The Washington herald., 1914-04-03
PRESIDENTS LONELINESS.
Ry EMORY J. HAYNES.

penalty of fame Indeed, probably most
of the great" enjoy their isolation, their
pedestaled eminence, their adulant at
tentioEs. The vast common crowd will
be slow, indeed, to believe that there is
any affliction in it. In fact, II must be
real fun to walk abroad with difficulty
because of the admiring throngs that
stare and cheer. 1t comes nigh being
puerile fun, a low grade of personal
vanity But every one of us is pos
sessed of that same childish vanity. We
like to be pointed out, to live in house
that is imposing enough to be indicated
by passers-by, to overhear whispers as
We pass as to who we are and such.
There are few of us who would feel
justified in responding, at a private din
ner, with half hours talk about our
selves, just continuous revelation" OF
how daily life went with us. In fact.
though most of US have been tempted
to talk about ourselves, we generally
knew better. II would seem inexcusable,
bore of the most atrocious kind. Yet,
all inside, we know we really lead very
interesting life. Everybody does All
the world ought to know us, but, out
side of home and close friends, all the
world does not care a rap to hear us
tell it.
Yet the President has actually been
lifted into place where he can at last
indulge himself Therefore he must be
! happy in the natural consciousness. "All
the world wants to know about me
have waited and worried long. Now
the hour has come" This is a very I'M
common human qualification. We all
might envy him, but we certainly can
not pity him. The President is, ration
ally, very interesting person. There is
hardly thing concerning him that is
not really and truly interesting. Did
he not go TO have his glasses readapted
TO his eyes recently? That is impor-
tant. II shows that nature does not
turn out at all in wear and tear of eve
sight because one is President. We all
wonder if he sleeps with the windows
open. Here is a person who breathes
as mortals do. yet is the most powerful
individual in the civilized world How
about opening the window at the top,
or bottom, or both,
Mr.. Wilson cannot somehow get in
side the President of the United States?
True, no man of all our Presidents ever
did get wholly into that great Office. But
he will grow more and more into il.
Wait till he has grown four years. 1t
will come easier to preccde all the la
dies entering the banquet hall, easier TO
see everybody standing in church till the
President passes out. This realizing
greatness must he very entertaining TO
an intelligent mans own mind.
1t will come, after awhile. that a man
is the President even to his own wife
and children When he arrives at that
stage it will be proper to pity him. Il
must be trying to be President even to
ones own children. and TO note that they
regard him so. He will then make des-
peratc efforts to smash his way through
TO that Grandest. yet simplest. of all hu-
man relations. the familiar father. Most
kings have failed with the crown prince.
And when one cannot pray in ones
church. cannot calmly contemplate the
Ruler of the Universe. without feeling
the impudent stare OF mortal eyes. then
il must be tyranny TO be a world mas
ter
We really must guard the President.
it so jars the whole republic to have any !
thing happen to him. And this is not
fanciful. but is the real truth. There
fore. it is difficult to see how we can
submit to the President walking about
town like other citizens. BY law we
deny that he can be sued at law. We
have created a stupendous office. We
never yet got man to wholly fill il.
But we must do all we can to make |
ourselves think he is the greatest of |
men. He is the last resort in authority.
He needs the patriotic love of all the
sovereign people And how much he
does need the blessing of heaven! Does
he not know that in every sanctuary he
is the special object OF prayer. Let him
wrap this about him Better than a coat
Of mail, better than guarding squadrons.
leglons of angels Touch not mine
anointed, and do my prophet no harm"
Therefore he must care for himself.
his health, his strength. his personal
safety. He must agree to be a man
apart. He must not expose the Presi-
dent of the United States along the
street. He must accept lone
iness. We brook it i'll when he allows
a handful of intimatcs to sway him. Let
him do the best as is given him tS
see it.
Why does not the President relax his
apparently stern and unreSponsive fea-
lures when his masters the plain people