Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-16
Will SON LAYS WREATH
ON TOMB OF LAFAYETTE
President Attends Church Twice
Hears Sermon Commencing
His World Ideals.

Paris. Dec. l6-President Wilson at
tended church twice yester day, laid a
wreath on the tomb OF Lafayette, and
had conferences with Premier Clcmenceau
Colonel House, and Herbert c. Hoover.
Last evening he rested in preparation for
the coming strenuous week of preliminary
conferences.
The Premier arrived AT the Murat
residence at O'Clock and was received
Immediately by President Wilson The
French leader went by automobile to the
Presidents house a half-hour after Colonel
House has called upon him.
After conferrlng with Premier CIemen-
ceau, President Wilson had long talk with
Mr.. Hoover, who gave hlm the latest
information on food conditions IN Germany
In the afternoon the President made q
short call ON President and Mime. Poincarc
at the Elysce Palace.
In the morning the President, accompa-
MED by Mrs Wilson and Admiral Grayson
and by Secret Service men, went to the
American PRESBYTERIAN Church In the
Rud dc Berri His coming was known
ONLY to few of the American colony,
who had guessed that the President, being
a consistent churchgoer, would choose n
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. lie dwclt
on the necessity of imprcgnatlng political
and civil life with idealism, and showed
how he evolution of humanity was reach-
ing the last stage in the constitution OF
a society OF nations. The edlhce was
filed. but there was no special service
The President took part as If he had been
at the Central Presbyterian Church IN
Washington.
In the afternoon President Wilson wen.
IN a church Of Mrs Wilson denomination
rs is the custom in Washington when he
goes twice on Sunday The church Sc
lected was the American Episcopal Church
of the Holy Trinity, the Bishop OF South
Carolina officiating.
The President visited the tomb oil lafa-
yette In the Picpus Cemetery, IN the
southeastern section Of Paris, while re-
turning home after the morning church
service. No ceremony had been arranged
at the cemetery, and he was accompanied
only by Brig. Gen. Harts, a secret service
operative and a French officer assigned to
him as a personal ard The President,
removing his hat, entered the tomb carry
ing a large floral wreath. which-contrary
to the custom hcre, by which the florist
delivers the wreath and tho donor later
makes the visit and leaves his MIR.
Wilson insisted on carving himself
On lis card the President had written
this inscription:
in memory Of the great Lafayette,
from fcllow-servant Of liberty"
As he placed the wreath on the tomb,
he bowed his head and stood silent before
the resting place of the famous Frenchman
who helped America in her fght for lnde
pcndcncc.
As the Presidents 5 coming was entirely
unannounced, the aged gatekeepor was
almost too illustrated to unlock the gates
when he learned who his caller was. The
news Of the President s visit spread rapid
" to the adjoining convent, and As he
left the cemetery he passed through lines
of aged nuns who came out to pay their
respects to the American Chief Executive
INVITATION FROM THE POPE EXPECTED.
Tomorrow. some time before the public
reception at the Hotel dc Vile, the Presi-
dent will receive Thomas Nelson Page,
the American Ambassador 10 Italy, who
Is expected to convey 10 him some kind
OF informal invitation from the Pope 70
yisi; the Vatican.
Never before was the city 50 crowded
nor ever in its history was / SO brilliantly
Illuminated IS was the case last night.