The Washington herald., 1918-06-30
vies Of Women Prominent Social Life Nations Capita

place viii hold that I'm worried for
fear won't get to 60" as they say.
President Wilson has certainly
had plenty Of help in formulating
his Views on the Russian question.
You know Il was generally said
that Gen. Berthelot. who was with
Joffre at the Marne, and afterwards
headed . military missfon to Rus
sia and Rumania came over more
to give the President the advantage
of his recent experiences. in and
first hand knowledge Of actual con-
ditions In Russia, than to inspect
the various training camps in Amer
that was his ostensible
purpose In coming. He was pre-
sented to the President by Ambassa-
dor Jusserand q couple Of weeks
ago.-and while It was offlcially de-
MED that he was here to confer on
the subject of allied Intervention in
Russia; still-things always are
officially denied. until-they are Of
ficially admitted
Mrs. Pankhurst. who while she
may not be here as the accredited
representative of Great Britain is
certainly here with its very good
will,-'Otherwise." she naively re-
marked. 81 should not be herew
Which Is so palpably true that the
English Labor people recently got
quite peevish. when they couldn't
get passports for someone they
wanted to send over here to a labor
convention.-the recent A. F. of L
convention in St. Paul. I believe
and wanted to know how she man
aged to get over when their repre-
sentative couldn't. And Mrs. Pank-
hurst is Just back from Russia and
is keen about the necessity Of send
ing allied armies to the rescue
there. It Is the chief article In her
creed at present.
Then there Is Commander Vera
Bochkareva, leader Of the Russian
Battalion of Death, who Is back in
Washington, and was at the White
House early In the week seeking an
appointment for an interview with
the President, with the avowed pur-
pose of telling him what we ought
to do in and for Russia OF course
she got her appointment. and one
rather wondered at the time wheth-
er 1t would be followed by an invi-
tation to lunch or tea at the White
House. Such a tea or luncheon
would be interesting undoubtedly
but 1t might have its embarrassing
moments.
For Nine. Bochkareva Is an in
teresting woman, and q forceful
woman. and It was q splendid and
thrillingly romantic romantic thing
that she did. But she is after all
a Russian peasant, and I am told
can neither read nor write. She
might be a very tower of strength
at a moment when one needed one;
but from observations made in the
Shorehan diningroom one day
when she was the center of attrac-
tion for the whole room. though
her own party was relatively small;
and again at the Powhatan, when
there wasn't any party-she was
Just staying there and It was meal
time. She wouldn't enjoy q formal
function Of any sort There was a
dinner in her honor-a small one.
only eight covers-at the United
Service Club, on Monday night
1t really seems as II being formal
ly entertained must be rather
trial to this woman who IL certain
ly as picturesque an example OF the
wars hero stunr' as her sex has
produced. She must be as bored by
It as the famous Blue Devils who
were recently made much OF all over
the country. They were magnifcently
picturesque, and interesting, and to
get one or two Of them among just
a few with whom they were at ease.
and who spoke their language, and
get them talking was an experience
to be remembered. But the big
formal dinners-banquets-t were
given to them, and stately recep-
tions IN their honor-why the poor
things preferred the Hun at his
worst They went to sleep over
some OF those interminable dinners!
In Washington. perhaps 1t Is
headquarters Of the French EN-
bassy and OF the French High Com
mission-both blessed with a strong
sense Of eternal fitness, and both
realizing that functions" would
give these men of whom they were
so Justly proud, more embarrass-
ment than pleasureAthere was very
little attempt to make much Of
them socially-though the whole
city lionized them. quite improptu,
at every turn. The same has in the
man. been true Of Commander Boch-
kareva.
You will be awfully surprised when
you see her ;she doesn't look a bit like
you would expect. She Is a motherly
looking soul. deep bosomed and gen
tie looking. If it were not for her
uniform you would unconsciously pic
ture her at some farmyard gate chat
ting merrily with some passing neigh
Dor. -
She, by the way. Is to have rather
an important part in the big inter
national pageant, Democracy Tri-
umphant," which Ii to be an interest
ing and picturesque feature Of Wash
ington's Fourth of July celebration. It
Is to consist OF tableax and allegori-
cal representations to symbolic the