Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-08-05
WHITE HOUSE IS
AGAIN CENTER
OLD ACTIVITIES RESUMED WITH
RETURN OF PRESIDENT
FROM FRANCE.
WILL RESUME SOCIAL LIFE
For Five Years Executive Mansion
Has Been Closed to All Forms of
Entertainment, but With Ending of
War 1t Again Comes to Life.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.


War 1t Again Comes to Life.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.
Neutrality-suspicious. more the doors
of the White House swing outward and
inward: There are lights in the win
dows by night, motors approach and
depart by day. and what was lifeless
is life.
The old days of the White House
probably have returned to stay. Even
while the president is on his travels
members of the family and of the
household will remain to keep open
the old mansion and to show that the
spirit of hospitality once more has
lodgment under the roof.
Never before in the history of the
country has the White House been
removed for so long time from the
social activities and, latterly, from the
business activities of the city and the
nation. Washington believes that
from now on through the years the
fine old house within the finer old
grounds will take its place as the CEN
ter of the capitals social life as 1t is
certain to be the center of the nations
directing energies.
During the four years of war, or,
more properly speaking, five years, be-
cause the armistice did not necessarily
mean peace, the White House re-
manned virtually closed against all
forms of entertainment. For three
years, or almost three years, the Unit
ed States was not involved directly in
the war, but the horror of the battle
fields in Europe made itself felt, not
only in the White House but in all the
houses of larger entertaining in the
city of Washington. The president
and Mrs. Wilson apparently did not
feel that it was the time for entertain
ing.
Entertainments Dropped.
Something besides sentiment is re-
spOnsible for the virtual barring of the
doors of the White House. All enter
tainments that are given within the
executive mansion precincts are in the
natural order of events shared in by
the representatives of foreign ma
tons. When France, England, Bel
GUM and Russia, and later Italy, were
fighting Germany, Austria, Turkey and
Bulgaria it became virtually impossi-
BILE to give an entertainment at the
White House without including in the
lisr of guests representatives of the
clashing nations. This would have
made for embarrassment, and so it was
that with very few exception all en-
tertainments were taboo.
After the United States entered the
war there were no entertainments
given at the White House.
During the Civil war White House
entertainments were not given over
entirely. The circumstances of the
case were somewhat different from
those of the past five years. The
country was in the throes of a war
which might be called one of brother
against brother, but there was q feel
ing among the high officials of govern
ment at that time that it was good for
the United States to keep up SEM
blance of things normal. 1t was the
personal viewpoint. Lincoln had one
and Wilson seems to have another.
In England at the outbreak of the
present war the people showed de-
termination to keep to their ordinary
pursuits in life as much as was posi-
Bile. 1t was the feeling of the men
and women of England, no matter how
much their hearts might be cast down,
that it was better to buoy themselves
up and the nation up by keeping things
as nearly normal as possible.
Matter Of Viewpoint.
In France it was different. The
French people looked at the matter
from different standpoint than that
from which the English were viewing
it. They shut all their theaters except
those producing serious plays and
those showing moving pictures of a
kind to inspire patriotism. The French
went into mourning garb, while the
English did not. Again 1t would seem
as if the entire question was one Of a
personal, or, If you will, national view
point.
During the presidents absence in
Europe the White House Offices were
kept open, but only for the transaction
CT necessary business. The usual
gatherings of senators and representa-
tives on business bent were no more In
evidence.
Now all is changed, and changed for
the better, for the atmosphere about
the great house on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. for the last five years has been de-
pressing. 1t was the center of all
things and suddenly it seemed to be.
except for the presence of one man.
the center of nothing. The daily Dill
gTimages of senators, representatives
and cabinet officers have started again.
1t is believed that before long the
great East room will witness once
more the lighting Of its great chande-
Tiers, and that the Marine band once
more will play in the great corridor.
Tells Story of Army.
A 10,000-ton ship has been assigned
to the duty of transporting from
France the records of the American