Evening star., 1920-02-06
PRESIDENT KEEPS
IN FAIRLY CLOSE
TOUCH WITH THINGS
Seems to Be improving in
Health; mo indispensable
Man," Quoted.
Dy DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Wilson seems to be get
ting along about as well as could be
expected for a man who has had a
severe nervous breakdown. Interest
in his condition appears much more
acute outside of the National Capital
than inside, where the indisposition
Of the President has become g matter
Of course and where official FOLK busy
to a methodical system of handling
the business which ordinarily would
have the attention of Mr.. Wilosn.
INQUIRY at the White House reveals
that the President walks about his
bedroom and the upper apartments OF
that he is wheeled outdoors to avoid
slipping on the snow-covered portico
and steps. He seems to enjoy his daily
exposure to the winter weather,
which for Washington is rather ex-
treme nowadays and more like that
one south of Mason and Dixon's line.
In Fairly Close Touch With Affairs.
The President leads more or less a
monotonous life-closed in from all
friends and official colleagues. DR..
Cary T. Grayson, his physician. man
ages to keep senators, cabinet me m
uers and ambassadors from seeing the
RTeSlQenl, DIS TIE idtlcI has di" dy
preferred anyway that official matters
be put in writing. He spends from an
hour to three hours a day reading
memoranda and the newspapers and
feels in fairly close touch with what
is going on outside of the executive
mansion.
AS for a description of the Presidents
condition, 1 was told that the Presi-
dent was progressing" and that each
week saw some improvement. In
quiring whether his rate of recovery
was slower than expected. the an
swer was that Mr.. Wilson's conva-
lescence was ''encouragingly" good.
There still seems to be need for men,
tai and physical rest, with nobody able
to guess accurately just how long Mr.
wilson will have to remain in seclu-
sion. 1t is a fact. however. that peo-
pie around the White House would be
disappointed if the President were not
back at his desk during the spring
visited the White House. Two of them
happened to be in town-each on
different errand-about three weeks
ago-and they dropped in for
social call and not medical eXamina
ton. That means the Presidents case
or doubtful. but that course of rest
treatment has been prescribed in
which medical attention is not such
an important factor.
"MOvie" Machine Installed. +,
The President is naturally restless.
He wants to do more work than he
should. He keeps in close touch with
Secretary Tumuity, either by tele-
phone or personal conference. To re-
lieve the monotony of the White
House, the Presidents household has
installed a moving picture machine
and screen in the big east room. the
handsome salon of crystal chandeliers.
polished floors, gilded piano and Or
namental vases, in which room cere-
monies such as the presentation OF
distinguished foreigners and official
receptiogs and other functions OF So
ciaI briIliance have been held in the
past.
surrounded by members of his family.
watching the antics of the slap stick
episodes of film life-a diversion
which the American public enjoys in
crowded theaters. but which Mr. VII
son. in the solitude of the White
House, cal have at any time ne waves
the presidential wand.
The President is susceptible to colds
and his physician has had to be very
CAREFUL about bundling Mr.. Wilson
nm when he went outdoors. The White
House is not such an easy place TO
ia one reason why the President has
had to he kept on the upper noors
of the Ex ecutive Mansion, most OF the
time before an open fireplace
studies Treaty and Other Matters.
1t can hardly be said that official
business doesn't reach Mr.. Wilson
when IL should. There are numerous
que stions which must necessarily be
resolved by cabinet officers on their
own responsibility, but when IL comes
to the treaty controversy and matters
Of appointment to high offices. Mr..
Wilson Is personally occupied with
them. lie gets daily reports from
senator Hitchcock and " resume of
what is happening in the political
world from hts private secretary, NO
he manayes To Keep inforincd
II In a. distressing confinement to
woodrow Wilson, who has Kept wash
,nrton OF the Jump for tho last seven
wears In pace reminiscent az hts
asch political Zoe Theodore Roosevelt
Hut white N ~ true Of Washington
siwsys that the psre ~ IN" severn
msni iA nci T., iiH chief executive. the