Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-25

sketch OF Woodrow Wilson, the Man"
was wrltten By Professor Stockton AK
son. whose sister. Ellen Louise Arson.
was the Presidents first wife Pro-
lessor Arson not only had close per-
sonal relations with the President for
thirty-nve years, but he served under
MN when Mr.. Wilson was president
or Princeton University He was as
Mt Princeton from 1899 to 1904. and
professor from 1904 to 1913, when he
joined the faculty OF Rice Institute,
houston. Texas. as professor Of Eng
iisn' woodrow wilson married Miss
Arson on June "a, 1885. Her death
occurred on August q. 1915 and on
december lS. 1915. President Wilson
married Mrs. Edith Boiling Gait
continued From Yesterday
II interests me to observe how tho
three girls have shared their parents
."s,es ana talents: Margaret has her
fathers passion for music: Eleanor
AIRS. McAdoo, her mothers gift for
painting; In younger childhood Jessie.
Mrs. Sayre. had something OF hor Z, :.
thcr's taste for literary expression. and
or hcr mothers taste for art: but II,
sne u"Neioped these were overshadow
cd by that which both her parents had
III common. strong humanitarian in
sIlhct' which sought satisfaction i'm set :
tleineht work until she WAS married.
Perfect Union.
we often hear ii said of married.
phir-so often that It has become !,
sort OF "bromide"-"A cross word neyer
passed between that couple" | have
heen honestly trying to think IL ] ever
hehrd anything approaching an alter
cation between Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson.
and cannot recall even n shadow OF
such. And yet these were no weak
linEs' but two spirited people. each
win power OF conviction possible
only to very strong characters, They
would sometimes differ In their opin-
IONS. but their relationship was so root
ed in mutual love and loyalty that
thcir differences were casual and su-
perhcinl. never fundamental.
have seen Mr.. Wilson humorously
assume the role OF a browbeaten and
henpecked person. unhllowcd to hold an
opinion, when his wife would say in
hcr impetuous way. "Woodrow. Won
know YOU don't think that" and he
would smile and say. Madam. was
VenturinE TO think that 1 thought that
until I was corrected" At one time.
used to laugh and quote Chief Justice
rulier who remarked that his
jurisdiction extended over all the
United states except the Fuller family"
have sometimes wondered how a
FAMILY composed OF varying and very
IN such absolute and undisturned har-
mony as did the Wilson family. and
nave come To the conclusion that s,lch
result can be attained only in one
way. not by any prescription. or plan
or domestic scheme" OF action. hut
only by cnthroning love suprcmc-that
whcrc love is always master. every day
ana every hour, there must he harmony
In the Wilson household love Is always
law.
Love With Humor.
II has always been love mingled with
delightful humor and good humor. or
all the hctionS that popular faIIucy
would weave around conspicuous
man. surely those who know Mr.. VIII
son must find IL the strangcst that he
is supposed by some to be a cold and
mirthlcss man. \ dozen years ago |
mink any intimate acquaintance OF Mr.
WILSON could have said that one of his
most obvious qualities waa an incor-
rigible playfulness. Graver peoplo
thought he was too much that way. for
he would poke in the midst Of the most
serious discussions or controversies
His fund OF anccdotc Un one WAY he is
the most provoking OF men. for Il la
next to impossible TO tell him q new.
story-hc has heard them all and In
vented somc). his Eleefrl delight in
nonsense rimes. his atrocities In nun
making. an inheritance from his father.
ana more commcndable traits all these
things arc pronounced In Woodrow
wilson. together with that finest of all
humor. character humor. the knack Of
word-portrayal OF people In incongru-
Gus settings. II you want to laugh
mntil your breath forsakes you. get
woodrow Wilson tn tell you n story
OF how certain educator" startled
President Harrison with sudden
eruption OF orntory twenty-five years
ago. Not the least delightful part or
1T liz that. while he is relating {, no
apparently forGets that the wheel has
come full circle and he himself is now
in the exalted seat occupied by presi.
dent Harrison when that enhancing biz
Of comedy unrollcd.
An Epoch.
These humorous characteristics are
Still in President Wilson, hut il is
hardly strange IL they arc less hab-
itually on the surface than they used
TO be before the burdens OF a whole
world i'll turmoil were laid upon his
shoulders Even before the weight
pressed upon him his inherent Scotch
sternness had begun to assert itself
He went through some rough exper-
fences at Princeton, and have heard
him say. both In public and private.
that he felt IL stifrcning Of tho fiber
within him. found II less easy to relax
at will into playfulness 1t merely
means that. as years and RESPONSE
bilities increased. he became more
purposeful.
This is q fact which he himself is
probably unaware Of, but which 7 am
sure is historically correct A chanuc
came over him at just about the time
thnt great and sweeping changes were
tahinE place In our conceptions OF ma
tionality--!n those important years
that lie between 1896 and 1900. Alb
surn ms II may appear. previous to
that used to feel that he and woro
somewhat alike. There was ten wears
dinerence In our ages. and another
diference OF some moment, the differ
ence between genius and the lack of
It. But with all that. there was some
remote resemblance In the workings Of
our minds-even my perceptivc si.tnr
used to see IL. He and would to1Is