The Republican., 1918-10-17


not exist. 1t was good thing, this
calm, the visitor thought, as from the
steps he watched the clear light of
morning playing on the capitol dome.
Laws for 100. 100000 people should not
be made under the neurotic stimulants
of hyper civilization. After all the
visitor told himself, thankfully, the jazz
band is not America.
He met his congressman and noted
that something in the latter had taken
the place OF the nervous energy which
/ had distinguished his campaign, Later,
over comfortable julep at the Willard,
or elsewhere. the congressman assured
him that the Republicans or the Dem
ocrats-had oTershot their bolt and were
doomed shortly to political oblivion.
Should the visitor to Washington now
pause on the steps of Union Station to
regard the sunlight on the capitol dome
it is likely that his contemplation will
be interrupted or disturbed by jost-
ling from someone behind or IN front of
him. He will have a vague feeling
come to him as he leaves his crowded
train and follows the stream into the
train shed. Stern determination seems
stamped on every face he encounters
Ali seem to have job to do and are
steadily intent upon dong 1T. Some
how this seems to be no place for one
who has no particular job to do. Sol
diers are everywhere, smart, nicely
groomed soldiers gong home on fur
loughs, tired bedraggled soldiers on
their way back to camp. grim looking
soldiers with bayoneted rifles walking
about as military police.
Physical change was also evident in
the big service hut of the Y. M. T.. A.
and the barracks built on the vacant
areas about the station. Still this was
not all.
The visitor decided not to use a taxi.
There seemed something sinful in using
taxi now. He followed a crowd
aboard street car. Something had
changed even about the street cars. 1t
seemed as though they had changed
their air of dispassiOnate efficiency for
one not unlike that he had seen on the
faces of the people inside the station.
The street cars bore the scars of battle,
but they bore them well.
The conductor could not have been
more than 18 He had no uniform, but
battered cap. But when he spoke he
spoke as man, and his voice had in it
the ring Of authority which expects
obedience.
Right aboard" he shouted. Hop
up there. C'mon, les 60"
He gave the bell rope two vicious
jerks. The car started forward with a
swift suddenness. The motorman clang-
ed his bell necessarily. Through the
windows the visitor saw automobiles
swarming about them everywhere.
sounding their sirens as they went
People were moving in all directions,
and it was evident that each of them
was going somewhere and knew it.
The visitor returned his gaze to in
side the car and listened for a moment
to conversations. tie heard the words
production" application for field
SERVICE" new ordnance models, ]"
Spring drive, " voluntary induction"
and Overseas.
He found himself being squeezed into
an uncomfortable corner. Already the
car had taken on three times its nor ma
capacity. In his own town such con
ditions would have been intolerable;
but here there was no complaint. Above
it all he heard the shepherding voice of
the youthful conductor:
'Hop up there. C'mon, Les 60"
What is this new Washington? What
will be the Washington of tomorrow?
No one can foretell-except that it will
be bigger, greater, quickened with a
new vlgor and imbued with a new de-
termination. 1t will never be cosmo-
politan, but it will never again be limbo
for foreign attaches.