Evening star., 1924-02-04
WILSON'S ILLNESS
TOUCHED CAPITAL
War President Object of
Kindly, Friendly Interest
After Being Stricken.
FAITHFUL WIFE PRAISED
No Woman Ever More Devoted
Was Observers Universal
Opinion.
FAITHFUL WIFE PRAISED
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Wilson, the sick man, was greater
object of friendly interest in Wash
ington than the Wilson of war days.
The National Capital never lost its
head or it's balance when big men
came along; 1t was used to that type.
But after he had been stricken, when,
broken in health, he sought to get
back the strength he had given to his
task. even that part of WASHINGTON
which hated his policies and his pow
ers. felt a softening around the heart
as it saw him bent low.
Harding, as a new President. never
dazzled Washington. 1t had known
him as a senator, and there was no
wild rush for the windows as he drove
through the streets. In the picture
theaters of Washington when Hard
ing's likeness was shown there was a
scattering handicap. But when Will
sons picture was shown there always
was a deafening burst of real ap-
plause. The thing was SO pronounced
that the President and the former
President were never shown on the
same screen.
"Oh, Washington is southern COM
pie got when they asked about the
greater applause for Wilson.
Liked Vaudeville.
Mr.. Wilson liked the theater. He
liked vaudeville especially. In the
early days Of his administration he
went frequently to the theater, with
out attracting undue attention. Peo-
pie applauded respectfully, but not
loudly, when he entered. The same
was true of Mr.. Harding.
After he left the White House. how
ever, there was a changed attitude on
the part Of the Washington pubic
toward Mr.. Wilson. Nearly every
Saturday night, when the condition
Of his falling health would permit,
he attended a vaudeville theater. HIS
weekly visit seemed somehow to be-
come a local event. BY o'clock the
streets around were packed with men
and women.
Mr.. Wilson's car always drove into
an alley into which a side door to the
theater opened The crowd around
the corner always was SO dense that
extra traffic policemen were detailed
regularly "for Wilson night" Street
car traffic was halted.
The Wilson party always remained
seated in the theater until the audi
ence had left. He occupied an OBJ
scure corner near the alley entrance.
The laborious effort to enter the car
which he could not do without as
sistance-was the most pathetic sight
Washington ever beheld. 1t touched
the heart of a cold-blooded town.
Big Figures Stood BY.
Week after week the crowds stood
in the street. often in pouring rain,
simply to get a fleeting glimpse OF
the old wartime President. Some of
the biggest men in national life used
to stand in the shadows across the
street from the theater to see how
Wilson looked. They had read or his
affliction; they had seen a picture OF
him now and then, but they wanted
to see for themselves.
out his wife, Harding, not par
ticular lover of vaudeville, never
went to that same theater on Satur-
day nights. When he did go his car
stopped at the main entrance, with
out interfering with street traffic.
Much of this show of affection for
the former President unQuestionably
was due to his broken condition. and
Washington always wanted to lift its
voice in praise of the faithful wife.
No woman ever was more devoted.
more attentive, more. sympathetic.
That was the universal verdict.