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Show PRESIDENT . IKES VISITTB GAPITOL Takes in Sights Like OrHinary Tourist Until Someone Recognizes Him. FINDS ROOM CROWDED Executive Enjoys Walk Taken Upon the Urgent Advice of Physician. WASHINGTON. Dec S. President "Wilson went to the capllol today not to deliver a messngo or to confer personally with members of congress, as has been his custom since ho took office and be- J gan breaking ecntury-old precedents j but to gaze after tho fashion of the tourist tour-ist and slghtaoer nt the nation's legislative legisla-tive halls. The president's visit was as unexpected as It was odd. Ho had slipped Into the capliol unobserved, climbed the fatiguing ascent of numberless steps at the west entrance and was ono of a group of sightseers hi the rotunda beforo word spread through the halls that tho president presi-dent was in the building. The presldont was accompanied only by I1I3 physician, Dr. Cary T. Grayson, TJ. S. N., and cap-Itol cap-Itol guides, not knowing whether or not tho distinguished visitor cared for their attention. Btood In ave-stmck hesitation at a distance. "The president of tho United States," announced somo of the guides to tourists they met. Gives Crowd the Slip. "I don't believe It he's at the VThlto house," said one woman. She stepped forward to make sure, mot the gaze of Mr. Wibon and In embarrassment shook hands. Others camo up, but the president presi-dent sllppod through tho crowd to statuary statu-ary hall, where some of tho states have placed statues of two of their most distinguished dis-tinguished citizens. Tho president looked at each statue and then walked on to the house side. Just as he reached the end of ono corridor he stopped suddonly. "Oh, It's on the other side," he remarked, re-marked, and bystanders knew he meant tho president's room, and had lost his hearings. On his way back toward tho senate $ldo of the building, the president paused for a momont bofore the statue of Thomas Jefferson. Passing on, ho went by the supreme court, which was in session. Surprises Senators. Ho mot Senator Hughes, and In answer lo the senator's surprised query, explained ex-plained that ho was mcrelv "taking a stroll." Senator ITollis 'of rcw Hampshire Hamp-shire happened along with a packet of documents under his arm. He packet of documents under his arm. He asked about the president's health, and remarked that ho was on Ills way to currency deliberations. "That's good." Haughed tho president, and passed on. lie shook hands with Senators Shlvcly, Chamberlain and others oth-ers and finally arrived at tho president's room. A moment later Senator Ashurst, showing show-ing some feminine constituents about, said: "And here we come to tho president's room, the most valuably furnished room In the building." Somo ono stepped up with the Information that tho president was Inside. "Oh, lr surely is the most valuably furnished fur-nished room now." ho said, laughing. "Senators don't go In when tho president presi-dent Is there unless he sends for them." Tho president found a crowd of sightseers sight-seers in his room. They filed out quickly behind tho professional guldos. Mr. Wilson Wil-son stopped only a momont to chat with Secretary James M Baker of the senate and Senator Martlno of New Jersey and then left the building. Both houses of congress wero In session, but the president presi-dent entered neither chamber. Tho president swung out Into tho capl-tol capl-tol grounds, continuing hlo long walk. Ilo wore no overcoat, and ono woman ho passed remarked audibly to another: "Ho should not bo out without an overcoat" Tho president was warmly clothed, however. In n heavy woolon sweater veat. Hp wore a salt-and-peppcr suit and brown fedoia a.nd attracted little attention as he swung hln cano through tho crowded streets. Ho took tho walk on tha advice of his physician, who thought tho president, presi-dent, needed the fresh air after hla long conflncmont. though ho had counseled him against going unywhero indoors where- tho ulr might bo close as at a church or theater. |