Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-10

w Washngton's most fashionable residential
districts, not far from the British EN-
bassy is a tall aristocratic stone building
known THE Playhouse" At least that was its
name until short time ago. 1t was built by Pres
ton Gibson, playwright who set out to write TO!
the proletariat but became discouraged and sought
an audience among those of high social position
Here Mr.. Gibson presented his plays, and here
Washington society frolicked and foX-trotted and
cultivated the drama There was a very good iml'
tation of a stage, with footghts and several sets
of scenery and there little room in the front
hall, with little round window for ticket trans
actions that did very we'll box Office. There
many such Broadway touches, and everybody
especially the younger set-had perfectly rip
ping" times. The trouble was they took the whole
neighborhood into their NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at
3 O'Clock in the morning and after standing 1t
patiently for several years, the neighborhood final
ly got out injunction and had the playhouse
closed.
Today the playhouse has altogether different
personality. It's bathrooms, dressing rooms and
auditorium furnished with shiny oak desks and
chairs; the musicians gallery is occupied by type
writer's, and the space that was formerly occupied
by pseudo dramatists is now taken over by soberly
busy women. There is constant click of knitting
needles instead of castanets, whir of sewing ma
chimes in the place of dancing feet, and low MUIR
of voices instead of the eloquent monologues.
This is the headquarters of the womans committee
of the Council Of National Defense
The Council OF National Defense, it may be re-
called, is composed of the secretaries of navy
interior, agriculture, commerce and labor After
going the war jituation, the members of the
council realized that great deal of the civilian
preparation for war must necessarily lie in the
hands of the nations women. By that time there
women's patriotic associations and committees
galore. Many American women had organized
committees at the beginning of the for the
purpose of sending assistance to stricken Europe.
In New York and other large cities thousands of
women have knitted, sewed and bought provisions
for European soldiers for the past three years.
Some even went abroad and offered their services
But, what was perhaps more important, they
kept the sacrifice of and the suffering of other
lands constantly before people. In spite of Amer
ica's prosperity, her fairness and her comfort she
was not permitted to forget that the world was in
mourning
AS far back as last January, when it became
apparent that the United States should have to
toiling for Europe Immediately announced through
the Red Cross that all their efforts would at
be directed in behalf of that organization.
The Red Cross had base hospitals to establish,
equipped with beds, linen, surgical dressings,
cooking utensils, ambulance corps to organize and
comfort committees to establish. The Federation
of Women's clubs collectively, and each separate
organization in addition to many independent
committees, offered their services to the Red
Cross.
With the best executive ability and the best OF
intentions, there was very great lack of system.
People became confused as to their particular &C
tivities there were more leaders than subordi-
mates, and the situation when the actual declara-
ton of war came, resembled jig-saw puzzle, with
all the pieces scattered in different directions. II
remained for the wOmans committee of the Coun-
Gil of National Defense to put them together.
On May 2, ten women met in Washington a.
the invitation of the Council of National Defense
tee They we're all women of prominence
ability. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw was elected chair