Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-08
An American Wife and Mother.

In this hour political lines are for
gotten and millions of hands are
stretched out in the mute helplessness
of silent pity for the President of all
| the people. His loving and loyal
companion from early manhood has
after sharing with him the sorrows
and triumphs that led to the highest
place in the confidence and honor of
the American people,
To Mr.. Wilson this ideal wife,
mother, companion and adviser had
been all that faithful, unselfish. loving
humanity can be, one to another. She
lived life of high purpose, we are
told. and every hour for him and for
theirs. A Washington dispatch says:
With her help he wrote his books
and on her judgment he relied. Her
| devotion to him, according to those
who have known the family intimate
| ly, was of remarkable depth. Her
one thought was of him. Every
morning and evening during her ILL
ness she cautioned DR., Grayson not
| to tell the President if she had spent
an uncomfortable hour. Her anxiety
was that he should not be worried or
disturbed However painful was her
suffering it was her one aim to keep
the President from being affected by
her condition. The President watched
her sorrowfully for weeks and realised
| that she was slowly growing worse.
He spent every moment he could by
her side and when he was not there
she was constantly calling for or
! speaking of him.
Mrs. Wilson was woman of simple
ways, possessed of a naive, magnetic
manner. She had a faculty of put
ting her guests promptly at ease and
was a charming hostess. She was
ever democratic and modest in her
tastes. She had been in poor health
since last February, when she fell in
the White House and injured her
spine. She later practically recov-
cred from that injury, but in the
meantime, kidney trouble set IN ana
gradually she grew weaker.
Mrs. Wilson was SO years old ana
when she came to the White was In
robust health. She was Miss Ellen
Louise Arson, daughter of Presey-
terrain clergyman, and was born at
Savannah, Ga. She was a student at
the New York Art League when she
met Mr.. Wilson, who was then taking
a post graduate course at Johns Hop
kins University. The President and
Mrs. Wilson were married June "a,
1885. Her domestic life is described
as having been attractive and typicai
Of that of a woman of her cultured
class. She had q knowledge OF
democratic arts and was good cook.
In the life Of this noble woman. as
in that of Mrs. Mckinley, Americans
find their ideal-the pure wife en-
dowed with undying loyalty and at
lection; the wise and Christian mother
who has given the nation three beauti-
full daughters; the earnest and ever
thoughtful friend of the poor and I'M
fortunate.
Thursday morning Mrs. Wilson told
the President that she would more
cheerfully "go away" if the measure
for the improvement Of the slums OF
Washington were passed by Congress.
A word to leaders from Secretary
Tumulty and the measure was adopted
in silence by the Senate and soon re-
ported to the House, where 1t was
passed on Friday. She learned that
the measure would be law in another
day or so and expressed her satisfac-
ton. Her last words were to DIR.
Grayson of her husband. Promise
me-" she whispered faintiy. that if !
go You will take care of my hus-
band"
Let Americans today breathe a
prayer that the All-wise Comforter be
with our President in his unbounded