The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-08-02
General Secretary of Wash
lneton Inn IN London,
Eng, Tells Keokuk Man
About "Y" War Work

entertaining royalty, kings, queens,
, uuhes ana the like is Just one OF the
littie SIDE Issues in the busy life OF
Clauoe Il. Durgee, former general sec.
retary OF the Keokuk Young Mems
CHRISTIAN association, and now gen
eral secretary OF Washington Inn, a
brand new officers hotel and club in
the heart Of London, Eng.
MI Durgee in a letter written early
IN July to A. w. HUDSON tells of some
Oh the interesting things that happen
IN ~" work in London and ends an
interesting page or two by expressing
the hope that Keokuk viii do her
self proud in the Red Triangle drive
next fall.
The letter follows:
We were. hoping to have had our
ambassador, DR.. Page, to open this
Inn on the 24th June, but he was out
OF the city on account of illness and
IN his stead we secured the Duke of
Connaught, uncle to King George.
we were also favored with the fol-
lowing distinguished guests: The
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord
Mayor of London, Lt-Gen. Sir Fran
lcis Lloyd, Colonel Sir Randolf Baker
Lord Bryce, Sir Alfred Mond, Lord
knnaird, Mr. Robert Skinner the
American consul general, Mrs. White
law Reid and others. Mr.. Francis E.
Powell. director of the Anglo-Ameri-
can Oil Co., acted as chairman of the
day.
leave it to Americans"
There were approximately 500
people present and after the program
they were conducted over the build
ing, had their pictures taken and all
seemed to be very much charmed
with the place. Many said, Leave it
to the Americans to put across and
they will do It, The Americans have
done themselves proud This is the
finest thing of this kind in the British
Isles It's topping place.
"They gave me due credit for the
way in which the building is con-
structed and furnished, as I have had
it tn hand since the beginning. The
duke of Connaught is a very demo
cratic man, and he said, among other
things, that the American Y. NJ c.
A. had made a most generous gift to
the British Y. M. c. A, and he hoped
that this Inn, which is opened to
allied officers as well as to Ameri-
cans, would help to promote harmony
between two great peoples speaking
one language and inspired by the
same ideals, so that happy inter
course would continue between them
after the ultimate victory for which
we all hoped.
"Since the Inn has been officially
opened, we have had on an average
of fifty men staying here each night.
We have beds for ITO officers and it
will only be a short time before we
are filled to capacity.
Royalty Pays Visit.
ron Tuesday we were honored by
having their royal highnesses the
king and queen pay us visit They
were nearly am hour looking over the
building, talking with the men and
having their pictures taken with us.
From here they went to our Eagle
hut In the Strand where they did the
same. They talked very freely, joked
and seemed very democratic.
1--WE are now making big plans for
great celebration on July 4th. There
VIII De InOUSdIlNS Vi hiCh
from the nearby camps, in the city
and it is going to tax our strength
and ability to care for them. In the
morning of that day there will be
patriotic addresses given in West
minister hall, which will hold thou
sands of people. Lord Bryce, Mr..
LLOYD George and other prominent
men will speak. In the afternoon
there is to be a baseball game be-
tween the q. S. army and navy, at
which the royal family will be pres
ent and the king will throw the first
ball. The park will hold nearly U.s.
900 people and all the reserved seats
were sold nearly a week ago, some
of them selling for as much as s5oo
each. All the receipts are to be given
to British charities. I have heard 1t
said that any American who dldn
90 ought to be shot and ] guess some
have taken it literally. In the even
ing 7 am to attend an independence
day dinner at one of the best NOTES.
GIVEN by the American society In
london. Plates SO eachi but few
of ms "Y" secretaries who are IN
prominent positions and in touch
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