Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-09-30

drown or freeze. It's the best indi-
vidual answer to the German Subma-
rine American genius has found and
about the only one. Those who have
not brought one spend some time
laughing at those who have-but we
all wish we had one.
Existence aboard this adventurous
ship is much as it is in real life on a
normal ocean voyage. The passengers
spent the first day inspecting each
other with friendly suspicion, the sec
ond day they began to make timid
advances and wonder why people are
so hard to get acquainted with, the
third day socialzation began its usual
progressive operation and now we are
, a family drawn little more closely
together than usual, not only by our
common danger, but by our common
cause.
A Flag Sold for 500.
Yesterday morning early a Catholic
priest said mass, which was largely
attended. At s o'clock an Episcopal
rector administered the sacrament
and had a fine miscellaneous congre-
cation. At 2 o'clock Bishop Wilson
of the NJ. L. church, who with some
fifty other Y. NJ. c. A. war men, is
aboard, preached to about 20 per
cent Of the ships population and last
night we had a concert for the BEN
eft of the "Secours Rationale" the
French society for the aid of the
wounded. Everyone aboard the ship
was invited to contribute some article
that might be sold as a souvenir. IL
was remarkable in its result. There
are some fifty French persons aboard
1 including q dozen army and navy Of
ficers of the French republic. They
We're the real instigators of the ben
eft.
The offerings constituted the most
miscellaneous collection of articles L
have ever seen outside 10-cent store.
! A Iackage of cigaretS brought 10
/ francs; a bottle of champagne worth
| s2.1S in American money on board the
ship brought s12. A bar of soap sold
| for IS. l had been given n handsome,
medium sized silk flag by some
friends in New York, worth, l should
Judge, If one might be allowed to look
a gift horse in the mouth, about SIS.
! ] gave 1t to the cause and intended
to buy it back. 1t warmed ones whole
interior to observe the reception the
/ great emblem received. The bidding
started at 80 francs, / boosted 1t TO
| 100 francs; French naval officer
went to $50, Red Cross field service
man boosted it to 200 francs. With
n wild desire TO get ii back before
/ the foolishness went any farther /
bid 500 francs and the French Off
Ger grinned at me in a perfectly po-
| lite way and hiked 1t to $50 francs.
gasped and then sent 1t to 400 with
sinking feeling that / had lost my
4 Tor a,,I l,a
Frenchman was carrying it away at
500 francs when next l realized what
was going on. This morning whef /
met this officer he had IL under his
arm and he told me he had decided to
buy 1t at "a tout prix' which l am
reliably informed means ''at any
cost"
w. A. White Bought Off.
The. clearest cut gain of the eve-
ming Was that taken from my travel
ing companion, William Allen White.
In a moment ofenthusiasm he had
consented to play a piano solo at the
concert. His rtlmber came right after
a violin solo by Gabriel Ysaye, son Of
the famous Tolinist. himself a gifted
artist. Mr.. White did not wish to ap-
pear when the moment came. He got
up and offered SO francs for a release
| from the obligation which stared at
him from a rather badly printed pro-
gram. The audience protested; Mr..
White raised the bribe to 100 francs
and the protest seemed to grow, as
did his anxiety to get out OF IL. Then
he offeed a substitute In the form Of
a Mr.. Sullivan, fine young collegian
from San Francisco, with n beautiful
voice. The audience seemed to hesi-
The proceeds of the affair netted
5000 francs (sl,000). 1t was also a
needed diversion. The evenings are
difficult. Every outside light is ex-
tinguished and we travel with all port
holes closed. so that the interior lights
will not be observed. You may go
upon the promenade deck, but you
must not smoke or strike matches.
So when we have suffocated inside
for awhile we go outside and bump
Into each other. Then, when we've
had enough of 1t we go back to our
airless interior and watch the French.
who do not seem to mind It, talk to
each other.
Passed q Boat In Distress.
Yesterday evening we passed boat
which showed distress signals We
didn't stop. It's a part Of the cruelty
NJ this war that we did not dare risk