Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-07-17
THE PRESIDENTS VISITSREVOLT IN REICHSTAG
One of the Reasons Assigned for His
Frequent Trips Over Among the
Hills of His Native State.
AS the readers of the Gazette are

AS the readers of the Gazette are
well aware, President Wilson and
Mrs. Wilson have come to be quite
frequent visitors over on this side
of the Potomac river, into their ma
tive state Of Virginia. And that they
are welcome goes without saying.
Sundays as we'll as week days see the
White House auto leisurely rolling
4 along over the highways of the Old
Dominion, so that "there goes Presl-
dent Wilson's car" is an oft-heard
expression in the vicinity Of Alex
andria.
Yesterday the Gazette contained a
story concerning the visit made by
the President and Mrs. Wilson to the
Pohick church on the day before,
and today's Washington Times tells
of one of the reasons why Mr.. Will
SON comes over among the hills OF
the state of his birth so frequently.
1t says:
President Wilson is drawing from
blue hills of Virginia the physical,
mental and moral strength which en-
ables him to carry unfalteringly the
heavy burdens laid upon his should
ers by the war. In a manner which
almost suggests mysticism, the
President Of the United States is
maintaining himself at the head OF
q nation of hundred million OF the
most active minds that comprise any
nation by drinking in the elemental
force which he finds by communlng
with the land of Virginia. which hes
lust across the Potomac river from
the National Capital. :
The Presidents extraordinary rit-
ual was m-ie known by hlm TO
some of his personal friends who,
with manv other Americans, have
been amazed at his steadtastness IN
discharging the heavy tasks whlcn
have fallen to him as the Chief EN-
ecutive of the nation.
Asked how he is able day after day
to maintain his strength in the mloss
of such extraordinary responsibility
the President explained that Vlr-
c;nia. the Mother of Presidents, IS.
supporting him in his hour OF neea.
The President declared that in ms
daily work in Washington he Is con-
fronted by all manner of difficulties
narplexed questions Of domestic
statecraft, of foreign policy, OF bat
fling war problems, and in tins ~ioe
range of business appear pettiness
and self-seeking and situations IN
which he sometimes is momentariiS
at a loss to know whom to trust
He explained that when wearieG: TO
the extent of his endurance by these
avneriences. he deserts his desk and
goes into the Virginia hills just as
tbe mythical giant Antacus, who dre"
his strength from Mother Earth, re-
turned to her to: recuperate and re-
new his powers.
The Presidents trips into Virginia
are almost daily. now. They usually
are made in the morning. The throng
Of Government employees who come
70 their. Offices at 9-oclock eacn
morning do not see the President
start upon his daily pilgrimage pc
canse, bv that hour his big car IS
exnIoring the ravines and ridges OF
the neighboring counties OF the va
Dominion. Only the workers VINO go
to their labors early in the morning
see the Chief Executive start for has
daily drive.
Those who pass the White House
regularly have come. to know tne
Presidents regime, and each morn
ing when the White House car
swings out of tie grounds Of the EX-
ecutive Mansion, there is a little
knot of Washingtonians waiting fos
a glimpse of the commander-in-chief,
and hats are doffed as the President
passes. Nearly always Mrs. Wilson
is at his side.
The President was born in Virginia
snd has special veneration for the
State. He has told his friends that
there is quality in the blue hills
of Virginia which imparts the peace
and rest which. he is unable to hno
n.Washington and without which ne
could not ceaselessly endure the
burden of work. The President says
that when he sees the hills of Vir-
einia changeless year after yeal
despite the fact that harsh war RACES
over half the world. he is able te
absorb some of the calm strength o.
his native States fields and forests
Mrs. Leonard Wright was strucs
of+a,~ronHT