The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-04
Wilson q Sick Man
When He Became President

rclinquish his office and give way to a
successor. Later when health had Hn-
proved and the Democratic convention
at San Francisco was balloting night
and day TO agree OH Il presidential NOM
inee, Mr.. Wilson debated with himself
whether he should be a candidate for a
third term. 1t could not be said that
either subject reached the stage of be
ing considered" But it is known that
Mr. Wilson gave the subjects some
thought.
These with many other things form
the highly interesting unwritten chap
tiers of Woodrow Wilson's life. They
would make volume of far more en-
crossing reading than anything that
ever had been written about him.
What part he may take in public af-
fairs in the future living as he will al
most under the shadow of the dome CT
the capitol, is causing lively spccuIa-
ton So far as the records shJw no
other president has remained n Wash
ington after going out of othc'- Mr..
Wilson first intended to live IN Baltl-
more. He and the present Mrs. Wilson
settled 1t by playing a game the Iresl-
dent invented during an idle hour on the
steamer George Washington on one OF
the trips TO and from the peace confer
ence. 1t was a game of percentages with
certain squares allotted to the various
advantages or amuSements of life OF
which both were most fond. Baltimore,
as the game worked out had the high
est total But breakdown and contin-
ued illness interviewed and it was decided
to remain in Washington. where almost
all OF Mrs. Wilson's family reside.
The new home. bought recently, is on
an elevation in the northwest residence
section not far from n site long held
by the imperial German government foI
embassy Mr.. Wilson expects to spend
Tta... hRnFaf
kaiser expected his ambassador to sit.
Because of the secrecy which has been
! thrown around his physical condition
the country is probably most interested
in that just now. Mr.. Wilson is con
valescent-so far as nature permits
from what medically is called thrombosis
| "a blood clot in one of the arteries on
the right side of his brain which i'm
pairs the motor nerves in the left arm
and leg He can walk short distances
alone with the aid of a cane; longer
distances require the use of a wheel
chair. Walking up and down stairs Is
precarious experiment seldom at
tempted.
Mir. Wilson was not stricken on the
league of nations speaking trip in tho
West as is popularity supposed, but with
| i'm a week after he returned = +Ia White
House. Warning signals of the coming
attack were what caused his return. Fol
| three days after he came back ne seemed
to be improving; in fact he took motor
ride the day before he was laid low. and
on the night before PLAYED billiards. The
seizure came in the night. at an houl
1 when the President was alone, and ht
was found stricken just before daylight
| For a week his life was despaired of
| but his real condition was kept secret by
/ his family Then came a turn for the
| better and for many weeks the Presi
dent was confined 10 his bed-a bed il
which Abraham Lincoln before hin
probably bad passed many a night o
| pain and sleeplessness of a different ma
| turc Even the White House barber
was not admitted to the room. and Mr.
! Wilson. usually clean shaven. grew a
| beard. and made humorous remarks T.
| his physicians and family as he brushed
| It for amusement several times day
In the midst of the Illness an un
| looked for musculsr complication set il
and refused to yield to treatment. While
| physicians and surgeons anyiouSly con
suited downstairs as 70 whether tbs
| Presidents nhysique could Withstand
the shock OF a surgical operation a"o
| had about decided that it was \ Ifs
and death chance. a nurse arrived witt
| the news that nature had INTERVIEWED ant
| that the operation would he unneces
sary. From that moment slow recovery
set in.