The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-02
WILSON AT PLAY
.CHEERED BY MANY
In First Public Appearance in
18 Months President Sees
Abraham Lincoln
HE WALKS WITH A CANE
Enjoys Piece, Smiles at HUI
morOus Parts and Seems Ben
Gifted by Diversion.

WASHINGTON, Feb. president Will
son tonight made his first appear
ance in public since his speaking tour
in behalf of the League of Nations was
interrupted by illness at Wichita. Kan.
| September 26 1919. Accompanied by
Mrs. Wilson and her brother. John
Randolph Boiling, the President went
to a theatre and saw a performance
OF Abraham Lincoln the. American
historical play written by John Drink
water, the English playwright.
The President with his party reached
the theatre shortly before the play be-
gan, and walking with the aid or a
cane made his way through a stage
door and thence TO a lower box. which
had been reserved for the party. His
appearance was a complete surprise
to the audience, only theatre attaches
having been apprised of his coming.
The moment the President entered the
box he was recognized and the audience
rose and cheered. He responded by
bowing, and sat down. He did not rise
from his seat until the final curtain
had fallen, and then was aided to his
feet by Mr.. Boiling. The audience
cheered and he again bowed. In leaving
the theatre he used his cane and leaned
on the arm of Mr.. Boiling.
News of the Presidents attendance
leaked out during the progress of the
play. and large crowd, expecting nm
TO leave from the front entrance, had
congregated there by the time the per-
formance ended. Only handful had
thought OF the stage exit, which he used,
and these were kept back by police.
Tho President appeared to enjoy the
play and smiled at the humorous parts Of
the production White House attaches.
after the President returned to the
White House. said that he seemed TO
have suffered no III effects whatever
from his appearance in public and from
the brief exposure to the damp night air.
With emotions induced by the closing
scene, depicting President Lincoln's as
sassination, still reflected on hundreds
of faces, the audience on rising TO leave
the theatre turned as by single i'm
pulse and. facing the President cheered
and applauded him while he rose from
his seat The audience seemed TO carry
over sentiments induced by the play s
portrayal of the martyred President in
contemplating the somewhat worn coun-
tenance of the present Chief Executive.
then plainly showing the effects of his
long illness in rising to his feet.
That the President was refreshed and
cheered by his first theatregoing treat
in more than eighteen months was in
dicated by his animated between act
conversations with Mrs. Wilson and his
brother-in-law.
Prior to his illness Mr.. Wilson at
tended the theatre regularly, sometimes
going as many as three and four times
a week During his illness he has been
forced to content himself with mo-
ton pictures which have been shown in
one OF the rooms of the White House
fitted up for the purpose.
At the end of the first act tonight
those in the audience instead of flock
ing to the lobbies and smoking rooms
when the curtain went down. as the
atre crowds generally do. stayed In their
seats for the most part to watch the
President.