The Washington herald., 1920-02-22

a cup of tea" with her. Duchesses
and such smiled often. he said, over
such notes received by them while
she was in Europe. Gossip has it
that Miss Benham. her social Sec
retary. of course, is there to steer
Mrs. Wilson in the straight ard
narrow social path, but Nthat she
refuses to be directed.
1t does sound like she does all
the directing in matters concerning
who shall and who shall not see
the President since his illness. Few
people get into the White House
at all. and none pass her. The
same is true OF commu nic tions for
the President. Some people seemed
to think that Mr.. Tumulty was the
final word in such matters. but 1t
appears that even he has to refer
to Mrs. Wilson.
1t was over a cup OF tea with
Mrs. Wilson last week that John
Barton Payne finally accepted nom
ination for the post OF Secretary OF
the Interior. 1t was in a like sltG-
alton that Rear Admiral Benson
consented to relinquish his retired
status and take on the job OF han
ding the Shipping Board after
Chairman Payne has vacated it. So
far as the executive Office stan
know, neither OF these men. slated
for most important desks, saw
President Wilson at all.
A speaker in New York recently
Mrs. Joseph Moorhead. who was ma
tional superintendent of surgical
dressings of the Red Cross in this
city-gave an interesting firsthand
account of the charming personality
of the first lady of the land. Mrs.
Wilson, she said, was one of the
few women doing war work who
did not want a special position Gre
ated for her. She was willing to
do menial tasks. and washed dishes
and carried heavy coffee urns with
Apparent enjoyment. said the speak
er. Mrs. Moorhead asserted that
Mrs. Wilson's constant presence with
the President on his trips was due
to the feeling that she might foil
any attempt to assassinate him.
PRESIDENT
GIVEN LAND
One thing I know: When Mrs.
Wilson purchased a box recently
for a popular benefit, the check was
signed by both Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson.
President wilson was recently mo-
titled that he was the possessor of
plot of ground in Wayne County.
Ohio.
The President expresses no joy
at his acquisition. Although the
plot is surrounded by beautiful or
chard land. Mr.. Wilson does not
look forward to occupying it in
the future.
The plot is located in an old cem-
etery, two miles northeast of woos-
| er, and is cared for by a Mennon-
ite organization. Originally, ac-
cording to a deed recently found
on record. it was "bequeathed to
erranklin Pierce. President of the
| United States, and to his successors
| Il Office forever, for the use and
purpose of a private burying ground
and for no other use and purpose
whatever"
DR.. Chalmers Martin, of Wooster
College, who was a classmate OF
President Wilson at Princeton. COM
municated information Of the deed
to the President.
Every President since Pierce, ac-
cording to the deed, has had this
| plot available for his last resting
place, but it has never been used,
and the cemetery of which IL Is a
part has had no burials since 1850
There is nothing in the deed to
disclose the reason for the ground
being set aside for this purpose.
Another famous statesman has
come forward to keep President will
son company in claiming that thif-
teen is a lucky number. This new
follower Of what is ordinarily called
| an ill-starred number is, by coinoi-
dence, also the president of a great
republic. He Is NJ. Deschanel, new
ly elected chief executive of France.
He was born on the 18th; married
on the 18th. and 1t was on the 18th
that the chamber declared him a
candidate for the presidency.
Gracious! I was talking about Mr.,
Lansing and roamed far from my
subject! 1t sounds very probable in
deed that Mr.. Lansing will come back
to Washington as Senator. I under
stand he Is being widely advocated
,ii New Yerk State and hailed by the
anti Mack men. He Seems TO be just
the man they want and to have other
elements or strength besides the sym.
pathy Of the, people over his virtual