Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-16
|iI0NDONERS BEAR
SIT STRAIN OF WAR
WITH QUIET SPIRIT
Sober Rejoicing Greets
News of Successes and
Casualties Are Heard
With Fortitude.

NEW YORK, Sept. l6-Estelle w
s.ad in special correspondence to the
...or,can. graphically pictures conditions
= tondon under the strain of war time
o.dor Is perfect and tldings both of dis
..,or and victory are met with quiet dig
rttv Miss stead writes:
nonIv n little more than a month ago
,so ma iority of Londoners were preparing
Or their summer holidays-a good rest
nv the sea or a trip on the Continent
s ,oace and quiet everywhere.
nNow. with scarce warning, we are at
ror and, as we gradually realize what
ear means, is meaning across the Chan
nov we thank God that we are a strong
bold surrounded by a moat more efficient
chan any moat ever dug by man-that our
navy Is strong
nArd perhaps here may be allowed a
sn.cial thrill as realize that the British
i navy would not be what it is today If it
4 had not been for one man who dared. in
q iSl TO write the truth about the navy
4 and go forced a reluctant government to
vote immense sums for the rebuilding of
tbs British navy in order to bring 1t up
h. an efficient standard. That man was
8W T. Stead, my father, and 1 am proud
4 70 be able to say it.
. "But how has London taken this deba-
! Gle this upheaval of all it's natural do
lings?
ORDERLY, DIGNIFIED, CALM
I'VE watched anxiously. There was no
,,t
outside the Houses of Parliament, cheer
ing as we'll known members passed in
and out. Crowds in Whitehall, and out
side Buckingham Palace cheering as the
King Queen and Princess appeared to
greet them. On Sunday q large labor
demonstration in Trafalgar Square to
protest against England going to war
carried on in an orderly and dignifed
spirit,
"Then when it came, the news that we |
were at war, London seemed bewlldered. |
The suddenness, the unexpectedncss
seemed to overpower her, there was n
strange stiffness everywhere. 1t was not
for long. The Stock Exchange closed.
the banks closed for four days. Great
pacards appeared on the walls calling
Britain to arms. Then London woke.
realized, and responded.
The thought of that gallant little
country not many miles away, fighting
bravely against terrible odds to keep its
independence, stirred us one and all to
the deepest depths. She had called on
Britain to stand by her. Britain answered
with no uncertain note. Every Londoner
and Brtisher thrilled to that note and
vowed that what they could do thev
would do to bring their mite of power TO
help ~
STARVATION FEAR FIRST.
Ready and full OF enthusiasm we
Fere' Still it was difficult to know or to
eallzs what 1t really meant. Did it mear
carcity of food! starvation prices? !
The West End shops were crowded
nd overcrowded, but down in the poorer l
ee!ghoorhoods it was quiet, there was i
uue a rush-tor to buy in stores in great y
IS impossible where salaries ,
TO so small that little can be saved.
RED CROSS FLAG FLYING.
Feop!e are now busy everywhere-all :
N'ous TO help, ana gradually out of the =
l6lll bTSdlllEaIlOn Is grow .
g. The Red Cross flag flies over Devon /
ire House and over many another .
use throughout the kingdom lent to the
''ernment during the war.
up whitehall, just beyond the War
me-, crowds of men are enlistinE each
!, ana II Is the same at every recruiting
W I'VE throughout the metropolis. Every
y ~, more men in khaki are to be seen.
we wonder for days where the eXpedl-
mary force is and what the navy is do
> nneh we hear of the spendid man
! am. m which the transportation OF the ex-,
III, IrSonary mary force has been carried out we
,h M. win m pride ana we follow in our
'IS ! gnt tne men as they push forward to
rrs msnt, we hear they are fighting and
ny pray GOD to help them. Then, at the
Is ,os VI gallant fight. a roll of 2OOO casu-
ii tT', we glow with joy for our men and
= ! sntr Vsr hearts to bear with courage the ,.
Iv ,Iohuon ,Son Is calm and cheerful Grad a, a.,
~ T. oIs ,nGse who can are going again 70 ~, u,