The Washington herald., 1917-02-14
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

1T seems that whenever a big disaster
comes along the weather has to be so
terribly cold and bleak that it actually
magnifes whatever happens" remarked
Col John S. Perry, of Hartford, Conn.
registered at the Raleigh. There have
been very few violent disasters that did
not happen at the wrong time of the
year.
Leaving the European war out of the
question, because we know that was pre-
mediated, but OF course considering its
progress now, a great many Of its
bitterest battles happened in the cold
months as they did during the Russo
japanese war. Cold weather and misfor-
tune go together. There have been some
dreadful accidents in the warm months,
but they do not compare in number or
magnitude with those of the cold months
when their happenings brought addition
al sufferings One of the most degrading
crimes ever perpetrated was committed
in the coolest winter Europe has wit
messed for many year. / refer to the
wholesale deportation of French and Bel
gian civilians to a life of servitude-at
least TO many 1t had just as well be for
life.
'"The Baltimore fire happened in winter
and drove many people into the cold to
suffer Napoleon's hardest battles were
fought in the snow and cold. Many great
fires, revolutions, invasions. and all sorts
of happenings, that brought additional woe
because of the cold weather, happened
Just when they ought not to have hap
pened And now the United States is
preparing for war in one of the coldest
winters it has had for years. l do not
doubt that the final battle, the deciding
campaign, will be fought out somewhere
in Europe in next winters snow and hail"
America has at its disposal more solid
gray matter for use in emergency than
any country in the world, said c. P.
Fleet, of Boston, Mass, registered at the
New Willard Mr.. Fleet is an authority
on race Questions. Owing to America be-
ing the melting pot, we got through our
immigrant population and through the
native Arperlcan some of the worst and
much of the best brains that ever rested
in a sku1l," he declared.
There is a greater variety of experts
in different lines of endeavor in this coun-
try than all the European countries COM
bined. Not only because OF our being a
vast market for brains, but there are
such magnificent opportunities here for
the development in all lines. The coun-
try is so big and wide that it will be
many, many years before the scientific
and efficient business man or mechanic
will lower his price for his services
1.-THE majority of the worlds greatest
inventions were Matched in American
brains though an American was not al
ways the beneficiary. In numerous cases
the invention was not well enough re-
ceived here and the inventor carried his
product abroad But let US ina gine our
selves going to war, and the response of
men with brains and experience ready to
tackle the most difficult problem connec-
ted with the war propaganda. will be
immediate.
There is a very broad streak of native
pride extant. Put to 1t, the American,
unhampered. can make the foremost
European scientist look sharp. I do not
mean to dscredit the Europeans alto
gether, because we owe much to them,
because they have contributed for years
and years to our population, sometimes
with the best and sometimes with the
worst that was in them.
The constant fusing of the different
peoples produce Americans who cannot
be equalled anywhere"