Evening star., 1933-02-26

slightly, she, with other friends OF the
Wilson's, was anxious to have the social
side of the incoming administration
given prominence. Mrs Wilson said
frankly that she knew nothing of WASH
ington, having been there only once in
her life; she wanted to do all that was
customary and expected of her in the
position, and she particularly stressed
the idea that she wished her three
daughters to take their place in the
social Zfe of Washington, as we'll as
continue to carry on their own indi-
vidual interests.
We had a very satisfactory talk. and
after we had made the definite arrange
ment she told me of the number of
direct and indirect applications she had
had for the position. Naturally, when
new party comes into power in Wash
ington, the horde of office-seekers
reaches the proportions of a drive by
17-year locusts I am reminded Of
clever summary of the situation made
by one of the military aides of President
Theodore Roosevelt. To a friend who
asked him, in a letter, How does it
feel to be in Washington in the fierce
light that beats around a throne?" he
wrote back, "A better description would
be among the firece beasts that light
around a throne"
IT was to relieve her from this pressure
that I suggested to Mrs. Wilson that
II she saw fit she should announce my
appointment at once. She agreed, and
few days after my return on Deem
ber "a the papers carried a dispatch
from Princeton to that effect I thus
unwittingly became the first appointee
of the new administration. The imme-
diate result was hectic. My telephone
kept up a continuous buzzing, and there
were many rings at my front door; old
friends and good wishers; people asking
for my influence to secure positions; re-
porters; even market people wanting me
to speak good word for them. One
of the most heartwarming and satisfy
ing messages was from Sycamore Hill.
My first pleasant impression of Mrs.
Wilson never changed; it only became
more pleasant in the following months
of close association. Her outstanding
physical attributes were her lovely brown
hair, sparkling brown eyes and soft,
melodious voice. She was a devoted
and unselfiSh wife and mother, always
considerate of those around her, appre-
ciate of any help or suggestion. She
was by nature artistic, and the possesSor
of quiet sense of humor. She also
had keen realization of the fact that
the social duties of the President and
his family were very much part of the
job and, when accomplished with the
proper dignity and acumen, were a great
asset.
When say social" mean that word
in broad sense, the observance of the
social customs of the Office and the sub
Sequent social contacts. I do not think
that President Wilson ever fully appre-
ciated this, and in the years was there
the time given to social affairs seemed
irksome to him. It was also, apparently,
difficult for him to feel that he could,
with the same ease and without misun-
derStanding by the public, entertain
members of the Republican party as
freely as he did his own political
brethren. OF course, at the formal re-
ceptions and state dinners he was willing
to follow precedent but the more per-
sonal entertainments would often have
been like Democratic rallies if Mrs Will
son had not had her say and supervised
the list, egged on by me-
AS there were so many details to be
arranged and discussed, aside from
those which Mrs. Wilson had already
decided by letter, I made a second trip
to Princeton. Then met that delightful