Omaha daily bee., 1918-11-24
Views and Reviews
Ho1v Gotham Went Wild IN
Celebration of the Signing
Y of the Peace Armistice

celebration OF the S2gn2ng 8
Y of the Peace Armistace
Through wholly chance circumstances, was
IN New York on the day the news came of
inc signing OF the peace armistice and witness
or the extraordinary demonstration that broke
out spontaneously there and continued fast
ana furious for an entire "a hours From what
have been told, the frenzy of jubilation in New
YORK was not different from that in Omaha
except that there was more of it and it lasted
longer The same flash over the wires started
the same bedlam of noisemaking; the whistles
began to screech and the bells to ring and the
guns and revolvers to crack followed bv
singing and yelling and horn-blowing and
marching and paper-throwing. and it seemed
as II there would never be letup Hastily i'm
provised parades sprang up in nearly everv
street, converging toward the main thorough
1ares which soon became clogged with heter-
ogeneouS columns passing in all directions
|. Costumes banners, flags, floats were in profuse
evldence.wtere they came from so suddenly no
one could tell. Many of the pictures and in
scriptions were clever-a few uhprintable. If
saw one. counted 50 Uncle Sans" and Miss
Soiumbas decked out in typical red, white and
blue regalla heading little professions Effipies
OF the kaiser with rope around the neck were
common IL there were any ash cans or garbage
Ieceptacles lett the next morning it must have
~ S'~N'ASil, III CNCly TUCK HdQ one tleQ
to the rear axle and dragging over the pave
ment. had my clothes almost torn away get
tng on and OFT the subway. | lunched with
a friend in the mems grill OF well-known hotel
IN the same. room with the bar When women
were also shown in to places at the tables, we
learned mat 1t was the overflow from the other
restaurants and cafes that were crowded beyond
the limit In the space forming the approach
to the public library on Fifth avenue bic mill
tary band rendered patriotic airs for a con-
course that completely blocked traffic. The
crowds were notceaby good-natured and free
rom ruianlsm comparatively little intoxica-
ton IN view of the penitude of drinks easily
accessible
IN the the evening | was dinner guest at "a
party" in so-called Greenwich Village, after
which some of us rode on top of Fifth avenue
motor bus all the way from Washington Square
to Central park. The car had to grope its course
through the congestion of foot throngs
and Joy-rldlng motors, consuming fully an hour
TO make the trip that should not take half that
time: A woman on the seat in front of me and
another opposite her had equipped themselves
with coWbells which they never ceased ring
ing tor moment. By this time, 1 80, Upper
broadway had been stormed by the kissing br-
gade-companes of girls and women who
manifested their eXuberance by embracing every
passing man IN uniform who looked good to
them. | observed one fairly pretty lass parad
ing on the arm of khaki-clad escort, who in
true military style, saluted each passing officer.
Every time the soldier saluted so also did the
girl. Her salute ended each time with a graceful
swing of the hand from forehead to lips to
throw IN kiss for good measure
Oh, 1t was great and glorious day and night
picked up good story told apropos of the
ignominious defeat of the kaiser
A big bully alread y cit up" by few drinks,
leaned against the bar and, seeing the bunch
Of on-hangers. exclaimed, 81 can lick anvbodv
in this saloon"
No one budged-only little curious edging
d IN and cycling. After a pause, he gulped the
contents OF his glass, and shouted, q can lick
anybody in this town."
Still getting no response, he dehantly tried
once more, Il can lick anybody in this country"
Finding the renewed challenge unaccented
ne drew himself up with sef-conident air, and
screamed, i can lick anybody in the world"
quicker than HASH some one emerged from
the obScurty of the crowd and dealt him
blow in the face that dropped him in heap
10 the moor AS the braggart came to, and
dazed sort OF way and muttered Il guess
took in too much territory"
The passing of Andrew Dickson White. one
OF Americas most eminent historians, would in
ordinary times have attracted much more at
tention. At the time of his DEATH DR.. White
was almost 90 years old. He achieved promi-
nence originally as the first president of Cornell
university, when that great educational institu-
ton opened its doors in 1867 He was staunch
republican, often delegate to republican con-
vent1ons, and was appointed minister to Ger
many by President Hayes in 1879, and again
made ambassador to Germany by President
a1sa in 1897, having in the interval been
also named munster to Russia by President
Harrison in 1892 My first acquaintance with
President White dates back to meeting of
the American Historical association at Wash
lngton, which | attended now 80 years ago, and
which l described at the time in letter to
The Bee with this pen-picture of him:
-, The peculiar speciality of Andrew D. White,
the predecessor of President Adams in the
chair of Cornell, is the French revolution to
which he has devoted lifelong attention,
although he has also entered the political
arena in several high capacities. President
White is of medium height and moderate
build, already slightly past the prime of life
his brown beard is cut square. His iron
gray hair carefully, parted in the middle,
and gives evidence of having been black not
many years ago. His slightly aquiline nose
serves as support to a pair of gold-rimmed
glasses. He seems not over-punctilious in
regard to his clothes. A double breasted
black sack coat, unbuttoned aud probably a
oi%e w ldiS &c, lulS lOOSely around him. HIS
voice is low and husky, making it extremely
difficult for the nearer to catch every word
AS student at college, I heard President
White lecture, and l have seen him on few
occasions since then. His work on the French
revolution is pronounced by all competent au-
thorities real contribution to the worlds his
torical literature
A letter from Walter Wellman, newspaper
Polar ,Je Al
and half years ago he sent me COPY of the
book he had then lust nuhlished entitled "a