Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-30
DOORS SWING WIDE
/ TO SOLDIER GUESTS
Demand Exceeds Supply for
Fighting Sons to Eat Turkey
T.. and Fixin's.
HOSPITALITY REIGNs KING

Every soldier who walked along the
streets Of Washington last night. or
who danced at one Of the hotels, or
who sat In a home perhaps with q lit
tie girl on his knee, or who applauded
Q patriotic act at a theater. was well
fed and happy-thanks to the hospital
aty Of Washington people.
The National Capital. from which the
spirit Of home-hospitality spread into
the other cities throughout the country,
IL well satisfied today. although there
n a lot Of turkey left over, that no
soldier. sailor or marine could be found
Who had not tasted to his complete
satisfaction Of the spirit of brotherli-
ness which moved all Washington.
Orrsnized efforts were made by The
Star, by the District war service COM
mission, by the Y. NJ c. A, by the Home
Club Of the Department Of the Interior,
by the Elks, by churches+to locate any
man in uniform who could be persuaded
to eat another dinner. Not satisfied with
this many individual citizens, some IN
touring cars. went about the streets look
ting for guests Any service man VINO was
not entertained could not be found.
All Wanted Soldiers.
mo home in the city felt satisfied unless
n could have some soldier, sailor or
marine as guest if even for few min
0teS.- Groups of men in uniform were
kept busy making round OF calls cioseis
resembling the way Of making New Year
visits to friends holding open house
,Sorne people who had prepared DINNERS
for soldier guests were disappointed pc
caase the guests did not come This was
due. to the fact that the supply OF men
IN uniform ran out before all those who
extended Invitations could be aceommo,
dated: But washington was no worse on
IN this respect than other parts OF the
country. Holiday hospitality had been
extended so whole-heartedly that it reck-
0ued. without its host
appointed should appreciate that as Dis
frfct Commissioner Gardiner stated in
DDeAch last night that the population OF
Washington had increased more than ~.
the population OF the District up to be-
tween 400, 900 and 100000 Every home in
Washington wanted service men as guests
AN the neishbors OF washington wanted TED
than $4,000 soldiers stationed around
Washington, so that to supply the de-
mand reeuisition had to be made upon
every camp and cantonment within a
wide area to get as many men in uniform |
hare for the feasting as possible.
Conditions were further complicated by |
the fact that there was large move |
ment Of troops in progress, and that in |
several Of the camps guarantees have |
bean established. |
Citizens Realize Conditions.
Most of the people realised these con-
d1ttonB and % were doub1y gratided |
when their guests arrived. Those who |
and said they were |
better pleased to have been prepared |
than to not have been ready II the |
soldiers came.
0feyH, sailors and marines were enter |
f436ed they were urged to make them |
solves ut homo and to come often In |
this way the hopes Of the organizers |
Of the District-wide hospitality were
realised They wanted the Thanksgiv- !
ing dinner to be merely Introductory |
tdsfhe establishment of friendships be- !
tween the camps and the homes.
Just a. an example Of how the whole |
ctr lent itself through dinners, dances. |
mu1ic. theater parties and entertain |
ment Of all sorts to making the service |
men happy picture is to be given OF |
the party carried through by the |
eerior. Their dinner in the lunchroom |
bf the Department was but Q prelude |
fo An a11.round good time. There were |
100 men In uniform served with dinner |
n the beautifully decorated lunch
Doom.
Share Joys Of Life.
Than they went over to the Home |
Club at u Jackson place. where dane
ing, music. plenty Of smokes" in ante
rooms gave Joy to about 900 soldiers |
and marines. with the women of the |
department assisting in every way to |
zee that each had a tremendously good |
time.
The soft lights. the music, the groups |
Of pretty women made each guest for |
get for the time that there Is war and |
that Il has called him from home. II
never imagined q stranger or large |
plumber OF strangers could be shown
euch hospitality and so much done for |
4heaf pleasure I can never forget this
dAy That 10 what one mothers son
aid TO Mrs.. franklin z. Lane, wife Of |
4he Secretary Of the Interior, as they
matted Of the privilege 1t Is for young
lneu to serve the nation. Mrs. Lane
- Q son OF her own In service.
S4cretAry and Mrs. Lane, who spent
nse55y two hours with the men, were de-
qghfed with the way in which all were
ynAkang merry. Tho Secretary expressed
p desire to grasp each man by the hand
and % they were all presented to the Sec-
fetary and given word Of cheer as the
Aame Of each and his home state were
given to the Secretary. There were SOL
eier1 there from every state in the Union.
p cold supper was served at o'clock.
Take Dinner at hotel.
An Illustration Of home hospitality is that
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