The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-19
CAPITAL IS FAST
Topeka Girl Writes of Life In
Washington.
Girls Are Strong for the For
eign Soldiers.

A glimpse of the nations capital in
war time is given in letter from Miss
Alice Cavanaugh, Topeka woman.
to her father. E. c. Cavanaugh, q To-
cal printer. Miss Cavanaugh vent to
Washington, d. c.. in the latter part
of September to accept a stenographic
position in the office of Surgeon Gem
eral Gorgas. Her letter, in part
reads as follows:
THE streets are fun of peddlers
and beggars. ,Peddlers are In every
block and on every corner. most OF
them with push carts full of fruit.
don't think 1 ever saw so much fine
celery as there Is being peddled around
in baskets. l just fright isst night
that. of all the things they sell here. Z
have never seen any popcorn and
that was so plentiful at home.
THE city is full of foreigners from
every country. ! notice they seem to
have settlements Of different nationals
tiles. One block on the main street is
given over to Chinese, who wear most
ly their native dress and are a rough
looking crowd.
The street cars run much faster
here than in Topeka. / was much
amused last night when / started to
cross the street by a street car which
started to turn the corner and ran off
the track. so waited to see how they
would proceed. OF course. when that
car stopped there was a whole string
Of them held UP behind. But the
motorman jumped out and opening .
lid in the street. pulled out some
chains which he hooked to the rear of
the car and after working a few min
utes had 1t back on the track. Pretty
quick work, and everything else here
is in accordance.
Il saw an auto knock soldier down
the other night and keep right on
going. Fortunately, the fellow wasn't
hurt much. The autos never slow
horn and you do the rest. The other
morning as I was going to work
street car crashed into fine big tour
| ing car. 1t was a sight. But the
street car stopped only long enough
| Tor the crew to get the pieces off the
track and away they went.
Buildings Are Enormous.
| 'The massive buildings here are
simply overwhelming to me. Pictures
| really do not do Justice to the size
Of them. Some of the buildings cover
blocks OF ground and about all you
can do is stand and wonder at the
| whole thing. I went out to the White
House this afternoon and CHANGED to
see the president and his wife leaving
for drive. / heard the Marine band
giving concert close to the White
House. This is the same band paid
|
Tree every day.
II saw two army ambulances today
going thru the streets driven by wo-
men in regular army uniforms, includ-
| ing leggfngs. They certainly looked
fine. Last night there were two war;
planes flying over the city. This noon
hearing an unusual noise. i looked up
to see eight big army trucks tearing
thru the street. They were plastered
with mud and looked as il they had
made long trip. There are a number
of French. Italian and Serbian soldiers
here and it is astonishing how the girli
so after them. Nearly every soldier
you see has from two to three girls
with him.
'I certainly have a nice building tc
work in. 1t Is guarded on the outside
! by military police marching up and
down with guns and all the doors and
stairways are guarded by regulai
guards, SO you can't go in or out with.
! out showing Jour pass