White House gossip

by Edna M. Colman

Mrs. Wilson, from the day of her marriage, submerged her life in that of her husband and spent herself upon her end of the presidential job. In the first days of their life together, they were given to horseback riding. Democrat and Murat carried them through the highways and byways of the District. As the weight of war bore down upon the President with its crushing cruelty, however, the task of keeping him physically and mentally fit required all her energies.

She it was who had to buoy him up, infuse the brightening bit of humour, and shore up with her courage a frame all unconsciously beginning to sag. No longer was the mercurial temperament of college-professor days able to rebound at the whip lash of his Irish wit. The elasticity of the mental processes of the Governor of New Jersey, which had fitted a limerick-making contest with his daughters in between matters of state and political campaigning, still manifested its amazing control in his methodical grasp of public matters, but the capacity to shut the doors of his mind on grave problems and turn instantly to humorous relaxation was gone. President Wilson’s power of concentration which enabled him to dispose of question after question with such amazing celerity was the wonder of his Cabinet. Accuracy and precision of method he required of those about him. His own mind grasped the essentials and presented conclusions with a rapidity that amounted to genius, enabling him to observe the schedules he set for his official appointments in the forenoons. Delegations and commissions from abroad seeking financial help all had to be received and entertained. France, England, Italy, Russia, Belgium, Japan, and Serbia sent over their premiers and great statesmen. The White House extended its welcome to Mr. Balfour, Marshal Joffre, M. Viviani, Prince Udine, Signor Guglielmo Marconi, Viscount Ishii of Japan, and M. Vesnitch of Serbia, during the period between late May of 1917 and January of 1918.

Mrs. Wilson was importuned to join all of the war projects. She always held her interest and membership on the board of a local hospital, and never let her interest in church work lapse. But she had her war mission cut out for her and let nothing infringe upon it. She worked with her hands, knitting, sewing, and writing personal letters to the mothers of soldiers who wrote to her. But first, last, and always, her main job was a watchful care of the President, who was being ground to bits on the wheel of public criticism and opposition and the feeling of his own responsibility to his government.

Chiefly a “home body” in the old-fashioned sense, Mrs. Wilson had never visited the White House during her long residence in Washington until she one time accepted an invitation to tea from Miss Helen W. Bones, the President’s cousin. But when the mansion became her home, she took the most abiding interest in its care. Her taste was everywhere in evidence. But not an unnecessary dollar was allowed to be spent for it after war was declared. The wall coverings became discoloured before the President would consent to new ones, and then the former design was duplicated. The rugs, shabby and worn, were made to answer. Because of expense, only state apartments received any refurbishing.

Although Mrs. Wilson eliminated the regular social activities of normal times, she received daily the distinguished people war brought to Washington. Usually, she merely served tea, charmingly and informally. Often-times, however, as in the case of the visit of Prince Axel of Denmark, a more formal entertainment was required.

In between her war work and golf for the President’s benefit, she turned to selecting and fitting up a billiard room at one end of the ground-floor corridor. Here she beguiled her husband into many hours of relaxation. A large fireplace and some of the President’s favourite possessions made it an attractive spot. She also set aside and fitted a room to hold the historic White House china, which Mrs. Roosevelt had started collecting. Little cabinets were built in the walls in keeping with the architecture of the house. As new china was needed for use in the White House, Mrs. Wilson inveigled the President into helping her plan the new service of 1,700 pieces to be ordered. His suggestion that the seal of the President be embodied in the design instead of the coat of arms of the United States was the basis of the decoration of the ivory and white service known as the Woodrow Wilson design.

The volcano of war was shaking the entire world. America was pouring her measure of manhood and money into the great chasm abroad. The proclamation of war with Austria was followed by conflicts such as the world had never before visioned. Then the armistice was signed. Joy beyond description broke forth over the whole United States.

The President felt he must go to Paris. He had his plan for peace and resolved that he and he alone must win its acceptance in Europe. Despite the uproar of protest, despite every argument and appeal of Congress and his Cabinet, he dashed another time-honoured precedent into smithereens, and left the United States in December, 1918, arriving in Paris December 15th. He remained away two months.

Mrs. Wilson’s memories must be as rich and colourful as the lovely wine-tinted velvets and the purple-shaded brocades and crêpes that she wore on her trips with her husband while he addressed statesmen and received the loud acclaim of the masses. The King and Queen of Belgium paid them every honour, as did all of the other crowned heads, princes, and presidents wherever their journeys took them in their tour of the war-devastated nations. Showers of violets were tossed into their carriage, and every demonstration made to express the unparalleled love and esteem in which the President of the United States was held.

Then he settled himself at the conference table to expound the philosophy and reason in his plan with its fourteen points. While he was honoured by the rulers of Europe, admired for his knowledge, and enjoyed for his wit, his training as an American scholar could not encompass the sophistry and diplomacy of the veteran officials of Europe. Schooled in the wiles of intrigue, with its admissions and evasions, they kept their ears to the ground for the murmur of the American public and fixed a weather eye upon the American Congress at Washington.