Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-02-22
ENGLAND AT WAR---VII.
by FREDERIC j. HAskIN

LONDON. February o2-I.ifc in war
,'hc IN London and throughout ENG.
i"iu Is serious. but not altogether
s"mbre. Tho reflected fire OF the hero
ism OF the trenches liGhtcns even sor-
row ana gives sort Of shining spirit
TO the people at home.
More than this. the mon and the
women OF England agreed at the out
sci Of the conflict that the outward
evidences of tho tragedies which were
certain {" come should be ninimiZcd
so far as possible London and Eng
lahi never have zone TO the extreme of
Inc outward manifestations evident in
l'ariS. and ~ France generally. Of the
dread realization of tho horrors at
tcnGant on the conflict, and of the fear
of a remotely possible national defeat
1t is not meant to Say that the French
br"pic have shown evidences OF dcprcs-
sion Of spirit or OF duub, concerning
the final uu;Com" of the struggle in
which they ar" engaged II is true.
however. and England knows II. that
IN Franc" by common consent. III,
women all dress in sOmhrc colurS and
largely HAY" fnrsgonc attendance even
az "uch liitlc social gatherings as are
known in Eng land and America as af-
tcin"on teas. England has kept up
some of lis social activities although.
lik" France. She has closed down
largely on elaborate affairs Of whatever
kind.
NJ tn" outset of hostiiitics England
h"caus" she is cir, 10y four seas. felt
AN 'l"oiiI"Ss from the war which pre-.
vented it's aciuaiiticS from striking
home as deeply as they struck into tn.
heart of invaded France For q whil,
on TINS island things went on much as
usual Then there came a pause ana
then almost q fun stop. England wa.
"Nu!tant in heart at tn. couduc, nf
hcr troops at Mons where ,ncaper bat
talions for hours held at bay five times
their nu:nh"r Of nssailunts. The TRACE
dies came home. and Mons marked the
beginning of the serious hcart-scarch-
iug time i'm England
TN" spirit OF tho English pcoplc. Xix"
IN" spirit Of the French. is high The
cy" speaks confidence and determine
ton when the voices arc hushcd
irnnhr In London Is Less.
London - not as lively "a city in {,
traffic sense as ono" II was. Many Of
til" hUssos arc doing service or have
don" service and me; their fate. on tho
roads hacll OF tn" lines from tho Bel
rian border To the trenches in from,
Of r"r"nnc. III" shops arc open. and
for tn" most part are seemingly doing
lively business. Th" streets arc in
no wisc deserted. and II "A foreigner
who never before visited the city
should come h"rc he probably would
thiul It as hustlirS = metropolis as
thor" 'Nis's on earth. only tho Lon
d"mcr who was hero before tho war is
III" swelling tide OF city lifo
In TIA. homes and hotels Of London
whci" the Women the children and the
mcu wh" can't 20 to var arc gathered.
there j. = sadness oC 4 strong Kind
There s "a bearing NJ. however. under
all the elements which makes for de-
preston OF body and spirit. Tn. dead
Wounded aud missing lists arc read
it, the closet. Emotion is EXPRESSED
There. H. tho open the people arc
brave.
:UIlishm"n. na a rule. and Loudcn-
crH ia particular. ere not emotional.
y f"w mon and women in this town,
quicker pulsed b.! uatur. than tho ma
Jority OF their mcighhors. nave been
writing to TIA" now spai-nrs ever since
this war began. asking why u is that
30 few cheers arc given for tn" pass
iu.; regiments. ~ tn" outbreak OF
The war when every soldier was "a
volunteer ther" seldom w"rc cheers
tons the recruits rs thcy passed along
III, streets on tho way To tn. rom
dexvous in tho rear of tho Horse
Guards EuGlishmen blamed their fell
w-couutrymcn for q lack Of appry-
ciation OF the response TO tho call II
duty
Too SioIid 10 Queer.
III" chances arc. and study Of con-
ditions seem 10 prove. that TIA" siol!d
BiiiiShers who stand on tho London
corners and $50 III" soldiers go ~ arc
inst as fun OF cheers as amy emotional
American or f'rcnchrnan. bu; they are
Kept from giving vent t. them hy mat
something III their nature which some
have called conservatism. and others
coldncss ON" Lomdonrr. whem he
heard his people rehukcd because they
did not cheer the soldiers as tho pco-
pie Of tn" other nations would cheer
thoin. replied with a touch OF resent
m.ni that the shadows murmur while
Tia" d..ps are dumh."
III" feeling "f sympathy and sor-
row must be reserved in the main by