The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-02-03
Gradually Wearing
Away, Doctors Report
After Consultation
Dying Former President Peers Around Room for Old Friends
Where's Crayson?" He Whispers, and Becomes Calm
When Physician Who Has Fought FourYear
Battle for Life Comes O Side.
Profoundly Prostrated," DR.. Grayson Says

figure on the bed. the room hardly
looked like a chamber OF death.
Cheerful chintzes drape the windows
which look 10 the south toward this
Potomac and an indigo ridge Of vir.
ginia hills where he used to play. On
the walls are some family pictures.
that of the first Mrs. Wilson one OF
them. Photographs OF his grandchil-
dren look down upon him.
In a corner stands a desk. a per-
sonal one devoted wholly to per.
sonal affairs. Upon 1t personal pa.
pers and books are arranged with
the orderly precision which marked
his nature. Everything lies Just ss
he left it last when DR.. Grayson or
dered him to bed.
Someone was always on watch ir
the sick chamber. Either Mrs. vii
son DR.. Grayson was there. TIVE
whiteeapped nurses. the same wha
attended the former president during
1.-THE critical days OF his illness In the
White House, moved noiselessly
about with the professional air of
efficiently performing their min.strs.
tions.
kilograms Pour In.
Downstairs a few close relatives
waited and went about with conyersa.
tions in subdued tones. Telesrans
and letters poured IN by the hun
dreds and were listed and acknowl.
edged by volunteer secretaries from
among the family or friends. Calling
cards by the dozen, many bearing
names Of national note, were silent
ly left at the door In person by those
who left their automobiles at the bot
tom OF the hill and walked I'D to pay
what they sorrowfully knew was
last mark OF respect.
None but DR.. Crayson afs Mrs..
Wilson had the freedom OF the sick
room; other members OF the family
uptoed there occasionally. Bernard
NJ Baruch, Mr.. Wilson'S closest
friend and confident OF all those who
were associated with him during the
days Of the war and the fight over
the peace treaty. could have been ad-
mitted to Mr.. Wilson's chamber had
he wished. but he preferred 70 re-
member the former president n he
had last seen him Instead he re-
nained downstairs, doing what he
could 10 tighten the work Of the
others. preferring not TO tax IA the
slightest the fast waning strength Of
the sick man upstairs.
So Quietly.
None Of the few within could looh
about the house Of death without be-
ing reminded of soms cherished
memory Of the man who WAS passinK
so quietly and yet so steadily. Thers
was the bag Of golf sticks standing
in the corner Of the hall: IL has rested
there since Mr.. Wilson moved In.
There were the bookshelves crowded
with volumes which followed him to
Washington from Princeton. On the
oalnster rail was the cane, the third
leg. as Mr.. Wilson humorously re-
ferred 10 1t. which he used 70 help
bimsef about since paralysis made
his left side helpless. In the family
dining room. at his place at the table.
stood the empty chair, on which he
used 20 steady himself while he muir
INJURED grace before sitting down 10
meals-even in other days when he
vas so i'll that his voice was hardly
audible.
Well-Woru Volume.
In the bed chamber close beside
him on little table lay a well.known
volume-the Rihle-from which he
never failed to read a passage before
going TO bed. Each night since he
began this last hattie with Death
Woodrow Wilson probably hs. said
his prayers as he always did, although
no human ear heard him.
As Mr.. Wilson grew weaker ard
weaker. the weakness apparently was
OF the flesh and not OF the spirit. for
even when he found himself unable 20
articnlate there were signals of reccg-
milton in his eyes for those he wanted
70 see
Never once has Mr.. Wilson given
indication Of a thought about puelic
men or affairs. Never at any tine
has he given evidence OF any pain.
he has been given no opiates. and
while he has been given stinulsnts no
heroic measures such as applications
oc oxygen have been reSorted TO.