Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-16

PARIS. December Is (by the Asso-
ciated Press). - President Wilson
spent his first Sunday in Paris by go
ing twice to church. laying a wreath
on the tomb of Lafayette and having
Clemenceau and another with Col E.
NJ. House In the evening he rested
in preparation for the coming strenu-
GUS week OF preliminary conferences.
During the afternoon the President
made a short call on President and
Mrs. Poincare. at the Palace of the
Elysee.
In the morning the President, ac-
companied by Mrs. Wilson and Ad-
lniral Grayson and by secret service
terian Church, in the Rue de Berri.
His coming was known to only few
of the American colony, who had
guessed that the President. being
consistent churchgoer. would choose
a church Of his own denomination:
President Takes Part in Services.
The Rev. chauncey w. Goodrich.
the pastor. took his text from the
ninth verse of the ninth chapter of
Isaiah. He dweit on the necessity of
impregnating political and civil life
with idealism. and showed how the
evolution of humanity was reaching
fthe last stage in the constitution OF
a society of nations. The edlflce was
filled, but there was no special serE-
ice. The President took part as he
would if he had been at the Central
Presbyterian 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
service operative and French officer
assigned to him as a personal aid.
The President. removing his hat. en-
tered the tomb carrying large floral
wreath.
AS the President 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 fight for liberty. He
made no speech whatsoever. He then
returned to the Murat residence.
When the President went to the
tomb of Lafayette he insisted on TAX
ing his own wreath, contrary to the
custom here by which the florist de-
livers the wreath and the donor later
makes the visit and leaves his card.
The President sent Admiral Grayson
to buy the wreath and after some diff
fculty in explaining to the florist.
who could not understand why the
traditional custom was being broken,
obtained 1t and drove to the tomb.
Inscription on Card.
On his personal card President Will
fson wrote this inscription:
I'm memory Of the great Lafayette
. from a fellow servant of liberty
Entirely unannounced. the President
drove - the old Picpus cemetery,
where the amazed gatekeeper was al
!cost too flustered to unlock the gates
The news of the Presidents visit
spread rapidly to the convent nearby.
and as he left he passed through
lines of aged nuns who came out to
pay their respects to the American
~Chief executive.
In the meantime all the residents
OF Paris apparently had turned out
in the hope Of getting a glimpse of
tho President It was remarked that
the Wilson luck was continuing. for
the sun broke through the murky
clouds for the first time in days and
began to dry IN tn" muddy streets.
The sun lit up the city in all its fut-
teYing banners and flags.
Boulevards Are Crowded.
70 a foreign observer It appeared
that every one in Paris was on the
boulevards. There was no space
whatever on the sidewalks. A great
crowd gathered in the Place de la
Concord, before the headquarters of
the American mission. TIE crowd
TANNED about the doors and took
keen interest in every American pass
ing in or out. The most inconse-
Quential attache, carrying a case of
Official papers. was surrounded and
carefully inspected by admiring
S,rench men and women
American Army automobiles were
surrounded and cheered whenever
they stopped. All one need appar-
entity. to be taken into the hearts of