12 OCTOBER 1918, Page 14

PRESIDENT WILSON.

(To ram Mirror: or sem " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—A very lifelike portrait of President Wilson (by Mr. Sargent) was recently exhibited in Chicago. After seeing it I wrote the following lines, which will be published shortly by a Chicago newspaper

THE PORTRAIT OF A PRESIDENT.

A scholar, and a man of balanced mind, Not prone to hasty words, or actions blind, With steel-gray eyes, calm, scrutinous and cool, To pierce a r 1, and to daunt a fool.

With tongue and pen, in words that shall not die, He answered every olumsy Prussian lie, And won the victory with immortal words, Long ere the trumpet's call unsheathed our swords, With firm strong hand, upon the helm of State, He kept us on the course, as .fix'd as Fate, Through night and storm, a steady line to steer, Until the beacon lights showed full and clear; And, when our ship in happy harbour lies, Somewhere In this free land, a shaft may rise, Recording History's verdict on its base, In characters which Time shall ne'er efface.

`No fear appall'd him, and no tauntings gall'd him : He kept us out 'of war "—till FREEDOM call'd him."

—I am, Sir, &c., BERTRAND SHADWELL.

Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., July 22nd.