Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-11
London, Dec. J. .

London, Dec J.
C,INCE the Americans came to town
- tho face OF old London has been
considerably frightened. War has itS
cheerful side. And I think my American
readers will be interested to hear some
thing Of the cheering-up process "hic"
Americans in London and all over Great
Britain are setting afoot these days
Tt was with this idea in mind that
walked through old-world Russeil square
I'm London and entered the handsome
house Of the American \. NJ. =. ~; "
( have a chat with Major a. W. Hamilton
I and the numerous other departmental
heads from all the colleges in America
! IL is n busy place--this headquarters
| OF the United states Y. NJ c. a. IN Great
| pri,air Tau Young men in khaki unit
| forms solemn young men in mutu anu
spectacles, men Of all shapes ana sizes
darting hither and thither, answering
hundreds of phone calls. interviewing
dozens OF callers, writing DOZENS Oh ca
| bles TO America, giving tremendous Or
| ders for the shipment of colossal stores
one wonders how they can posslpiy no
/ it all
But they are picked men. these 4 NJ,
! g A oreanizers--the brightest brains Oh
Harvard, Yale, Cornell, princeton. fchN-
sylyania and Of all the great American
colleges There is no Stacking mere
These are business offices, controlling an
/ immense and all-powerful organization
Ana each man Is a hustler OF the llrS'
water. or he cou j never hold MS J"o'
1 Nv first encounter was with Major
A W. Hamilton, Southern.r win
delightful southern drawl, a man OF ac-
tion and of quick decision, VINO nolus
the task of keeping brotherIF eye on,
eycrv American officer in London, OF
giving him advice, help, social miro
/ ductiona. Of acting the part of guide.
philosopher ana friend-in-necd, ana or
organizing the various clubs and nuts
which will soon be occupied BY Ameri-
can officers.
In private life Major Hamilton is a
professor Of English literature in Berea
University, Kentucky. He has u way
with him" which captivates the heart
Of every American man who comes III
contact with him.
well. what can 1 tell YOU today"
was his opening remark. do you come
laden with more Invitations from London
society hOstesscs for my men,?
| smiled, for Major Hamilton accuses
me of collecting more Invitations for his
lonely" officers than they can well ac-
cept. :,
! ~ come on a more serious mission,
! said Il want to know how all the
American millions are being spent, !
want 10 hear all your winter plans Tor
housing officers in London. want
! To-
Major Hamilton held up his hand
you'll have TO talk TO +. W. Leighton
our man from Dartmouth college" he
said He's the authority on all infor'
nation. But come with me today to
Cavendish Square. We are opening II II
December as a temporary officers club
run on Y. NJ e. A. lines. to house forty
American officers IL will be exceed
ing Y comfortable. It's in the best par
of LontNn. II may not be quit" s.
thriilngly luxurious az the American
Officers club In Lord Leconiiclds house
now OPEN in Chesterfield Gardens. bu
you bet the men Will find 1t homelik
and cheerful.
. I'm very busy. too, he continued
"over the Hut we're opening In -
James Square for American officers. Th
work is still under construction, an
wont be completed for several month
yet.
you see, this war is going to con;inu
for a long time. The folks back HON
don't quite realize that fact. We Amer
leans will be long time in Europe
| you'll see. We're working rather in tn
dark. SO far. We don't know how man
| American officers will come TO LOndo
: whether they won't ship t-e majorit
, of them straight to France and othe
| parts OF the zone, without touchin
London. We might have thousands 1
London. or We might only have fe,
hundred We're working on guesswor
just now"
We were interrupted by +. W. Leigh
ton. of Dartmouth. who took me dow
10 see the library of the Y. NJ. &. A
the dumping ground" of thousands o
, books. all ready to be sent of to tn
|, various y NJ. g. A. centers in Franc
and Britain.
"Do tell your American friends I
, send US books. books and more books,
said Mr.. Leighton, smiling, You can