Evening star., 1924-02-04

learned to look for him. On one
occasion a quaint old lady held up
the car and presented sweater
which she had knitted and on another
a little girl gave him a laprobe. Ere
quently the car would stop at a farm
and take on a load of fresh veg,r
tables, eggs and fowl.
Recently, on Mr. Wilson's last BIRTH
day anniversary, his friends and ad.
mirers gave to him a new automobile,
constructed on special lines to make
1t easy for Mr.. Wilson to get in and
out, and the old car was laid aside.
Dlnner was an Informal affair at
the Wilson residence. Sometimes
there were guests. always old friends
or associates. Mr.. Wilson did not
dress for the occasion, as he always
did while President. But no meal
in the Wilson household ever pro-
ceeded until grace had been said by
MI. wilson, himself. Frequently
friends remembered him at meals,
sending him fish and game
Had His Own Movies.
After dinner Mr.. Wilson read for
amusement. Once a week he had a mo-
ton picture show of his own, frequent
ly seeing the feature film at the same
time 1t was being shown at the the
aters down town. Every Saturday night
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, sometimes ac-
companied by friends, went to Keith 8
Theater. Always he was given an ova-
ton when he entered the theater and
TOOK a seat in the rear of the house.
His automobile was driven close to a
side entrance, and the former Presi-
dent thus was enabled to reach his seat
IN the theater with the minimum exer-
ton. Crowds assembled outside the
theater after the performance and
cheered the former President heartily.
This consistent tribute evidently pleased
Mr. Wilson, who Smilingly responded
Mr.. Wilson did much reading and
writing In bed. Propped up by pillows
with little writing board across his
knees he read and made notes. some of
1t was expected, not unanturally, that
the President would write a book, but
so far as is known, he did not do SO.
he gave others material for such u
nook ABOUT himself and his administra-
tion. He made no reply to the book
written about him by his former Secre-
tary of State, Robert Lansing, nor to
other volumes, either in criticism or in
praise OF him. Invariably he read a
few verses of the Bible when it came
time to say goodnight. They were
read aloud from the book, which always
rested on the reading table at his
bedside.
Wilson Read Widely.
Mr.. Wilson'S reading covered a wide
range. Not infrequently he gave his
attention to detective stories, OF
which he was quite fond
While Mr.. Wilson gradually gained
IN strength after his departure from
the White House, and continued to
weigh approximately $50 pounds his
appearance was different from that of
his presidential days. His hair turned
snow white, although it did not thin
He adopted spectacles instead of nose
glasses.
Mrs. Wilson was his constant and
devoted companion. She rarely left
him. although now and then she made
brief trips to Baltimore and to New
YORK. Their life was comparatively
simple. The former President had a
secretary, to whom he dictated. Mr..
and Mrs. Wilson, however ran their
establishment with only three ser
wants: Mr.. Wilson took with him to
the White House the small savings of a
lifetime. During his term as Presi-
dent his royalties from books pre-
Viously written mounted into rather
handsome sums. These royalties con-
tinued after he left the White House.
though in smaller amounts. While he
was President circumstances helped
him to save money out of the salary
of $4,000 paid the Chief Executive
The war and the suspension of social
functions and entertainments made
such result possible.
Faith in League Firm.
The former President frequently
reiterated his belief in the league Of
nations. He predicted that even
tually the United States would become
a member. He took a keen interest
in all domestic and foreign questions
of Importance. When the democratic
atfonal committee was in Washing
ton for its meeting recently Mr.. Will
son received the committeeman at his
home.
The last procession down historic
Pennsylvania avenue in which the
war President took part was the fu-
neral procession of his successor, the
late Warren G.. Harding. Mr.. and
Mrs Wilson drove down tho Ayapua
in their car, following closely the
casket of the dead President. He did
not enter the Capitol for the services
there.
Mir. Wilson, while President, sent n
telegram to the then Governor of
Massachusetts, Calvin Coolidge con-
graduating him upon his recollection
following the celebrated police strike
in Boston, which Mr.. Coolidge handled
so firmly. There has been no reason
to believe that Mr.. Wilson's regard
for Mr.. Coolidge diminished there
after