The Washington herald., 1918-12-04
GOD BLESS YOU,
D. G. SHOUTS, AS
WILSON LEAVES
Thousands in Midnight
Ihrong at Union Station
to See President Of.
CHEERED BY SOLDIERS
Men Break Ranks as Exc
cutive Passes; Party Will
Sail Today.

"cood-by. Mr.. President. God bless
you"
Several Thousand enthusiastic Wash
ingtonians and one dignihed, striped
gray pussy cat crowded the Union
Station last night to bid the Presi-
dent Godspeed on the first lap Of his
journey to the peace conference.-the
trip to New York In the Presidential
car. the Ideal"
The tiny. gray cat slipped past the
guards at the entrance of the Presi-
dents private waiting room. ana
waited just inside the door for the
Presidential party. When the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson stepped from
their machine, pussy was among the
dignitaries that escorted them TO the
trains and II is doubled II any one
member of that highly important and
serious escort realized the RESPONSE
oility Of their office as much as that
patriotic feline.
Cheered by Soldiers.
As the party passed through the
waiting room, several hundred khaki
clad stalwart figures stood rigidly
at salute, but as Mr.. Wilson went
through the ranks smiling and lift
ing his hat the solemn dignity Of
the men broke and cheer after cheer
followed the President to the train
Mrs. L Mason Gulick. head of the
canteen station located in the Presi-
dent private room, presented Mrs.
Wilson with a huge bouquet Of
white and gold chrysanthemums,
tied with gorgeous streamers of
red, white and blue.
Passing through the waiting room
and past the rows of khaki mingled
with the blue Of the soldiers Of
France, the Presidential party went
into the concourse where the great
er part of the crowd had collected
to bid them farewell.
Cries of Say hello to Paris for
me" and Take care Of yourself r
were mingled with the God bless
lyon. Mr.. President" and the Come
back TO US safely" Of those who real
lied the Importance Of the mission
on which the Chief Executive was
1 going. There may be a difference OF
] opinion on Capitol Hill regarding the
Presidential trip. but in the crowd ir
! Union Station last night there was
only one thought-the President wa.
going away, and every individua
member Of the throng wished him
well with all their hearts.
Bids Pullman Farewell.
( Maj. Pullman. Of the District polics
force, commanded the entire force Of
captains and lieutenants detailed tc
guard the Presidents departure. Tn,
President and Mrs. Wilson, as the,
stepped from the Presidential car
paused TO thank the major for hi,
care and to bid him farewell.
On the observation platform Of the
! Ideal" a grinning colored porter
waited to take Mrs. Wilson's flower.
and the bags of the crowd. A hun
dred or so newspaper men, detectives
and a few scattered spectators who
had slipped through the lines watche6
the President mount the car steps
carefully assisted by an attentiv,
conductor. and lifting his hat TO tn,
crowd vanish through the rear dool
OF the car. On the Ideal will h,
the President and Mrs. Wilson Miss
Edith Benham, Mrs. Wilson's secre.
tary; DR.. Grayson. and Mr Close. tn,
| Presidents stenographer. other mem
bers Of the party will ride in the sec.
tions in the front reserved for them
In the party besides those on tn,
"ldeal' are Secretary and Mrs. Ian
sing. Henry white, the American Am
hassador to Great Britain. and Mrs
Davidson; the French Ambassador AM
| Mime. Jusserand- the Italian Ambas
sador and the Countess de CelIert. IN,
/ Belgian Minister and a large party o
! secretaries and aids SECRETARY TS,fp,
uity went to New York on the Presi
dental train. but will return Thurs
day. The train left the city at 12:so.
The party are expected to board tn,
George Washington early today, but Z
is understood that the exact hour o
its sailing will not be made public Al
the President does not wish any cere
monies.