Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1918-07-22
Miss Marian White, Recently of the
Freeman.J Journal Staff, Again
Writes of Affairs at Wash.
ingtOn, d. c.
SEES AND HEARS MANY NOTABLES
Address by Madam .BotchkOv0ra
Wonderful Russian Woman who
Led "BattaliOn of Death"

Freeman Although IT has
been long time since l have writer
my old friend, the Freeman-Journal
still my thoughts have often been Of
the paper, it's publishers and readers
Washington seems long way from
home However, it isn't so far but
what ones thoughts can travel back
frequently-you see they didn't raise
the mileage on thoughts.
SO many things have happened since
my last letter that l really don't know
where to begin. Probably the event
I enjoyed most, however. was the at
ternoon l saw and heard Congress-
woman Jeanett Rankin, the Lady
from Montana" She spoke before the
government employees in the Masonic
Temple one Sunday recently and there
was scarcely standing room. She was
given an enthusiastic ovation before
her speech and much more enthus-
iastic applause afterward.- 1t is evident
that Miss Rankin would do anything
within reason for women-especially
women war workers-and the matter
that was receiving attention that day
was Senator Borland's absurd amend
ment Resolutions asking the presi-
dent to vetoe the bill were drafted at
THAT meeting and a committee sent
with them to the White House. I felt
real important to have had a part in
the movement.
But-we are not only seeing Unit
ed States notables, We are having the
honor of hearing foreigners of note.
For instance, Madam Botchkorova, the
Russian woman who led the "Bat-
TALON of Death" This wonderful wom-
an spoke at the Y. w. c. A. country
club and of course every Y. w. mem
Der heard her. Her speech, which
was brim full of patriotism, was in
|terpreted by our counsel to Vladivos-
tok and at times she became so en-
thusiastic that she wouldn't wait I'M.
til her interpreter had finished before
she added more to her address,! And
she often spoke with such vehemence
that the audience understood fully
what she meant without the aid of
an interpreter. The Russin lnadam's
uniform was similar to those worn by
our soldiers and her hair was short.
OF course it would never do for a
soldier to have long flowing locks.
The Y. w. country club, which, by
the way, is the only one of its kind
in the world, has afforded more than
one plesure for me this summer. 1t
is situated in one of the prettiest
parts of Washington and the
three tennis courts, swings, pretty
wooded paths, ETC., form veritable
playground for war workers who are
"Y" members. The clubhouse has
comfortable verandas and honey"
interior where one can write, read or
play the victrola to ones hearts con-
tent. l live at the Elizabeth Somers
you know and, as it is conducted I'm
der the auspices of the Y. w. c. A.,
all who reside there are members of
the organization. The privileges we
who live here enjoy are many and
decidedly nice. We have two fine ten
mis- courts, beautiful garden with
hedges, trees and bushes. Two large
brick buildings comprise the home
wherein are housed and fed some one
hundred and fifty girls. A pretty
ball room, library and music room are
used to advantage by all Of us and
everything that can be Is done for
your physical and spiritual we'll being
by group of capable women, not the
least of whom is the head matron-a
woman who won my heart at first
sight.
After much deliberation l decided
that Mount Vernon was not a good
place to spend the Fourth even il
President Wilson did think so. had
made arrangements to be in the page
ant but was invited to 60 automobile
riding and, rides not being as com
mon pleasures here as at home, &C
copied. It was delightful. We wen
through the prettiest part of the city
passing the French, British, Belgian
Spanish and Russian embassies, man!
of Washington's mansions and public
buildings. We motored through thu
National Geological park, Rock Creel
park, stopped at Glen Echo-al
amusement park-passed Cabin Johl
and travelled on out to Great Falls
Va, one of Washington's pretty sum
mer pleasure resorts. We were OF
the Virginia side of the falls and W
went out to the very furthermos