The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-31
AMERICAS FIRST LADY
PASSES THE ACID TEST
Eurorc's Social AVN Chorus Could
Find Nothing TO Hammer Upon i'm
the Old Virginia Product.
By JAY JEROME WILLIAMS.

by JAf sf4kkDME WILLIAMS.
fWhn Has Jus, Returned Prom Paris,
New York. March 23.---.She came,
she saw and she conquered:
Caesars famous message. improved
SO as TO provide the touch of feminfty,
applies 10 Mrs Woodrow Wilson, the
first lady Of the land.
Lady In 4 term that usually liz
barred tn newspaper pariance, save
when It denotes the title. yet 1t is the
only fitting term to describe the i'm
preston made ON Europe by the wife
OF the president
Everywhere MIRA Wilson visited
Paris, London. Rome and ecores of
other towns and cities--the verdict
was the same: true lady. IL made
no difference whether she faced a
queen or a peasant woman: It mat
tered not whether she was ''rouEhing''
II In an army automobile with her
husband, or was lodged In Bucking-
ham paiacc, she wuS always the same
--an easy, gracious and happey per-
sonit!catjon of American womanhood.
Mrs. Wilson has run the gauntlet OF
millions OF eyes. the eyes of nobility,
The eyes OF aristocrecy, The eyes OF the
bourgeoise and those OF the iowiy pro-
ietariat. and all these eyes have indi-
NtA1Sof oP0u HSI pApSiEE uGyouG tnPtk
range OF vision, that she has also
passed the test
And the test of Europe. as no doubt
many an aspiring society matron could
testify. is some test. 1t was doubly
so in the case OF Mrs. Wilson, for
never before had an American presi-
dent during his term of office ven.
tured across the Atlantic, and never
before had an American woman, h old
ing the social position that is the prop
erty Of the wife of an American presi-
dent. graced Europe with her pres
encc.
Europe was literally on the "qui
vive" to see Mrs. Wilson. and perhaps
European society. which Is similar to
American society in possessing an
anvil chorus of no small dimensions,
was likewise on the ''qui vive" to seize
upon al apparent flaws in the mis-
tress OF the white house." for all such
flaws would provide little tidbits of
gossip to null over In idle hours.
But that portion of society which
would put forth cold and clammy
hand and utfcrs honeyed words, only
10 change the tune to vitriol when the
unsuspecttng victims back Is turneds,
never got chance. Mrs. Wilson was
just what She was-an American wo-
man. always gracious. always inter
eated, and always as modestly and
pleasantly gowned as millions OF other
American women back home
Their was ont a single touch OF
'suppish,8a ss" In her demeaner, bat
there was nat delightful touch OF
home folks bout her which every
American likes / associate with his
conception OF an A!n lean woman.
IL Europe looked T. Mrs. Wilson
from the standpoint OF :. odiste or a
miiliner Europe WIS IA Sinted.
The presidents wife conc ted
one rnight say. on purple hat. e
most becoming, too-and dark W
vet coat on practically every trip she
made with her husband. She made
no attempt 10 bedeck herself TN a diff
ferent costume on each new occasion
And II Europe, having memory OF
aires. expected Mrs, Wilson to fiounce
into Paris with retinue OF secreta-
ries. maids and servants. Europe was
again d!sa ppointed. Mrs. Wilson's
entire encourage consisted OF one Sec
Rotary and a colored nanny" And
the -'msnrny." il may be recalled, was
not one biz illustrated" by taking to a
'Sowny couch in Buckingham palace
wi hen the president and his wife were
the honored guests of the king and
queen Of England.
Susie lat her music lesson)--rd
like TO catch an old arr heard In the
reception room last nignt
PrlfesSor---What Ia that air Mtsa