The sun., 1918-12-16
FRENZY
OVER PRESIDENT
Throngs in Streets Struggle
for View of Nations
Visitor.
GOES TO CHURCH TWICE
Capital, in Gala Array, Honors
Every U. s. Citizen in
Sight.
GOES TO CHURCH TWICE

PARIS. Dec. 15.-Prcsident Wilson
spent his first Sunday in Paris by GO
ing twice to church. laying a wreath
on the tomb Of Lafayette and having
q brief conference with Premier Clem'
enceau and another with Col. f. Nj.
House. In the evening he rested in
preparation for the coming strenuous
week Of preliminary conferences.
During the afternoon the President
made a short call on President and
Nine. Poincare at the Palace Of the
Elysee.
In the morning the President, ac-
companied by Mrs. Wilson and Ad-
miral Grayson and by secret service
men, went to the American Presby-
terrain Church in the Rue de Berri.
His coming was only known to few
of the American colony. who had
guessed that the President, being
consistent churchgoer, would choose
church of his own denomination.
The Rev. Chauncey W. Goodrich,
the pastor, took his text from the
ninth verse of the ninth chapter of
Isaiah. He dwelt on the necessity Of
impregnating political and civil life
Oh
evolution Of humanity was reaching
the last stage in the constitution of
society Of nations. The edifice was
flied, but there was no special service.
The President took part as he would
If he had been at the Central Presby.
terrain Church IN Washington.
In the afternoon President Wilson
went TO a church OF Mrs. Wilson'S
, denomination, as is the custom in
| Washington when he goes twice on
Sunday. The church selected was the
American Episcopal Church OF the
Holy Trinity, the Bishop of South
Carolina officiating.
Visits Lafayette's Tomb.
The President visited the tomb OF
! Lafayette In the Picpus Cemetery, in
the southeastern section Of Paris,
while returning home after the morn
/ ing church service. No ceremony had
been arranged at the cemetery and the
| President went accompanied only by
! Brig. Gen. Harts, secret service
! operative and a French officer as
! signed to him as a personal aid.
/ When President Wilson went to the
| tomb he insisted on taking his own
wreath, contrary to the custom here
by which the florist delivers the
wreath and the donor later makes the
visit and leaves his card.
The President sent Admiral Grayson
10 buy the wreath and after some
difficulty in explaining to the florist,
who could not understand why the
traditional custom was being broken,
obtained 1t and drove to the tomb.
! On his personal card President
Wilson wrote this inscription:
In memory of the Great Lafayette
from fellow servant of liberty.
As the President placed the wreath
stood silent before the resting place
| OF the famous Frenchman who helped
America in her fight for liberty. He
made no speech.
Entirely unannounced the President
drove to the old Picpus Cemetery
where the amazed aged gatekeeper
was almost too fiustered TO unlock the
gates when he learned who his caller
was. The news of the President 5
visit spread rapidly to the conven,
near by and as he left to return to the
residence OF Prince Murat, the Presi-
dents temporary home in Paris, he
passed through lines OF aged nuns who
| came out to pay their respects.
i Paris Tries TO See Him.
In the meantime, all the residents
Of Paris apparently had turned out ii
tho hope OF getting n glimpse OF the
President. II was remarked that the
Wilson luck was continuing for the
sun broke through the murky cloud.
for the first time in days and begar
to dry up the muddy streets. The sur
lit up the city in all its fiuttering ban
ners and flags.
To a foreign observer 1t appeared
that every one in Paris was on tht
. boulevards. There was no spac,
whatever on the sidewalks. A grea
crowd gathered in the Place de la Con
, cprde before the headquarters OF tn,
American mission. The crowd jammeC
about the doors and took keen interes
: In every American passing in and out
: Tho most inconsequential attache, car
. rylng a case of official papers. wal
surrounded and carefully inspected b,
: admirlng French men and women.
American army automobiles wer,
) surrounded and cheered whenever the,
stopped. All one needed, apparently
TO be taken into the hearts of tn,
crowd was Just to look like an Ameri
: can. Every sort of conveyance WA
l na