Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-13

central hall and stairway and the con-
Meeting vestibules. the whole representing
the best OF modern art in rare marbles
and sculpture. paintings. frescoes, bro
csded walls and inlaid woodwork. over
looking the dome OF the marble stairs is
a bronze replica Of the Andean Christ, the
offering Of Chile to the Temple Of World
Peace.
Just inside the main entrance, extending
around the stairway lobby are a dozen
lofty electrollers, gold plated, and numer-
Gus wall bracket lights Of similar de-
sign. the contribution OF Austria. At the
hour we looked upon them Austria was
emphasizing It's ideals OF peace by warning
upon Servia. The ornate iron gates at the
main entrance 10 the grounds are Ger
many's contribution 20 an ideal mora
honored in the breach than in the OBJ
servance.
A few hours later the inspiring thoughts
OF peace and good will and the embrac-
ing brotherhood Of man" we're rudely
shattered by hearing the burgomaster Of
The Hague. on the public square, reading
a proclamation calling out the reserves
and urging the people TO prepare for the
defense Of the frontiers OF Holland. An
other twenty-four hours saw the whole OF
Europe transformed into an armed camp.
ConvulsiOn OF MobiIiHati6n.
Americans, unveXed by milltarism, can
but vaguely comprehend without actual
contact the paralyzing effect Of calling to
the colors every aDle-boded man between
the ages Of 20 and g. Imagine for a mo-
ment what would be the effect on the
various activities Of life In Omaha IL
every man In the prime Of life was
Obliged to respond TO the call for military
service within twenty-four hours. Every
trade and profession, every industry and
business would necessarily come to a
standstlll and all the varied currents of
normal life would be drained OF their
vitality The Nebraska pilgrims encount-
cred such deadening situation and
widespread confusion in Paris during the
first week of August
Mobilization was on It's second day when
we reached the French capital. Though
already conscious OF a critical situation
having seen troops assembled at every
railroad station from The Hague to Brus-
sels and from Brussels to Paris, they
were unprepared for the sweeping change
wrought by actual war in the life OF the
latter city. II was difficult even at double
price TO obtain conveyance from the sta
ton TO the hotel, every automobile being
subject to military orders and cabs and
buses overwhelmed with business.
At the hotel the proprietor. a German.
threw up his hands and exclaimed In
anguish. why didn't you 20 TO London
instead Of Paris? Didn't you hear tho
newsT' His anguish was not simulated.
War meant business disaster to him. Az
owner OF two hotels. both located near
the Eiffel tower. he was Obliged to close
them the following day and leave France.
probably TO enter the service Of HIS own
country Dozens OF hotels we're forced TO
close. owing TO the difficulty OF securing
help.-cooks. walters and managers hay.
Ing been swept into the vortex OF war by
mobilization.
blight of "Gay Paree."
Somewhere. some moons ago, I heard
Walt Mason sing OF Gay Paree":
In that fair and wondrous city,
Where our hats and dresses grow
LIE IL Just ragtime dltty
free from every shade OF woe.
Possibly correct picture OF conditions
before the war The reverse IL padiy true
now. Into every minute OF the first week