New-York tribune., 1918-02-16

U TCMAN beings rarely get into conven-
tional histories. Historians, being
men Of orderly minds, like to pare
away all the things that make men and
women interesting. The manufacturers Of
history are not often equipped with the
imagination to see people they actually
are SO they do the next best thing. They
conventionalize their figures, rubber stamp
them. That saves so much labor and makes
them much easier to handle History as we
largely have it is huge deception, a process
sion OF personalities in masquerade.
Who can prophesy now what historians will
say about President Wilson a century hence :?
But il isn't hard to figure out what they
won't say-unless historians Of that far day
are different breed from what hey have
been. They won't mention his three daugh
ters, or speculate on how, as father, he diff
fered from other fathers. And it can be safe
~ wagered that all the histories combined
won't breathe a line about Mr. Wilson's pas
sion for vaudeville. 1t is barely possib of
course, that there won't be any vaudeville
by that time. Who knows? Other times
other pastimes.
The rulers of established nations are usu-
ally conservative in their public amusements
In London there's Covent Garden and the
Royal Albert Hall. In Paris there's the
Opera and the Theatre Francaise. The Kaiser
has his royal opera house, where he
used to sit benignly and pass with preten-
tious critical acumen upon the voices of
those who asked royal favor.
In Washington, the President goes to
Keith's. Every one il. Washington goes to
Keith's. and by his attendance the President
does not distinguish himself from the rest
of the population. 1t is By all odds demo-
cratic way of taking leisure.
Man, Not President
But it is curious fashion, too; for at
/ Kcith's the President is no longer the Presi
dent, but Woodrow Wilson Thrown aside
the heavy mantle Of delegated authority, for
/ gotten the pcrpleXites that bcsct the path
of great people, forgotten the tempestts ana
;hunders of Time in its careening, onrush-
ing career. Statecraft, diplomacy, the urge
of power, the seduction OF destiny fade
and become dim while Woodrow Wilson
raises his glasses to inspect the chorus of
Gus Edwards's Annual Song Review.
There is nothing strange in this from the
human standpoint, however it may violate
conventional conceptions of what rulers are
like. There is reason in the world why
a President of The United States shouldn t
be fond Of vaudeville, and it is admirable
that he should be so frank about it. But it
curiosity as to why Woodrow Wilson as
Woodrow Wilson should exhibit so strong
an interest in the variety theatre. 1t does
assault established notions of the congruity
of hings that the man who was able to give
thought such delicate form, for instance as
this, 'You CATCH with me, he voices Of hu-
manity that are in the air. They grow daily
moro audible more articulate, more persua-
sivc, and they come from the hearts of men
! rhnrn wit
light when vaudeville comedian talks about
1.-TWO Americans and a man from Cincinnati
On Pleasure Bent
1t is the night Washington hears of the
Tuscania sinking. Shortly before O'Clock the
manager OF Keth's has had word from the
White House that the President will visit the
theatre. Your picture of the Chief Executive
at the playhouse places him in a CON
spicuous box next to the stage with bunting
draped magniiicently around the edges. But
MIR. Wilson goes to Keiths obviously for
pleasure. 1t is box, to be sure. and obser-
walton will disclose flag with the national
seal hanging from it; but it is by no means
so conspicuous, and it is much better equipped
fer seeing. 1t is situated at the right SIDE
OF the balcony floor, and is only one of a
number of similar boxes stretching clear
across the front of the mezzanine The Presi-
dent arrives in the White House motor. with
Mrs. Wilson and Mr.. and Mrs. Julian Boiling
few policemen about the entrance a few
civilians with rather keen eyes in the lobby
and in the audience, this is the only evidence
before the curtains rise that the head of the
United States is present
The stage itself cannot be kept so easily
J within bounds. Keth's at Washington has
} become kind of proving ground for the
vaudeville stage. The President NAV not be
so consciously aware of it, but his smile j.
good the hand of Midas, and his ap.
plause makes a career. When THE Star-Span-
gled Banner" is and the orchestra has
bowed and blown its way through the over.
ture and the first curtain goes up the stage
betrays little air of intensity, of strain