The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-08-07
MRS WOODROW WILSON

Like clap of thunder out of
clear sky came the news that the
presidents wife was desperately
sick and almost as quickly as it's
echo was the intelligence of her
death.
In the roar and confusion of war
news, first from Mexico, then from
Europe, the country has heard little
of the Illness of Mrs. Wilson. Few
people have known that her hus-
band, carrying a crushing burden of
the affairs of state, has for the last
four months also been in almost
constant attendance on his sick and
steadily failing helpmeet.
-Four months of almost unbroken
Illness, a complication of nervous
ailments and Bright's disease Slapped
the vitality Of the first lady of the
land.
Conscious only at intervals, Mrs.
Wilson was cheerful and called con-
Etantly for her husband Every
spare moment that could be spared
from urgent official duties was de-
voted by the President to his wife.
At her bedside he wrote the tender
of good offices appealing. to the
European monarch to stay their con-
f1ict. From the sick room he has
been giving directions to the Vari-
Gus department heads for the relief
Of thousands of Americans abroad.
The press of domestic legislation,
the European war and Mexican stu
alton and the furry over financial
conditions thruout the country have
weighed heavily on the President as
he has maintained his day and night
vigil.
For several days tit has been
known to those i'm closest touch at
the White House that hope for Mrs.
Wilson's recovery was slight. The
President has chung desperately to
Faae hope that she might survive the
crisis, but her frail constitution,
drained by months of never-ending
Illness, has been unable to withstand
the battle.
Last March Mrs. Wilson shipped
~Dn a rug at the White House, injur-
ing her spine. An operation was
3 necessary. After weeks of GONZALES
!. eence she finally rose from her bed,
qfs1lt the burden of a winters activity
at the White House, together with
charity, brought on nervous prostra-
ton. She was we'll enough to attend
the wedding of her second daughter
now Mrs. William ,McAdoo, but he1
recuperative powers were not last
ing. Stomach trouble added to he.
nervous ailment and Bright's diseas'
developed.
Three weeks ago she seemed tt
rally and was well enough to walk
supported by trained nurse, in tn
White House grounds.
She watched with satisfaction a
the gardeners laid out the last of tn
italian gardens which she had plan
ned for the south front of the eXecu
tive mansion. With her taste 70
the artistic, developed in many year
Of landscape painting, she practical
" had rearranged the gardening c
a11n White House in symmetry of tn
hedges and flowers.
With her apparent recovery tn
President urged that his wife go
q cooler climate, but she steadfastl
declined to leave her husband. Sh
took an active interest in the conte:
over the confirmation of Thomas !
Jones as a member of the FEEDER;
Reserve Board and called for man
a document on congressional affair
The relapse same last week an
s1nce then she has been sinkir
rapidly. Only members of the fami
were admitted to the sick room. 81
had lost in weight until her tn
form seemed but a shadow of h
former self.
Day and night the family hi
watched anxiously over her for ii
past few days. Wednesday her pull
stopped beating for few moment
Oxygen and other restoraties we
applied. Early Thursday she seer
ed somewhat better, but later gre
worse.
The President, always most sens
t1ve about exaggerated reports co
corning members of his family, a
fhorized no official announceme
relative to Mrs. Wilson's health
The strain of her duties as mi
aress of the White House and h,
nntiring efforts to help many an u
KNOWN and friendless person WI