The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-05
WOODROW WILSON NOW PA|NRACKED
 PRIVATE CITIZEN
Unable to Climb Steps He De- clares That Although the Senate Threw Him Down
 He Would Not Fall Down
By Associated Press

Washington, March 4.-E1ght storm tossed years in the presidency, filled with moments and scenes that will live forever in human history, ended today for Woodrow Wilson, "iust plain Woodrow Wilson" now, as he himself smilingly asserted. Under his own roof again, as ori- vate citizen, was the former President tonight with his burdens of state trarsferred to other shoulders and the shouting and tumult of public place behind him. And through day that had taxed his broken physical powers greatly, he came smilingly and with whimsical humorous twist to his com ments, yet with no hint at regret in his retirement from high office.
 There wns but one incident of
 the day when that cheerful mood
 seemed to fail. As he stood in the
 Presidents room, MT. Wilson had
 been telling Senator Knox thnt he
 would not witness in the Senate
 the inauguration of Vice Presi-
 dent Coolidge, ns he doubted his
 ability, owing to his physical i'm
 firmitie~, to negotiate the few
 steps he must climb.
 .The Senate has thrown me
 down., he said to the Pennsylva-
 nin senator in reference to battles
 ef the past and the peace treaty.
 sfbut I am not going to fall down.
 A moment later, some one touched his arm to call his attention to the fact that Senator Lodge had arrived in the room at the head of the 'oint committee to inform the President that the sixty-sixth Congress stood ready for adjournment, if he had no further communications to make to it..
 MT. wilson turned toward the
 man who led the fight against the
 treaty. His face lost it's smile ns
 he listened to the senator's formal
 report, and there was in his own
 tone a touch of cool formality, as
 he said;
 sI have no further communica-
 ton to make. I appreciate your
 courtesy. Good morning.
 WIFE FINALLY PREVAILS
 Mir. Wilson's share in the inaugura- tion ceremonies remained in doubt to the last 1t was not until he had fin- ished the business that called him to the capitol that the retiring President made known his final yielding to the entreaties of his physician and Mrs. Wilson to spare himself the ordeal his physical condition would make of ad- herence of precedent.
 From the moment he emerged from the White House to mount first to the rear seat of the automobile that car ried them to the capitol, Mir Wilson was shown utmost courtesy by MT Harding, who had lost no opportunity to share the Presidents feelings. As saSVhite House steps, Mir. Wilson was aided by secret service men whe placed his feet on each step and then on the running board of the automo- bile After he sank back into his seat on the right, MT. Harding stepped in and they rode side by side down Penn sylvania avenue, neither in courtesy to the other. responding to the cheers or salutes that greeted them
 At the capitol the car drew up al the Senate wing entrance. and the great steps that sweep up to the main floor. MT. Harding and others in the car. except MT. Wilson alighted. and here the crowd waited. Evidently it had been pre-arranged that there should be no public comparison to be drawn between the big strong figure of the new President and the crippled form of the old, for MT. Wilson rode alone on to a little used door where he had but two steps to mount, and there Arthur Brooks. negro custodian of the White House, awaited him.
 IGNORES ROLLING CHAIR
 MT. Wilson was lifted out of the ca, and up the two steps by Brooks. Al the top he paused to, change his glasses and apparently to recover from the effort Then grasping hi. cane but alone and unaided he moved through the door to plod slowly ovel the 800 yards of stone Tagging to tht elevator. He passed without heed 2 big rolling chair, recently used oy Sen ator Penrose, who also had enteree the capitol in the same way since hi. illness.
 Tho crowd at the other door hat missed MT. Wilson and set out to fint him. They caught up with him as ht rounded corner, turning toward thu elevator at the other end of the build ing from that used by Mr. Harding There were murmurs of sympathy a! the spectators caught sight of tn, gray-haired figure going So slowl, and with such evidence of bodily pow CTS driven to their work only by mastering exercise of will: but Mir Wilson nodded and smiled back as h, forced himself on.
 Lifted one floor in the elevator, MT Wilson still alone, made his way tn, short distance to the Presidents room and the business before him. He greet ed the senators waiting there, ex- changed humorous quips with some O them and signed or waved away tn. bills that were laid before him.
 As he said goodbye to Mr Wilson the incoming President again displayet the sympathy he felt for his stricker predecessor. They clasped hands an, Mr. Harding said;
 Goodbye Mir President knoy you are glad to be relieved of you burden and worries. want to tel yo': how much I appreciate the courte sies you have extended to me"
 GLAD TO BE FREE
 Mr. Wilson seemed to agree that h. was glad to be free. for he even gaine, in cheerfulness as he moved out of tn room, with Senator Knox escorting hin to the elevator.
 ~l can't get accustomed to this
 feeling" Mr. Wilson said to the
 senator as they moved slowly along. AMy feet feel 50 liEht.''
 In the elevator, the President swunl his cane by it's curved handle into tn breast pocket of his coat as the cag reached the lower floor and stood witt his right hand on the shoulder of tn operator
 Goodbye, son." he said, then steppe >ut fo retrace the long alow way fl