The Washington times., 1917-04-08

I went on my way to the Willard
for luncheon. Inside there all was a
usual. The corridor was one mass o
beautiful spring flowers, the musi
was playing softly and every one-th'
place was crowded-seemed in goot
spirits. almost in a holiday mood
seemingly unmindful of what may b.
ahead of us all, of what those three
words across the newspaper may come
to mean.
The Inauguration of our particlpa
tion in the world war is a repetition
of the history of the opening anc
realization of the war as it first hap
pened to the leisurely, peace loving,
comfort loving people of England
They, too, were out of the sound OF
battle. 1t came first to them. as it is
coming to us, in a rather spectacular
manner, as a. thing happening dra
matically and Internationally, some
thing of an historical epoch rather
than a personal experience. Only by
slow degrees will its real meaning
dawn on us as its consequences invade
our everyday life.
=
Disturbing and DistractinG
OnIy-FOr the Present.
For a long time to the great mass
OF the people it will be a disturbing
and distracting rather than a vital
interest. Before il is all over. there
may not be a life in this whole ma
tiontion not vitality changed by the
war. But few now think that will be
the case. Also few in England
thought that such could become true
Of them. but IT has
We are called upon to take a part
in the biggest thing in history. to do
our utmost to quell the tremendous
attack which is being made on the
peace and freedom of the world.
Though it may mean the abandon
ment of our ease and security, COM
pared with such an issue as that at
stake, no other interest matters. It
means that every person must give
him or herself, must let nothing stand
ahead of the duty to do all possible
for civilization, for all. the ease and
safety we have enjoyed for so long.
With such thoughts as these is
Easter week ushered in. The result
has been a checking of the flood of
gayety which was threatened for that
week and the spring season.
With Easter coming so early and
Congress in session, the spring prom
ised to rival the winter with its round
OF entertainments. But few have the
spirit for parties now and most of
the women are busy preparing them
selves to be of use to their nation.
Lansing to Avoid Making
New ENGAGEMENTS.
Indeed Mrs. Lansing told me that
she, and her husband, of course, would
keep all the engagements which they
have already made but expect to ac-
cept few invitations in the future;
that there was too much serious work
to be done. The Cabinet ladies fully
realize that we are not playing at war
or supposing war, as has been the case
for some months, but are actually at
war, real, frightful and frightening
war i would not be surprised IL
they organized some movement to en-
courage women to economize system
atically so that the money thus saved
may be expended on relief work.
Perhaps if they give dinners in the
future, the zeal will be a simple one
OF few courses. Or matbe they will
not buy new gowns every season, nor
discard the old one until it is quite
worn out. At any rate, those are
good suggestions for really patriotic
women to consider. II they won't
follow my suggestions, they may fol-
low the example of the Cabinet ladies.
I am wondering if the war will in
terfere with the horse show ] have
a notion it will. Certainly the army
officers won't have time for it, ana
they are always the leading spirits
behind the show and the most spec
tacular participants. Billy Mitchell,
Major William Mitchell, who has gone
to France as military attache, will be
dreadfuily missed on that occasion.
Helen Buchanan Jones is coming up
from her home in Porto Rico for the
show, and Major George s. Gibbs is
stationed here now, which will help
some.