Evening star., 1924-03-17
CHAPTER xxi.

The Two Shocks That Almost I'm
nerved Mr. Wilson-The Outbreak
of the European War and the Death
Of His Wife.
II Woodrow Wilson'S problems were
such as to break the vitality of much
stronger men in the first year of his
administration, those burdens seem in
recollection to be relatively insignifi-
cant compared to the mental strain
he suffered when war broke out in
Europe in July. 1914, just seventeen
months after his inauguration.
To the world itself August, 1914,
will always be a date which sepa-
rates one epoch from another in the
history Of mankind. Even more
abrupt was the change which that
historic month made in the life and
career of Woodrow Wilson. 1t was
turning point hardly perceived at
the time as he struggled not only
with matters of state but with a
melancholy induced by the death of
Mrs. Ellen Axson Wilson.
For more than a year in the White
House the restraints of official obli-
cation and the artificial atmosphere
of the Executive mansion with its
enforced seclusion for the Chief EX
ecutive. had troubled Mr.. Wilson's
spirit and given him hours of un-
forgetable loneliness.
Craved for Companionship.
His was "a restless soul, seeking
sclf-exprcssion, wishing that official
cares and responsibilities could be
swept aside and the free air of ir-
responsibility breathed once more.
In a torment of conflicting desires he
lived from day to day. His craving
for companiorship was pathetic. He
longed for old friends. He yearned
for the freedom of other days. He
saw himself imprisoned in the White
House, forced to do many things
, which an artistic temperament ana
have tolerated in private life. He was
devoted to his family, to his wife ana
daughters The birth of the hrst
srandchild had brought new Joy 70
the household. The marriage OF ms ms
Youngest daughter. Eleanor. to the
Secretary of the Treasury, william
Gibbs McAdoo, had made the last
days of Mrs. wilson's life happy.
Both the President and Mrs. wilson
we're very fond of Mr.. McAdoo and
in letter to a personal friend; friend,
v ritten at that time. Mr.. wilson
described the affair as a genuine love
match which had the nearly Ss Hhpa-
thy of the whole family.
The death of Mrs Wilson a short
time after the marriage cast 4 shad-
ow of despair over the W hlte Rouse.
Although the physicians had anticl
pated that the illness would De ia.ai,
NIr Wilson did not know until lew
tays before death came that he Wouio
be deprived OF his life companion.
His answers to letters at that time
revealed the depth of his feelIns.
he a rpWpll
resting place. in Rome, Ca, Whltner
he had gone, consoled only in the
thought that her life had as long
been spared. ,
II was under such circumstances
that Woodrow Wilson, President OF
the United States and bereaVed nus
band fought alone the trying prop
lens which beset him in the neutrai-
ity days.
When War Was Declared.
On the night England declared war
against Germany. Mr.. wilson was
walking slowly from the executive
Offices to the White House when the
message reached him from the state
Department that England had de-
clared war on Germany. -
Let us pray that Germany Will
mot develop a Won Moltke," was Mr..
had been apprised of the SITUATION III
I;urope by Col. House, and hao loi-
lowed carefully the course OF dha
since the assassination OF the aug
TRAN archduke. Recognizing that tne
world would expect the United states
to intervene with it's good omceS, Mr:
Wilson made the customary tenuei "a
mediation, and was, OF course, VI uSs So.
aside by the belligerents, VINO were
.Iready at each others throats
historian that he was, Mr.. Wilson
saw at once the far-reachinE ehects
nf European war. he toia ms ms
world would be changed by the war,
and that whether the conflict wouIo
be of short or long duration, the
world would never be the same.
his proclamation to the American
neople asking them to be neutral IN
word. thought and deed. rms state
ment was criticized abroad, put II
legal requirements of the situation.
from the very beginning the Presl-
dent recognized that the mil1tarism
Of which the kaiser was the exponenI1
bad contributed to the international
rivalry and friction which for gen
Grafton had enveloped Europe IN war
clouds. In those early days Mr.. Will
son did not think 1t posslbie tnaI ene
European belligerents would continue
their warfare for more than SIX
month at the outside. The turning OF
1he German tide at the first battle OF
the Marne brought hopes of an early
peace Feverishly the President
watched tha bulletins of battle, but
outwardly his calmness and reserve
were unchanged.
Two Causes of Concern.
To counteract the expressions of
prorally sympathy, the German sup
porters in the United States began
campaign to win public opinion. Mr..
Wilson feared the consequences, espe-
cially as he saw the inevitable coali-
tion of the anti-British elements, in
cIuding certain Irish and the German
Americans.
The existence of these two groups
the rish-Americans and the Ger
man an-Americans-ga Mr.. wilson
more worry than any phase of the
Whole war situation. He did not fail
10 recognize how hotly flowed the
blood Of sympathy in the veins OF
the Germans whose kinsmen were
battling on the western front. Nor
did he blind his eyes to the fact that
The Irish, who had waited patiently
TO be delivered form the British
crown, could not resist the oppor-