Evening star., 1915-01-01
THE WHITE HOUSE.

The White House was the center of
great activity and of deep sorrow dur
ing the year. The President remained
at his post. with comparatively little
rest. throughout the year, feeling that
legislative and foreign conditions de-
manded his presence in Washington
virtually all the time. With golf and
automobiling his principal recreations,
the chief executive has kept in good
health. His physician. DR.. Cary Gray
son. finds that nothing maintains the
Presidents physical welfare better than
golf, and four or five times each. week
the two play together on the links of
nearby clubs. frequently beginning at 8
O'Clock In the morning, even In the WIN
ter months.
The President was not in such good
health at the beginning of the year. he
contracted a severe cold in the early
winter of 1913 and 1t stuck tenaciously
to him. Leaving the White House be-
fore Christmas of that year, he went
to Pass Christian, Miss. with Mrs. Will
son and members of his family. and re-
mafned there more than two weeks: re-
turning to- Washington and to his duties
January 13 of this year.
In February the President again con-
tracted a bad cold and was-kept in CON
finement to his room for some time. An
attack of indigestion in the summer and
consultation with a Philadelphia eye
specialist were the only other times the
President found 1t necessary to be un-
der the care of physicians.
Mrs. Wilson's Illness
The regular formal social functions
were taken up at the White House soon
after the return of the presidential fam
lily from Pass Christian. 1t was right
after the conclusion of these winter
functions that the first intimation of
Mrs. Wilson's Illness reached the pub
tained fall that brought on nervous
complications. She improved and ap-
peared to be regaining her health. but
the best physicians in the country were
disease, which had made its appearance
in the fall of 1913, and Mrs. Wilson
passed away August s, her serious con-
dition not becoming known until a few
days before her death. She was buried
in her childhood and girlhood home.
Rome, Ca. August IL, Congress and
many other organizations joining in The
profound sympathy felt for the Presi-
dent and his family throughout the ma
ton. Her death was a great shock to
become complicated by the Mexican dis
turbances. the outbreak of the terrible
European war and the long fight in Con-
gress for legislation. which the White
months before it was actually realized.
The Presidents most important work
in the early part of the year was his
fight to secure a repeal of the act ex-
empting American coastwise vessels
from the payment of tolls. He made a
memorable address to Congress on the
subject March 5, and after a long fight
the repeal was effected. His efforts for
trust legislation were not realized until
much later in the year, shortly before
Congress adjourned after a prolonged
session.
The first intimation of the engage
ment of Miss Eleanor Wilson to Secre-
tary McAdoo was printed in The Star
March IL and not denied by the White
House, an official confirmation being
obtained later. The marriage, in the
presence of relatives and intimate
friends. took place May T.
The Mexican Situation.
The Mexican situation grew acute in
April with the refusal of Provisional
President Huerta to order a salute to
the American flag after an insult to
the American emblem at Vera Cruz
The strained relations between the
Mexican government and the adminis-
tration had continued for a long time
before this, and it was the announced
policy of the administration to use Its
moral influence to force Huerta from