Evening star., 1917-10-14
WARTIME CAPITAL
IS A CHANGED CITY
Beautiful as Ever, But Crowd
ed, With Everybody Always
in a Big Hurry.
STREET SCENES C0LORFUL

change IN the atmosphere Oh tliiS el'S
in the past six months, gradual trans
formation, imperceptible while going
on. until one suddenly realizes Why,
what difference" 1t doesn't seem
"our" Washington any longer-not even
merely a national Washington: shall
It be called world Washington?
one seeking to analyze in what the
change consists is impressed first by
the fact that some of these 'magniti-
cent distances are become populated
with animated throngs. On F street.
Pennsylvania avenue, 9th. 7th, G and
H streets 1t is distinctly noticeable
The pedestrian finds himself in numer-
Gus company. Moreover. it is obsNved
that people move with quicker step;
the leisure!y walking washingtonian of
yore is bit jostled about.
Fashionable Avenues Busy.
II one is taking the air on the splen-
did avenues of the northwest he is
again conscious of buster, more bus
Ting city There is almost continu-
Gus procession of motor cars of every
description and the sidewalks are
thronged. No. the writer is not going
TO say anything about gay equipages
nor even "mettlesome bays. AT GER
tain hours may still be seen an old
time family brougham, with the dig
nified colored driver. looking disgust
edly at the new cars. but for the most
part it is jitney to Limousine.
1t is a wondrously beautiful Wash
ington on a crisp October day, the city 8
physical loveliness enhanced by the air
of gayety lent by the moving crowds.
by the eyer-present uniforms of the
military, by the hundreds of flags snap
ping in the bright sunshine and by
Ill tR.T,a r--tt t-i1 h
distinguished Washington from cities
where the seamy side borders close
upon the velvet and purple
An international touch is lent the
tone of the atmosphere by the presence
of many foreigners-tie striking blue
uniforms of the French. the natty-look
ing Canadians and Britishers. with their
jrakish caps. and the more ornate mill
tary trappings of some of the other ma
tionalities whose officers are here to aid
in instruction. Foreign tongues are dis
.tinguishable more than ever in little
groups in public places.
Americans in Khaki.
Then there are our own khaki-clad
men. whom every one admires. Observe
AS they pass: Note the serious-faced
officers. always hurrying, intent upon
more work than any one man can do.
but determined TO do it, anyhow; and
the selective-draft boys-what a clean
cut. well set up. clean-liying set of
chaps they are, One month in training
does wonders.
Perhaps one notices it in his own
circle of acGuaintances - some young
fellow VINO a short time ago was more
or less happy -go-lucky and indetermi-
nate. bent upon pleasure more than
look in his face. He will say he
wouldn't miss it for anything. These
are the fellows who, when they come
back. will stand for universal military
nty,sy 1.e.ra n,
lied its advantages.
The big hotels of the city present at
tractlye scenes. OF course, they are all
crowded TO capacity and every night turn
seats for dinner. luncheon and afternoon
tea are scrambled for. The lobbies ana
promenades are filed with Navy and Army
oficers and men of the draft, and in the
afternoon and evening and during the
music hours women add their presence
to the crowds.
Music. flags. movement, color, hustle
are everywhere on the surface, but un-
derneath there runs a serious yefn-a
little lady in khaki behind a desk in a
hotel lobby knitting for the soldiers while
she is ready to take subscriptions for
liberty bonds. or woman in chauffeur
garb who has volunteered 20 drive an
automobile or an ambulance. On the
buster avenues are storerooms by the
dozens, where quarters have been fitted
up by women working night and day to
gilt braid. deep earnestness underlies the
most animated scenes.
Housing Problem Serious
4 very practical feature of this sud-
denly altered Washington. and a very
serious one, is the question of housing
the thousands who have been added to
the citys population, of furnishing Office
room and bed and board. The govern
,ment has long since Communicated all
The Office room and has taken over some
completed apartment houses, with the
probability of taking others. One large
hotel was takeA outright and another is
threatened.
Apartments are difficult to obtain, and
instances are told of newcomers spend
;ng days searching for the most meager
accommodations. There have been wide
spread increases in rentals TO people
who have had apartments for years, all
though it had been insistently denied
hat such would be the case, while
aouse rents. too have advanced in many
caseS.
One curious and striking feature of
this situation of housing the incoming
hosts is observable. Many owners of
homes and lessees of houses have rent
ed their homes completely furnished,
and either have taken small apartments
or arranged to go away for the winter.
This is especially true in the case Of
larger properties, and is due 10 the
presence in Washington of so many
persons Of prominence and means VINO
Sre connected with the volunteer serv-