Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-24
.LOND0NERs ENJOY LIFE,
DESPITE WARS HORRORS
Wounded Soldiers Arc Most Cheer.
full People Seen in
City.
DO NOT WANT SYMPATHY
Serious Plays In Theaters Cast Aside,
While Revues and Musical Com
cdies Hold the BoardS-Amusing
Stories Coming From Front.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch.l
LONDON. September 23.-Notwith-
standing the well-nigh total darkness
OF the nights and the number of
wounded seen upon the streets. London
life is not without its lighter shades
even In these crucial days of the great
war. one reason for this is that the
wounded soldiers are about the most
cheerful lot London ever has known.
Most of those encountered along the
strand. in Picadilly and other preme-
nades of the West End are from Can
ada. Australia or New Zealand. The
wounded English 'Tommie" is more
often found In the suburbs. in the
neighborhood OF his old home
1t would seem decidedly ont of place
10 syinpathize with these oftentlme per-
manently crippled men in hospital togs.
ior that is apparently the last thing
they desire. AS matter of fact they
deeply resent it. as Il rule. In crowded
tram or tube cars women often arise
and offer seats to wounded so,dinre
only to have them politely, but very
firmly refused
~ popular young Canadian officer in
mufti and on crutches, recently sw,,ro
his way with no little difficulty into
the lounge room of a hotel in tho
strand His left leg was shattered from,
the knee down and hung stiff and helm
less in steel braces
'lIave something, I.ivyv," aslsod o,a
OF the fellows in khaki
oorrS' put cant tonight. old man."
replied "Livvy": you see. have got
crippled friend to look after"
In came the friend. an even younger
officer with right leg gone at the knee.
We tossed coin" explained
"Livvy,' ito sec which one of MS
would look after the other. and lost"
AVIATOR REPORTED DEAD
SURPRISES HIS FRIENDS
In this same hotel, which is a SORT
OF headquarters for the officers from
across the seas. report was circulated
one night OF the death of young hy
ihS corps captain. He had often been
III the club and only Il few DAYS be-
iorc mad "swanked" quite n hit about
the easy life he was living. All bc had
|" 40 was to take new machines across
the Channel and turn them over TO the
aViators at the front. In this way bc
spent about every other day in Lon
don. much to the envy of the fellows
over there" who were longing for the
sights of town. But now "Gil" was
gone. and r. company of his friends
drank Il silent toast to his memory.
Three days later Cir created con.
sternation at the club by appearing
very much alive and as hale and hearty
as ever.
why. YOU old chcatcr." shouted one
or his friends. go back where yo, he
iohS or pay us for that very expensive
n IL
right have you got to be living. ANY,
way?'
Cir admitted the obligation en-
paid IL Handsomely and is still living
new machines cross channel for the
'wingerS" at the front
Instances of the lightncss OF heart
with which the soldiers go into the
war are many. In cmbarising for active
service the Canadians are given pay
books. in which their allowances are
entered from time to time The book
also serves for Identification purposes
and the last page is set aside for tho
making OF a will. Some Of those that
have turned up lately have proved
Srimly humorous. one said:
~ give everything have to tho
Home for Stray Cats. London, provided
they don't take in any more black
cats"
Another read:
I'm case ! should die.-cheers-I will
everything to my motherhood and
prolonged cheers"
Both were held to be valid
1IIEATERS REFLECTING
SPIRIT OF THE TIMES
The London theaters rehec. the spirit
OF the times. Serious plays arc all but
forgotten. "revues" and musical COM
edies holding the boards at all the bet
ter houses. or course. there are no
chorus men in the productions-a new
Continued on Seventh Page.)