The Washington times., 1915-10-03

In q systematic fashion. There's no
knowing how much It costs to get the
town dressed for an affair elike the
Grand Army week or an inauguration;
and when It's all done and the money
spent. what's the result?
A friGhtful hcterogeneity Of schemes
and plans. no two buildings looking ms
if they were related to each other In
any way: nothing but unrelated spiashes
Of color. with. Of course, plenty of the
tricolor. but always dashed on AZ II
II had been dabbed at the town with
some Of those brushes Of comets hair"
that Kipiing tells US about.
-
Just think what an effect could be
produced In this city IL a dozen lead
ing streets and avenues would each
adopt for itself distincting decora-
tive scheme! Connecticut avenue
would lend Itself to one plan, Massa-
chusetts avenue to another, the down.
own streets would be handled as
units. and the blare OF three elemental
coiors would be softened and modified
by the Introduction Of new combina-
lions and methods.
-
I've been reading in the women's
magazines and womens pages Of the
newspapers about the various odd
ways In which smart women invent
new businesses of doing things for
people that nobody ever thought Of
making business. Why not the
Municipal Decoration Syndicate, then? ?
am Just as sure as one can bo Of
something he hasn't tried. that this
town could be saved q big lot or
money and the people q vast deal Of
annoyance. through such a system OF
decoration en- masse. While the ar,,s-
tic and spectacular resuits-weiI, you
can imagine what would result quite
as well as l can. Washington. the
most beautiful city. would also be,
when its company clothes were on,
Washington. the best. most tastefuiiy,
effectively. artistically decorated city.
Maybe the scheme wouldn't work IN
Pittsburgh or Chicago. where ma
terials would be ruined after an hours
exposure to the SCOT. Perhaps It
wouldn't be very attractive In towns
that don't have to decorate often. But
1t ought to be welcomed in Washing
ton. why don't you organize the
syndicate. Susan. and become a public
benefactor? The ideas yours without
charse-or anybody's else that may
feel like trying 1t out.
=
I'm not very sentimental person. but
there was something infinitely appeal
Ing In the sight of the thousands Of
boys In blue" boys again for the oc-
casion. In town for the encampment.
The fife and drum corps. with their gal
liant skirl. clutched at the emotions and
the sight OF the gray-headed drummer
boys. still staggering a hit. brought
tears to many an eye. And how game
they were! heard one old gentleman
scot n: t'Ic idea that they could not
stand the long walk up the Avenue and
confess that after he had passed the
reviewing stand with a Pennsylvania
platoon. he had sneaked down the back
streets. Joined another corps and march,
ed back again. And I guess bout a
hundred Of US did the same thing" he
said.
Again heard a fine outstanding old
fellow. evidently an aristocrat and ac-
customcd to command, who was strut
ting down the street covered with med
ais and glory turn to an elderly darkey.
also in uniform, and cry. Come back
mere. you black Jackanapes. what do
you mean by going off and leaving me?
Don't you know I brought you down
here to take care OF me?" And the
darkey's voice. "Yaas. sub. yaas. sub.
Use right heah. sub. don't you fret.
followed me rs I passed by.
But the thing that caused me the
most amusement of anything that tran
spircd during the encampment was the
tactics pursued by a certain downtown
lunchroom OF the q. and d. variety.
They added 50 per cent to their prices
for the week-save for such old Gus
toners as were In the know-had new
bills of fare printed for the occasion
and lest the list OF prictes printed larse
on the wall serve as q giveaway-cov-
cred them up with American flags! Tho
Star -Spangled Banner. long may she
wave! Yours fondly.
Sunday. JEAN ELIOT.