The evening world., 1921-03-04
His Eyes Burned With the Fire
of a Soldier Who Never
SunenderS.
FIRM HAND HELD PEN.
Last Hour as President a Com
mingling of Sadness and
Attempted CheerfulneSS.
By DGUid laurence.
Especial Correspondent Of The
Evenino World.N

WASHINGTON, March Copy
night, 92D.-woodrow Wilson's last
hour as President Of the United
States was curious co-mingling Of
sadness and attempted cheerfulness.
For a moment the President appeared
as the decrepit figure that he has so
often been pictured since his physi-
cal collapse two years ago, and then
again as he sat at his desk and
signed bills with firm hand and
steady pen. his eyes burned with the
FIRE Of the soldier who never surren-
ders.
To the last, woodrow Wilson
seemed TO be in a fighting mood,
though everybody who stood around
him felt that his feeble figure belied
his attempts to appear in his bellig-
erent spirit of old.
Slowly Mr.. Wilson wendell his way
along the corridor for fifty feet from
the elevator Just to the right OF the
Senate Chamber. AS he proceeded
slowly, he leaned on his cane and
was unaided. His left shoulder was
stopped and his left hand hung Imply
at his side.
AZ former Mayor Honey Eitz-
gerald Of Boston extended his hand
to greet the President, Mr.. Wilson
quickly hung the hook OF his cane in
The upper pocket of his overcoat, and
standing for a moment smiled his
greetings. Senator Overman of
North Carolina, Democrat, walked
along beside Mr.. Wilson and asked
MIN II he would go out 10 the front
of the Capitol to witness the inaugu-
ration of Mr.. Harding, but in a hoi
low voice Mr.. Wilson replied that he
feared he did not have strength
enough to do A.
Surrounded by members Of his
Cabinet, Democratic Senators and
military and naval aides, Mr.. Wilson
entered the Presidents Room, there
TO DE greeted by Mr., Harding, An
aide helped take Mr.. Wilson's over
coat from his shoulders and the man
who had driven through the streets
OF Rome, Paris and London, hailed
= as the great peace maker of this gen
Grafton, sank Imply into his chair
For moment only, however, did he
seem nervous and ill at ease. Grad
ually he recovered his composure.
70 IIarN5n9r oh
bending low and almost paternally
over the man whose arduous labors
in the Presidential office had caused
his physical if not political overthrow.
1t was evident that a kindly feeling
existed between the two men, inten-
si1ied indeed by that human quality
which has made Warren Harding be-
loved by his colleagues.
URGED BY HARDING NOT TO
oVERTAX STRENGTH.
Mr. Harding made it clear that il
Mr. Wilson did moi feel strong enough
TO go outdoors, he would not regard
e IL as a discourtesy and he urged Mr.
Wilson not to do anything that would
tax his strength.
~ guess | had better not try 1t, ~
remarked Mr.. Wilson and Mr. Har'
ding passed out TO the Republican
cloak room while the outgoing Presi-
dent signed bills. The first measure
placed before him was a bill autho-
rizing additional expenditures FOL
hospital facilities TO take care of dis
abled soldiers. Every now and Their
the signing OF bills would be inter
lupted by a handshake for some mem
Der Of Congress who had stepped int
the room to pay respects. When Gen
Pershing stepped forward, Woodrow
Wilson smiled and, extending hi
hand said;
Excuse me, General, for no
rising"
Courteous to the last, Mr. Wilson
had many kind words Of greeting 70
his former associates Bainbridg
Colby chatted with him for a while
and standing close at hand, as of ole
war- POSTMASTER General Burleson.
as a truly Democratic setting
Josephus Daniels was there and New
ton Baker and David f. Houston an
Edward Meredith-all the Cabinet, i
fact and Senators Underwood, Rob
inson, Harrison, Helm, Swanson an
others who have been close to NJ
Wilson. Each one was called b
name and, really, as Mr. Wilson sa
at his desk, those who have know
the man for years felt that he locke
Just as healthy and acted Just as nat
orally as in the earlier years of h
Administration when he came to III
Presidents Room,
well, | think / had better SEQ,
now" remarked Mr., Wilson with