The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
WAR WIDOWS IN THE EAST.
Officers Wives Who Make Nagssnki
an Interesting Place.


a war widow is woman whose hus-
band is at the front. serving his country,
while she is following him and is as near
the field of action as the War Department
will permit her TO go. The wives of in
fantry. of artillery, of cavalry, Of marine,
and naval officers are here. The artillery
and cavalry officers wives will tell you
with naughty air that her husband does
not belong TO the infantry, and the in
fantry officers wife will explain 10 every
body's satisfaction that the infantry has
won more laurels than any other branch
of the service. The ladies' discuss as to
how the campaign in China and the Phil
ippines should be conducted. and every war
topic imaginable. All this tends to make
Nagasaki a very interesting place. Civilian
and missionary women of all nations. in
China have been crowding the warships
and army transports. clamoring to reach
Nagasaki with their lives. while the allied
war widows" particularly the American
Army women, have been clamoring more
voeiferousiy for passage on the Army
transports. than the missionaries ever dared
to- In getting away from China. War
widows" and war orphans who have hus-
bands and fathers respectively in the Phil
ippines. have frequently been able to get
beyond Nagasaki to Manila, but not to
China. There have been two exceptions
Meyers, wife OF Captain Meyers the gal
liant officer at Pekin. who was seriously
III there; the other was that of THE Wild
ow." writer for the tartest Of the New
York society weekies, who was ont per-
mitted TO go beyond Tientsin.
War widows usually have pulls" and
know how to use them. They will write
their Congressman and telegraph their
Senator, and get all their brothers and
no "a nj tn n n
and telegraph at the same time, for trans
portation on a Government ship. The
Congressman has been accustomed to the
importunate office-seeker during his en-
tire official life. and he is nerved up to
1t. But this everlasting hammering lie
is now receiving from the war widows.
whose husbands have never before been
beyond quiet and peaceful army post In
one of the home States, is the Congress
mans last but by no means his least
trouble. The determination Of the war
widows" Is irresistible, with the result
that a number have been permitted TO
come as far as Nagasaki only small
percentage. however, of those who apply
for transportation receive 1t. The great
majority of Army officers are opposed to
women travelling on the Army transports
at all
Once in Nagasaki these ladies naturally
want TO go to China or the Philippines to
join their husbands, for practically they
are no nearer them here than they were
at home. 1t is now that the troubles OF
Col J. McE. Hyde. the depot quartermas-
ter at Nagasaki, begin. He is Emporium
ed for transportation from Nagasak by
these ladies. until the Oriental splendor
Of his life here is not exactly dream.
The embarrassing of the American
war widow and the American refugee
missionary from China has made the ho-
tel keepers. well az the little Japanese
merchants, leap for Joy. The prices have
advanced until the ordinary person is "p-
palled at the high prices in Nagasaki.
A story is told of an American officer
with baCchannalan tendencies. who paid !
his jinricksha man a s. gold piece for
two hours ride tthe regular price is l yen
SO cents-a day. The 'ricksha man Lad
become so accustomed to asking for more.
since the advent OF Americans here that
he demanded 10 yen more than the s. he
had received. Who will say now that the
s'~'~' 800 arc not II civilizing force in
the Orient?