The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1918-04-04
MEETINGS THIS FRIDAY EVNG
Meetings Will be Held this Friday Evening" April S. at Burton High
School, vashon High School and at the Schoooses at Dock
ton Southern Heights, Lisabeula, Columbia and Center

Co. who haze a contract for y ships
FOR Uncle SAM, for war work in what
ever capacity necessary. We raise our
hat to say, "Well done, Comradc
Hauser
An incident that happened in Lon
sion, Eng, lately amused and pleased
rne, as showing the difference between
the class social side of prc-war time
and now. \ titled lady name not Civ
en) bad descended from her high social
perch and was serving in u canteen at
Clearinghouse Station. An ordinary
mortal, home on leave from the army
in France, dropped in for refreshments
and asked the young woman how she
liked her job (of course not knowing
her antcccdents), to which she gave a
general reply. Then the soldier asked
II he might take her to moving pic
ture show. She hcsitated. The soldier,
who was md lieutenant, thought her
diilidencc was due to the fact that he
was an officer He said he would waive
the insignia for the occasion. Had the
same thing occurred prior to the war,
he would have been frozen on the spot
for his a,dacious presumption, for the
reason that class, up To that time, ruled
with rod Of iron. To Illustrate: |
lived on the Island of Guernsey for
some years and was member of n
yachting club. Amongst our members
was General Gordon. cousin to Cor
den Of Kartoum; Gen. Gary, Col. Field,
Major Wright and other arisiocrats.
In club matters we We're meE 10 men;
but il / met any OF them outside in
company with their women folks, the
men would nod as we passed, but the
women passed US with heads up. It
would have been mira dig to acknowl-
edge mere tradcsmnn.
On another occasion !, in company
with my wife and daughter, were at
some aristocratic doings at the town
hall, bazaar Of some kind, and one of
the male elect approached us offering
a Welsh rarebit and coffee evidently
installing us for some OF the class. He,
however, discovered his error in time,
and confusedly said, "Beg pardon TO
which replied with a sarcastic smile.
On, don't mention it: class lines be-
fore the war were, as said, iron bound
and usually could not be broken by the
upper ten without loss of prestige.
However. all aristocrats are not snobs,
because on one occasion we Travelled
across the Atlantic in company with a
Baroness SaNillc and party and had a
jolly good time with them. Before
leaving the ship at Liverpool we were
invited TO visit at their country home.
But we declined for The reason we felt
that we had rot the suitable clothing
or cash TO spare for such an event; not
only that, but we would not run the
risk OF perhaps being snubbed by the
servants.
This war is terrible thing, but if
it knocks class and snobbery galley
west well, glory be.
Our ambassador, ]. W. Gerard. COM
mentipg on the Americans with whom
he came in contact during his term at
Berlin, said he felt proud Of his
countrymen and women 10 note that
.shes felt at ease in European aristo-
cratic company as compared with the
Bourgeois European on similar occa-
sions. The reason why is that an
American feels the equal if not the SUI
perior Of anything on two legs, and
doesn't feel called upon 10 show any
servility or humility to any other BIZ
ped because they happen to have title
to their name J. w. Gerard is fine.
manly American, who bore himself
without reproach during most trying
Time as the representative of tEis
country, ard deserves the hearty
thanks Of every citizen.