The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-28
Many Messages Of Con
graduation Received
by Mr.. Wilson.
BRING FEELING OF
HAPPINESS TO HIM
Chief Executive Is 81 Years Old
To-Day, but Family Celebra-
ton Will Mean No Change
in Quiet Atmosphere of
Cottage Chosen for
Vacation.


dent Wilson Will DO ffty-scvcn gears
old tomorrow, and letters and tcle-
grams Of conYratulation poured in to-
day from all parts Of ti,s country
Some OF them wero from personal
friends. but the great majority were
from persons hitherto Unknown TO the
President. Some were written in pen
ell and half scrawled, and others ap-
peared more formal. but all brought
feeling OF happiness 70 the Preside mt
~ he read them.
Tho birthday will mean nc change In
the quiet atmosphere Of tho cottage
which the nations chief executive has
chosen for a vacation here. III the
forenoon he probably will attend ser
vices in tho small Presbyterian Church,
which is porched On the edge of the
beach road. half projecting into the
mississippi Sound. 1t is q tiny wooden
building scarcely thirty feet wide, with
a belfry that extends practically over
the entire roof OF the structure The
church seats less than 100
with the exception OF church ser
vices. the President has no definite
plans for tomorrow. although he will
probably take an automobile ride with
his family. He Is taking life just as
easy as possible here After & game
OF golf beyond Gulfport early to-day
he returned home and dictated a few
letters, lo,lcd about the parlor of the
house for a while reading some news
papers. and then took a nap.
Doing Very Little Work.
President Wilson is doing very little
work here. His mail IL carefully sift-
cd for him beforehand, and thus far
ne has had no communications Of i'm
portance from Washington, and his
rest has heen practically undisturbed
ny official business. lie has had am
pie opportunity to vary his diversions
with sen trip, rs the Winona, a
United states revenue cutter. has been
lying just mile off shore in front
OF his cottage and is at his disposal
during his visit here. The President
mas declined TO use IL. however, and
has done likewise with an Invitation
from the Conservation Commission of
Louisiana TO use their yacht Mr.. VIII
son tinds variety and rest enough
ashore
The sea was quite rough to-day. The
hitherto still waters washing tho sand
flats and running surf close TO the
small road that borders the lawn of tho
Presidents cottage.
Members OF the Presidents family
are enjoying ii here. Misses Margaret
and Eleanor Wilson took a long horse
bach ride over the shell road to-day.
Thcy entertained the Misses Mary and
Lucy smith, OF New Orleans, close
lr!chuS OF inc talnllS, VINO nave VISITED
them III Washington.
His Health Restored.
President Wilson to-day slept late and
il was after . o'clock before he left
for his morning game of golf over tho
course of the Mississippi Country club
thirteen miles away For the first
time since he left Washington the
President had a rudy glow on his
checks. He had grown somewhat pale
during his recent illness, but rest.
Lracing air and exercise apparently
has restored his health.
Citizens Of Gulfport, through which
place the President daily passes on his
way to the golf club. to-day were on
the alert for him. Mr.. Wilson's Prov
ess as 4 fire fighter has added to his
fame here. one member OF the volun
teer fire department OF Gulfport to-day
Gevealed the discovery that President
Wilson is quite mandatory in emer-
gency.
II was standing outside the Neville
residence waiting for the apparatus to
arrive" he said when a man came up.
He noticed my uniform and asked me
why / was standing there. | told him
l could not go up until the hook and
ladder wagon came.
well. he said, my men could
climb up on the inside. don't see
on me that / was talking TO the Presi
dent. and went inside to help"
Gulfport citizens are considering
formal vote Of thanks to the President
for his part In preventing the de-
struction yesterday Of the Neville
home one of the handsomest residences
there.