Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-11-27
1REATERs
IND A0sTELR|Es
I HAVE HARD |L||||l TIME.
Very Few Americans Are in
Evidence at Large Hotels
Where Attendance Is Slim
at All Times.

4 London. NOV. l5.--After three
months or war. as a neutral, sees IL,
seems a conflict between the two COM
monest sentiments OF the period
business as Usual" and Your
King and Country Need You" These
signs confront you everywhere. In
August they were on the houses and
motor cars: now on the bill boards.
empty walls. hotels, theatres. monn-
ments-.-eyefywhcre that paste will
Contrary to the expectations OF
earlier weeks, none OF the big hotels
are closed, but even at the height OF
me evening crowd, there Is slim at
tendance, nearly half the men being
officers IN uniform. Americans are
the Riviera or other European re-
sorts.
There has been revolutionary
change In staff at all these hostel
ries, managers, clerks, doormen, walt
ers OF German or Austrian blood hav-
ing been sent TO the detention camps.
No restaurant or hotel can remain
open with any chance OF making mo-
neg. unless it'can announce that mo
| allen enemies are hired here" One
OF the largest hotels on the strand
was recently the target for much
| newspaper criticism because its or.
chestra never played God Save the
KING That orchestra now plays
the national air every evening with
frequent repetitions OF ''Tipperary,"
'Maselllaise" and other favorite
songs OF the allies.
The theatres arc having hard
time of II. War was blow enough.
but the darkened streets with their
! accompanying gloom and the closing
Of restaurants at ten o'clock, wheth-
or they were piccadiily grade or mere
pub" was n harder blow. Rites
have been reduced, soldiers and
nurses In uniform are admitted Mt
half pilce. patriotic melodies are the
chief repertoire Of the orchestra
but II Il all np-hiil work.
The theatrical profession Is in de-
spair. Since Drake was put on by
Bcerbohm Tree, nothing new has
been attempted Old plays are the
order Of the day. But for one or two
Americansi ifnportations. Lohdoneis
would have nothing new to see. Even
The Country Girl" The Earl and
the Gifl''i and "'fhe Belle OF New
York" have been revived. George
detention camp In Germany, has no
heart for new musical shows
Most Of the galleries are open
the fear OF the suffragette having de-
parted-but many of the best-known
masterpieces have been taken from
the walls to places of safety.
Military Attracts Little Attention
In the streets, recruits in COM
panies. battalion and regiments pass
along daily. many OF them without
uniforms. These are the men the
country calls for. but Engllshmen
rarely stop even to look at them.
Even the women who knit socks or
mufflers as they ride TO their work
in BUSES do not lift their eyes to
watch passing troops. Some of the
papers complain that there should be
bands aud that people should stop to
look at the volunteers but people do
not. II is evidently not the British
way.
Leicester Square at night Is not
what tourists are wont to consider IL,
a center Of sayety and amusement
The Belgian influx has added some
what to its population, but the cafes
and theatres simply cannot overcome
the impression OF gloom Two-thirds
OF the street liBnfS ufc out ana the
other third have the upper part of
the globe painted black. while no
electrical signs are allowed. II is as
if broadway were set hack to 1860.
General Business Depression.
Regent and Oxford and the adjoin-
ing shopping thorobghfares Tack
their customary number of husses,
some lines having been taken off al
together as the army Communicated
them. All the shops have reduced
the number of their employees. but
make brave show of Business as
USUAL their window placards show
ing how many OF the staff have en-
listed or that Il certain proportion OF
the receipts. viii be devoted to The
Prince of Wales Fund or that gifts
for soldiers or sailors can be obtain
cd with a discount from regular
rates.
In the city itself, the stock ex-
change men stand In Throgmorton
street at MONDAY from force OF hab-
ii. and talk Of business that may
come sooner or later. Figures show
that unemployment If below the
average. the rush of hundreds OF
thousands to the colors accounting
for that. AT an auction sale at the
wool exchange this week, the seats
were crowded but the bidding was
brisk only for grades of wool that
could be used for khaki.