Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-02-23

hats, turned up sharply at the side
and oftimes decorated with feathers
or flowers. We pass black soldiers
from Trinidad, the Fiji Islands anG
from the West Indies, as. we'll as
many Indian soldiers, and men from
South Africa. And of course we are
always encountering soldiers of the
Allies, French and Belgian as we'll as
an occasional Italian or Russian.
In front Of the recruiting place on
the Strand, there is always crowd
gathered in front of the row Of en-
larged photos of the front KEEP il
glass cases. And pathetic photography
they are, and after looking at them
many an "eligible" turns into the re
cruiting place and enlists.
Singular it is, that despite the Der
by scheme which was definitely
closed the 18th of December last, Civ
ing all the ''slackers" to understand
that after that time the day of grace
was past, and th@n they were in the
disgraceful position of having to be
! fetched" that recruiting goes on
now. the same as ever, and I can't
i See for the life of me what advantage
the man had who volunteered under
the Derby scheme, over the one
w.o volunteers now, two months af-
ter. or course Conscription hasn't
begun to be enforced yet. But of
course cannot hope to be able to
understand the British processes OF
thought or action.
AS We eat our breakfast and read
the morning paper, we are secretly
amused with the leading editorials
I can we'll remember the time when
English editorials assumed a very
high and mighty attitude in men
tioning their boorish and unenlight-
ened cousins across the seas. But
now it is, "Our friends, the Ameri-
can people-a people so highly intel
|ligent-we are sure they will not
fail to see eye to eye with us
etc." 1t does us a great deal Of
good, because do not believe the
American people have been at fault,
at least not greatly, in their attitude
toward Great Britain in times past,
rather, I believe Americans have
desired to- be friendly and sympathet'
ic, but England has resolutely snub-
bed us, but now she is waking up to
see that the good opinion CT the
"Greatest Neutral" is in reality of
the greatest Importance. In fact l
read that very thing in a speech
made by Sir Edward Grey, on the
subject of the blockade.
Living continues to get each day
little dearer here, and bread is
going up again, so I hear. That
means our breakfast rolls will shrink
in size little more. Also since the
new law restricting the importation
of fruits, raw tobacco, etc., we shall
have difficulty getting apples and Or
anges, and also as the same law hits
the importation. - Of paper and pulp
foas~DapersWe ares ID IL vii our
publishers of Testaments. There is
not much doubt but that the size of
the daily papers over here, will have
to be reduced. We notice that wrap
ping paper in the shops is getting to
be Of the very poorest quality, also.
When we emerge from the restaur-
ant, it is like as not to see a recruit
ing procession marching past, first
the band playing some lively air,
then a body of soldiers, and a string
of recruits bringing up the rear. At
first over here, the military bands
were not much in evidence, but now
we hear them constantly; at first they
treated the war in a more cold blood
ed fashion, but now I think they
have commenced to appreciate the
stimulus that military music affords.
SO much so, that recently the famous
Black Watch Band was sent 10
France to play for the troops.
AS we pass Charing Cross Station
it is to see crowds of arriviEe and
departing soldiers and officers, and
the station platform given over to
great piles Of officers luggaoo and
"kit-bags.' If we continue our prom
enade down the street, it is past
shops filled with essentials and non
essentials for the soldiers, but partic-
ularly for the officers. The Zep-
pelin" season is on again, and often
in the day you will see SCOUTING aero
planes or balloons overhead and when
night falls, the great search lights
take up the unend;ng and ever watch
full vigil EDITH F. NORTON.