Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-02
What Women Are
Doing in Washington


w church? I want to 60 there Sunday"
Women who come to Washington for con-
ventions make 1t their business to stay over
to go to church with the President When
he changes about and goes to Mrs. Wilson's
service rs he does frequently. there is dis
appointment in the Presbyterian camp and
elation in the Episcopal
Washngton's latest churchgoing is out of
doors. Al fresco vespers on the Eclipse back
OF the White House grounds were held last
Sunday at and will occur regularly until
October. The District war camp community
service Is In charge and the navy yard band
provides the music. Clergymen from vari-
Gus denominations make addresses, while the
congregation. drawn from every State and
all ages and conditions of war workers, con-
sttute the choir.
w attached males and females. boys train
ing at the navy yard or at Camp Meigs and
Washington University girls from every
city and hamlet They slice of young
America which is neither the upper nor the
lower crust, but they're lonesome and bored
in their few leisure moments and want to
play together
ALL this renders outdoor life a popular
n institution and the city is bent on making
the most OF the frequent parks and circles
The Marine Band, the crack military band
Of the country plays every weekday after
noon In the Eclipse.
Almost the same crowd which assemblies
for church comes after office hours to listen
to the music, splenddly played by these
soldier musicians. Variations Of "Dixieland"
or Silver Threads Among the Gold are
specially applauded. with handclaps for old
marches like Eel Captain and the Wash
p0to he hrnCs
all to their feet. the army saluting stfhy,
the starched white navy men smartly at at
tention Sometimes recruits are new and
fresh from civilian life that they have not
learned the military etiquette and shame
facedy take off their hats.
Further down toward the Potomac another
crowd gathers daily to see the airmen rise
and alght near their big hangar. They wait
for the departure Of the aerial mail for
Philadelphia and New York and then break
away In couples to wander down to the basin
edge and eat their suppers on the grass.
DATING on the grass seems the favorite
u outdoor sport Of the army clerks in the
capital. Three or four pretty girls collect
stray soldier or sailor, bag of sandwiches
and another Of ice cream and eat together
under the big trees of Lafayette Square on
the clipped green meadows stretching from
the White House to the Monument.
The Girls Friendly Society has heard the
call Of the outdoor lunch and risen to It by
sending several refreshment wagons pla-
carded Service a la Cart" up and down
the mall during the noon hour These food
caravans do away with the need of jamming
into the crowded restaurants and spending
precious leisure waiting for poor service.
T WING out of doors is the next thing to
IL be offered by those in charge Of the
well being of the thousands who work in
Washington during the long. hot summer.
Camp Columbia" was oficially opened last
week to 100 young women, many of whom
slept under tent for the first time in their
lives.
The National Service School has turned
over for this purpose its camp on the Con-
duit road. few miles from the city. 1t
overlooks the Potomac and across to the
Virginia shore, an ideal place for a sum-
mer colony The n. S. S. commandant,
Suzanna Moore, and Major" Elaine English.
of Germantown, Philadelphia. daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick English, with some
of their captains and adjutants. will drill
the workers, for II Is felt that certain
amount Of military discipline will go far to
keep the girls At and hearty and make
the experiment a success. The ceremony of
flag raising will open the day early enough
to allow plenty Of time to catch the street
car into Washington. and taps will sound
at an hour which will insure a good nights
rest.
THE Catholic War Workers Service Club
i was opened with appropriate ceremonies
at 2408 K street last week for the benefit of
women in Washington working for the war.
Promptly at o'clock the Right Rev.
Bishop Shannon blessed the house and de-
clared It ready for inspection by the crowd
OF waiting visitors. The band from Camp
Meigs played during the afternoon and
freshments were served. Up to the last
moment 1t had been hoped that Archbishop
Bonzano, apostolic delegate to the United
States, would be able to dedicate the house,
but he found it impossible to be present.
Thirty Of the fifty women which the house
will accommodate had moved in before the
opening ceremonies.