The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-12-30

New York, December 26.-(Special Cor respondence. )-In the hall of the hotel where I am stopping there has been set up one of those somewhat ephemeral little bowers beneath which sits lady of the Red Cross busy enrolling would be members who come up, dollar bills in hand. There was some difficulty about
 placing the small structure of pasteboard
 and paint in an advantageous position and one of the porters was extremely helpful in the matter. He shifted and turned about the chairs, and pulled the rugs in place, and fetched ink, and pens and a table, and in fact did all he could to make the presiding deity of the shrine comfortably as we'll as commercially suc- cessful.
 After this had been accomplished she smiled at him, thanked him, and ten dered him a reward for his helpfulness. He backed away, while a slow flash came over his countenance: No, thank you, ma am," he said, fidgeting with his feet, | q couldn't take no money for helping l the Red Cross" And it struck me that this kindly lad in his way was "doing
 his bit' just as truly and as surely as the thousands of comparatively rich men and women who come up with their dol l lar bills It is this sort of spirit that links up'' the hearts of the allies and | helps to make the unity of purpose that is our hope for the future peace of the world.
 CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN WARTIME Even in war time the Christmas spirit must creep into our hearts and minds, and I find that here in America as well as over in my own home land-England- tln Df Iora nf ho aIt gether excluded from our daily diet. I also note that in most of the holiday time festivities that have delighted me re- gently there Is a desire to reduce the formality of social amenities and bring into the proceedings hearty feeling of l informality that is highly comforting to me as stranger in a strange and won- derful land.
 | I attended a dinner recently, for in stance, that was given in honor of the officers of the British recruiting mis- sion who are stationed in Philadelphia. Col. and Mrs. John s. Muckle were the host and hostess and, incidentally, it was | the colonelS birthday. Colonel Steele, who is in charge of the recruiting depot, | was the guest of honor, while about six of his junior officers and a carefully chosen bunch of American Beauties" made the decorative quality of the din- ner party unassailable. Healths were
 drunk, of course, and speeches of a more or less humorous nature were exacted from everyone present, including the la dies, but it particularly rejoiced me to | hear the host give the toast of ''The King, God bless him!'' and Colonel Steele responded with "The President! Our Friend and Ally!" The heartiness and fervor that distinguished the response of both these names was something to be proud of both for Americans and Brit ons and somehow I felt drawn more closely to my own land there in that warm, beautiful Philadelphia dining room than I have since that day month or two past, when l crossed the Atlantic ir a carefully guarded troopship.
 ENTERTAINING "A LA HOOVER" And speaking of entertainments re-
 minds me that, like Hans Breitman" of immortal memory, Lady Chetwynd "gave a party the other night and it was a huge success. Even for New York, I am told, this merry making was unusual without being frealzish. She engaged for the evening the whole of the cafe belonging to popular restaurant off
 Broadway; had it delightfully."- decorated
 with palms and flowers, installed a band.