Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1919-01-04
FOR ALL CRITICS OF
MRS. WOODROW WILSON
TO THINK ABOUT NOW

Copyright, 1918, by the New York Times
Company
Special Cable to the New York Times.
London, Saturday, Dec. 2S.-A wO-
man reporter writes in the Daily
Chronicle the following account of
Mrs Wilson's visit yesterday to the
American Women's Club
MRS Wilson came to London Thurs
day as simple woman of simple an
cestry, but as the wife of a great man.
2he people of London were eager to
greet her, and they cheered her be-
cause of her husband. Yesterday Mrs.
Wilson was cheered everywhere be-
cause of her gracious self No queen
could have more queenly manner, no
great lady could be more gracious, no
woman more utterly winning than
President Wilson's wife
II had talk yesterday with Miss
Benham.
"'She's perfectly lovely woman
Miss Benham exclaimed. 4 do not
mean only loneliness of face, but love-
illness of character
"a little later when l was presented
to Mrs. Wilson at the American Wo-
mans Club | was conscious instantly
of this her appealing charm. AS she
shook hands with me I realized the
difference in her manner from that of
the ordinary society woman. There
was firmness and strength in her grasp.
Her smile was intensely individual, al
together spontaneous, and her voice
rich and sweet, with enough suspicion
of American accent to give 1t dis
finctive touch, but no suggestion of
nasal twang.
Wilson knows London very well and
was extremely happy to be here again.
She has enjoyed every moment of her
visit The warm welcome of the crowd
ed streets has been to her joyous
revelation of English friendship. She
was surprised to find gathering of
men and women outside the American
Women's Club, and her face lit up with
pleasure as she alighted with Mrs. But
Ter Wright, wife of the American cOun-
sci at the embassy, to take tea with
the club members
ut was simple tea party, with no
speeches and no ceremony. 1t was
such an "at home" indeed, as Mrs.
Wilson might visit any day among her
friends in Washington, and she liked
the ease with which she was able to
chat to her countrywomen in London.
"I cheered you yesterday from st.
James street, Mrs. Montague Porch
{Lady Randolph ChurchilD said to
Mrs. Wilson. 4 do hope you liked it
ALL
1T was lovely Mrs. Wilson re-
spOnded eagerly.
"Then came nurses and war work
ers, for whom Mrs. Wilson had kind
Iy word, and then more titled women
and so it went on till almost every one
in the club had had the honor of pres
entatiOn. ViscountesS HarcOurt, Lady
Paget, Lady Herbert, Lady Ward,
Lady Henry Lady Baron, Mrs. Walter
Burns Mrs. John Jacob Astor, Cora
Countess of Stafford and Mrs. Henry
Thornton were some of the women
who met the Presidents wife, but it
was democratic tea party, and wO-
men who earn their living were there
equally with the rich and aristOcratic.
MRS. Wilson had heard about the
club, and she made the round of it with
interest. The visit of the Presidents
wife was like the passing of a gracious
queen in a medieval romance. W0-
men who had held her hand for the
fraction of second will account it an
honor all their lives. Those who saw
her in the street outside will remember
her grace and her dignity.
II think most of us forgot yesterday
that Mrs. Wilson was the Presidents
wife. Afterward we agreed that Mr..
Wilson'S part in settling the worlds
affairs must be influenced for good by
the comradeship of his wife, but at the
moment we were only conscious that
an American woman had become the
living symbol of an American ideal.
Mrs. Wilson herself is the most pic
turesque expression of her husbands
ideal that it is character which counts
and that beside it rank and riches and
power are little things"