The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-16
MRS. WILSON SETS A PRECEDENT FOR
 CORDIALITY SHOWN
 AT BIG, RECEPTION
(Continued from Page one)


 and the gauge of gold in which she stood resplendent, was overheard to ! remarks:
 'It's n shame, and the President such a pleasant fellow, tOo., Nevertheless, Mrs. Wilson was the star of the entertainment. And de- spite the ennui with which she must have been possessed after hearing for two hours the fatuous conventionalities of formal greetings, and eXperiencing the touch of several thousand hands, i she bore herself with sustained charm and gracious manner-and completely captivated every man and woman who | stood before her.
 i As a matter of fact, she established new precedent. It had for countless years been the prevailing custom for l ladies in the White House receiying 2 line to greet those who had undergone | physical torture and perhaps privation | for the satisfaction of presenting | themselves to official folks, in matter of tact sort of bored little way which never had other than a depressing eff l feet.
 Hut Mrs. Wilson squared her shOuI- ders as each newcomer stood before her. and extending her hand in a most cordial. American fashion, grasped the fingers in grip expressive of friendship and apparent satisfaction, | tNinkIed her eyes. smiled pleasantly. and convinced. through an inimitable art, every individual that she was de- lighted in knowing him, and that she 1 would remember his face as long as she lived.
 Of course, there were others in the receiving line. But 1t was Mrs Will sons party.
 THE CAPITALS WICKEDNESS Nevertheless, Washingtin is very wicked city, according to the Rev w. k. Wedderspoon of the Foundry Meth odist church. "So wicked" he de- clared, that Jsus Christ is weeping" A sensational sermon delivered by this divine during the week was at considerable variance with the unctu- ous piety assumed by the avera ge Washingtonian While in the eye of the world the capital is ascribed a higher moral plane than the average city of similar size, the reformer is nevertheless, having his inning. There is demand that Billy Sunday come to cleanse the Augean stables-a demand which in the past was unheeded on account of the counter demand of Billy's wife that he stay away There is demand that the sale of liquors be prohibited in the district and there is demand that everything other than kill joy be taboo.
 And in the meantime, Senator Ken yon, who believes that in wiping out the segreg gated district he gave the city an upward boost of moment, is evidently disappointed that vice still exists; and Baltimore, recently de- nounced by state committee as the most immoral city on the globe. is smiling in its sleeve: and Memphis, where. it is alleged by an insurance journal, life is regarded as a valueless commodity. is blinking pleasantly over the election of Washington from the council of the elect.
 THE DIvINES CHARGES
 And yet the charges preferred by the Rev. Dr. Wedderspoon are not of other than ordinary nature
 He declares that in Washington
 everyone is indifferent of the oth-
 CTS welfare; that there is la-
 mentable lack of affection for the
 church; that there is impurity that
 there is mammonism; that there is
 intemperance; that there is in
 gratitude to the extent of making
 the hearts of ministers bleed";
 that there is skepticsm and for
 malism and that there is a lack
 of response on the part of the peo-
 pie to the call of duty towards God
 and man.
 Ills of which all flesh is heir, The charges, as above outlined, might be preferred with foundation against ev- cry other city of America, every other village. or against every individual save. those in Alabama ho have es- tablished a custom of >drawing their draperies about them and expressing delight in that they are not as other men.
 However. the minister in shaking the capital. 1t is said, and it is promised that following the peripatetic there will be n long and miserable line of which iDtemperance, impurity, mam- monism.. skepticism. Journalism and lacked ehurch support will make LID the component parts.
 BILLY SUNDAYS WIFE
 Just why Billy Sundays wife de- clined to come. to Washington--and by so doing, prevented the coming of Billy -Dr. Wedderspoon has not made clear.