Evening star., 1924-03-20
CHAPTER XIV.
The Marriage of President Wilson to
Mrs. Edith Gait and the Political
Campaign of 1916.

The Marriage of President Wilson to
Mrs. Edith Gait and the Political
Campaign of 1916.
" The transition period in the life of
Woodrow Wilson dates from the sum-
mer of 1914, when Mrs. Wilson died,
to the spring of 1915-the days of his
acquaintance with Mrs. Norman Gait.
Eight months of tomblike seclusion in
the White House changed the whole
temper of the man. His moods in
those months were so Respondent that
even the members of his family
groped in vain for something that
would lift him from the depression
into which he had languished. Public
business he transacted with the same
carnestness, but without zeal, without
ambition, without inspiration.
Two daughters had been married,
his wife was dead. All his old friends
were away from Washington in other
scenes. The President of the United
States cannot make new friends as
quickly as private citizen. Mr.. Will
son knew that if he drew to his side
either the members of hSi cabinet or
senators or representatives they would
surely talk to him about the problems
of the day, from which, mentally at
least, he was seeking to escape. DR..
Cary T. Grayson was almost con-
stantIy with Mr.. Wilson. The com
panionship Of Prof. Stockton Axson,
a brother of Mrs. Wilson, was also
sought by the President. Private Sec
rotary Tumulty lived at the White
House for several weeks while his
family was away for the summer.
Everything possible to divert Wood
row Wilson's mind from the sorrow
which weighed upon him was done,
but his spirits never rose and the
horizon seemed to grow darker and
darker.
Suggested Social Evening.
At last DR.. Grayson, whose dag
nosis of Mr.. Wilson's dilemma was
not merely that of an attendant phy-
sician interested in maintaining the
health of the nations Chief Executive,
but a man of breadth and understand
ing, who knew that continued seclu-
sion would dispirit the President and
perhaps break down his health, sus-
sested that the time had come Tor
a musical at which the President
might hope to spend social evening
once in awhile. Guests were invited,
and among them was Mrs. Norman
Gait, a charming widow. A short
time previous Mrs. Gait had been in
troduced by DR.. Grayson as walk
ing companion for Miss Helen Wood
row Bones, a first cousin of President
Wilson. who lived at the White House.
DIR. Grayson was engaged at the time
and subsequently married MISS Alce
Gertrude Gordon. whose mother had
been the intimate friend of Mrs; Gait.
Every one around the White House
was early aware that romance had
begun The eyes of a good many at
tendants are turned upon the Presl-
dent of the United States at all times.
and when he and Miss Bones RODE
home with Mrs. Gait IN one OF the
an instant impression that Mr.. VII
sons need for companionshiD had at
last been fulfilled. The Presidents
sent books to his new-found friend.
Her modest little home on 10Th
street became the almost daily desti-
nation of the President on his walks
or rides Miss Bones invited MIS-.
cruises of the Mayf1ower from Wash
ington to New York, where the meet
was reviewed by the President Later
on during the summer months the
home in Cornish. n. H.. was opened
again for the Wilson household and
Miss Bones and Mrs. Gait went there
to escape the heat of Washington.
The President spent many weeks at
Cornish during the summer OF 1912
and when he returned in the autumn
Washington generally had learned or
his infatuation for Mrs. Gait
Not Case for Advising.
Members of the cabinet and people
in official life began to wonder what
would be the effect Of the Presidents
engagement on his political fortunes,
but no one had the temerity to advise
Mr.. Wilson on his personal affairs, as
it was recognized that the new mis-
tress of the White House would be
able later to WELD both power and
influence against any one who might
earn her disfavor. Secretary Lane is
credited with having remarked to
some Of his colleagues in the cabinet
that Mr.. Wilson would lose his popu-
1arjty if he remarked, because the
country had become intensely sympa-
1hetic with him in his loneliness. Sec
rntary Tumulty, with his keen vision
of politics, shared to some extent
this view, but he knew that the Pres
ident was more interested in the
woman he loved than in holding po-
1;tical Office There Is abundant evil
sience that Mr.. Wilson did not care as
much about a second term as did the
leaders of the democratic party, who
wanted to see the administration con-
,inued in power, and that Mr.. wilson
TyouId have easily swallowed his dis
annojntment If he had failed of re-
,1nmination' or reelection. The truth
Is that his frame of mind was such
that he did not enjoy public office and
ardently hoped to be released from
responsibility. He was a human be
fnr first and an executive machine
second. AS between life OF freedom
ind public Office, there is no doubt
that MT. Wilson would have chosen
the former if he had been able con-
rhe months of Mr.. wilson's court
shin Of Mrs. Gait involved a 1et-up IN
his labors of previous years IN the
White House. He did not Work as
long at his desk. He found diversion
SPECIAL NOTICES.