The Washington herald., 1912-12-23
WILSON VISITS
HIS OLD OFFICE
President-elect Spends Half Hour in
Familiar Surroundings of
Princeton University
LETS SELF IN WITH KEY

Princeton, n. J., Dec. with the old
key that he used every day while he was
president of Princeton University, Presi-
dent-elect Wilson this afternoon turned
the latch and let himself into his old
office in the ''seventy-nine" building on
the campus, and thereafter for matter
OF half an hour he Toasted his eyes on
the old familiar surroundings.
The Governors visit, the first In two
years, was totally unexpected. He
reached the building in the course OF a
five-mile walk, in which he was accom-
panied by correspondents. Coming across
the campus on the last Jap of the walk.
the Governor turned in at his class build
ing.
Let's take a look in here" he said.
Il have not been in the old building in
two years" The Governor did not seek
the aid of the janitor. but led the way
into the building and mounted the stairs,
. turning on an electric light here and
there. The hall had been pitch dark, but
the Governor knew exactly where the
lights were located. Reaching the door
of his old office, he dug down In his
pocket and produced a bunch OF keys.
He found the right key by sense of
touch. it was inserted in the lock, the
latch snapped back, and the party en-
tered.
Turning to the correspondents, the
Governor said:
''In view OF the fact that by virtue of
being Governor of the State l am presi-
dent ex-officio of the board of trustees
Of the university, I suppose it is perfect
ly proper for me to 80 in here"
Office Not in Use.
The office has not been used since the
Governor resigned from the presidency
of the university. It has few furnish
Ines. combination tablc-desk and a
few chairs are about all the outer room
contains. There are two inner rooms.
One was the private office of the presi-
dent and the other was used by his
stenographer. The woodwork is OF ma
hCgany and beautifully carved. With his
walking stick the Governor pointed out
the heads and other designs.
81 spent good many happy years in
Cnese rooms" he said r1cditativeIg I,
seems like home to be here" Then he
turned out the lights, slammed the self
latching door. and left
Let's walk past Holder Hail." he
said. II want to see how the work is
progressing"
Holder Hall is Mrs. Russell Sage's do
nation to Princeton University. The Gov
ernor stopped before II. inspected the
work and expressed his satisfaction that
the work is moving along so rapidly. He
noted the squat appearance OF the win
dows. They are very close to the ground.
I protested against those windows
when the architects plans were sub
mitted,' he said. Il knew the windows
would look just that way
Walks Across Country.
The Governor started on his walk about
2 o'clock and was back home long before
8 His jaunt took him to the outskirts
u the village. He made short cut
across fields. through bFamble bushes.
over hills and along the dirt roads.
The Governor did not talk politics to-
day, excepting to express distress at the
reported illness of Oscar w. Underwood.
When he learned that the physicians had
said that ii might be necessary for the
Democratic floor leader to take a trip to
Europe, he said:
"Oh, 1 hope it is not as serious as
that"