of Mrs. Coolidge to go to Mercersburg for this very, very special occasion. {begin inserted text}Para.{end inserted text} Both President and Mrs. Coolidge were very much interested the next day to hear the full account of the affair. They were both great admirers of Doctor and Mrs. Irvine and always felt no recognition of them or honor paid them was other than most deserved.

One {begin inserted text}Mon{end inserted text} day on October 25th I learned with great regret that our Executive Officer, Van Hook, made plans to go to Brazil for duty. I thought he had done an outstanding job as Executive Officer of the MAYFLOWER, and I enjoyed serving with him immensely.

The first day after my return from Mercersburg, I really felt sad to return to the world of reality, but such, I philosophically mused, is life. To me Mercersburg seemed closer to heaven than any place I knew on earth.

The Belgian carillonneur, Anton Brees, said he "found the soul of America at Mercersburg", even before he felt that America really had a soul.

Mrs. Coolidge urged me to talk on and on and give her every detail of our visit to Mercersburg on this special occasion. She said: "You don't want to throw off the spell of Mercersburg when you return, do you?" I certainly did not, which was, throw off the spell of Mercersburg. Never have, long period of years.

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The following day Mrs. Coolidge took us to a beautiful concert by the Philadelphia Orchest e ra. Helen a and I were her only guests, which certainly was most complimentary for us young people. It was on that occasion that Mrs. Coolidge began calling my wife, "Helen", and from that time always did and forever showered on her great affection and attentions of various and sundry kindly sorts.

I talked to Captain Brown in regard to Van Hook's departure....

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