The sun., 1918-10-12
Goes to Theatre and Perform
ance Is Turned Into Lib
erty Loan Rally.
HE TAKES $4,000 MORE
Refuses to Speak Despite Re-
peated Demonstrations
by the Audience.

as he entered a right hand box and
turned the regular performance of "The
Girl Behind the Gun" into a Liberty
Loan drive that brought several hum
dred thousands of dollars into the Treas
ury. The unusual scene was marked by
frequent demonstrations, during which
the persons present arose and cheered
the Chief Executive and tried every art
known to the public to coax a speech
from the chief figure OF the remarkable
gathering.
Mr.. Wilson had arrived from wash
ington during the afternoon to be present
tonight at the Italian benefit for blind
soldiers at the Metropolitan Opera House.
He had no idea that he was about to
turn a perfectly good theatrical show
into a patriotic demonstration and a
bond drive when, at s 30 O'Clock. accom-
panied by a special police guard and
Secret Service men. he entered the
house. With him came Mrs. Wilson and
Col. and Mrs. Edward NJ. House. To the
box Immediately in front OF the party
went Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
Miss Margaret Wilson and Secretary
Tumulty
Refuses to Make Speech.
signal for the beginning of a mighty
demonstration. The men and women
present arose and began cheering. The
orchestra broke into Tho Star Spangled
Banner" and the whole auditorium was
q mass OF ceSor, a sea OF waving hands
and handkerchiefs and resounded with
the repeated cheers. When the first act
ended the audience tried its lusty lunged
best to coax a speech from the President.
Round after round of applause was
given. but the President merely stood in
his box and bowed his acknowledg-
ments.
The play went along for the second act
without any interruption, and then Jack
Hazard. the funny man OF the show,
started an outburst with a Liberty Loan
speech. He said that he had spoken be-
fore the President four times and that
each time he was more embarrassed than
before. He called the President the
greatest man in the world" and the
audience went to its feet with a big
show of approval. Then he got to the
loan
I'VE. want $4,000. 600, ooO." he said
but that isn't SO much in these times
1t might. in these days of the high cost
ef living. pay for three lamb chops and
get your hat back"
The President Joined in the laughter
that followed. and then Hazard called
Tor subscriptions to the loan.
A couple of willing patriots sent their
bids into the ring. and then the Presi-
dent Clipped in from his box.
"Tll take $4,000" said Mr.. Wilson.
Another round of cheers was given.
Then Col. House matched the Presidents
purchase and James w. Gerard, former
Ambassador. in another part of the
house. raised them 5000. taking $4,000
He thought over the matter a minute
and then dug for $4,000 more making
his total for the evening $4,000.
A woman offered TO buy a $50 bond
for every soldier in the house, and
when eighty-three OF them stood UP in
their khaki. she took $4,150 of bonds
and called II q night. Earl Carroll. the
composer, took $1,000. and Jimmy Regain
came along with a $4,000 bid.
e. Bertram Pike Of the Pike Manufac-
turing Company, Pike, New Hampshire.
who Is no piker in spite OF this, offered
to buy 100000 of bonds IL the Presi-
dent would autograph each 81 900 bond.
The President was game and said that
ne not only would sign the New Hamp-
sire mans bonds. but would autograph
sny other $1,000 bonds bought during
the evening. The offer brought a lot of
bids In short order.
Autographed wounded Marine.
Bond.
There was perfect clamor for the
III 900 denominations and the President
unsheathed his fountain pen to make
good on his proposition. Sergeant Je-
rome Lehman of the Quarterma ster
Corps at Camp Upton bought a $50
bond and Leon Giller, a marine who
was wounded at Chateau Thierry, said
that he would take bonds for $50 and
pay the cash. The President inquired
who the wounded soldier was and had
him brought to his box. He thanked
the marine and autographed the bonds
he had bought.
BY the time the bond buying was all
over the theatre crowd had taken more
than 100000 worth of bonds. A news
paper man sent to the President the des-
patches from Europe saying that Turkey
and Austria had agreed 10 accept his
fourteen proposals for peace. The Presl-
Gent had no comment to make.
Long after the other Broadway shows
were out The Girl Behind the Gun" was
still running on the last act, with a big
crowd from the other shows waiting in
the streets to see the President when he
went back to his hotel.
President Wilson had come to New
York to enjoy a week end of diver
sion and to assist to-day in the cele-
bration OF Liberty Loan Day The Pres
ident was greeted by the crowds with
marked warmth.
The special train OF three cars which
reached the Pennsylvania Station at 3 :25
o'clock found a small crowd assembled
at the Thirty-first street entrance The
secrecy which marks the movements Of
the President in war time was respon-
sible for the lack OF numbers But what
the volunteer reception committee lacked
In numbers 1t made up in enthusiasm.
Houses Meet Him at Station.
Col. Edward M House and Mrs. House
were at the station to receive the Presi-
dent and his party. which was composed
OF Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, Miss Margaret
Wilson. Rear Admiral Cary T. Grayson,
Secretary Joseph p. Tumulty and the
secretarial stan that usually attends the
Chief Executive.
Mrs. House and Miss Margaret Wilson
went at once to the residence OF Col
House in lis East Fifty-third street
Secretary Tumulty and Read Admiral
Grayson went to the Knickerbocker. and
the President with Mrs. Wilson and Col
House, proceeded in their car through
Thirty-frst street to Fifth avenue, where
they turned north and went through the
nag bedecked avenue to Forty-second
street. At Forty-second street, where the
Liberty Loan booth Is erected, a lam in
tranc delayed the party and a large
crowd gathered around the machine
secret service men and the police jumped
into the gathering and began clearing a
path for the Presidential car. The peo-
pie cheered the President and it was evil