The Washington herald., 1918-09-29

serts, etc. The containers are delivers
ed by motor shortly before meal
times and called for about three hours
later.
The movement is primarily a war
measure and has the endorsement and
active cooperation of the Food Ad-
n,!nistration, on the theory that the
preparation of the food for say. 200
homes in one kitchen, instead of 200
private kitchens, will save an enor-
nous amount OF waste. all materials
being used to the greatest possible
advantage and handled in the most
scientific manner. There were about
100 women gathered in the Lansing
| living-room that afternoon. most of
them women OF wealth and social
leaders, and a good many women of
considerable official Importance. The
/ only member of the diplomatic circle
l remember noticing was Nine. Jusse-
rand. who is most catholic always in
her interests.
Mrs. Borden Hartman presided
and there were present such diff
ferent elements as Mrs. Herbert
! Hoover and Mrs. William c. Cor
gas AlES IllHNhltg anu MI ..
! Joseph Letter: Miss Mamie Ran
dolph Heth and Mr.. Henry White;
Mrs. James Mcdonald and Mrs.
John B. Henderson; Mrs. William
Hitz. Mrs. H. II. Rea and several
score more. Practically all OF them
pledged themselves to help raise the
S25,000 necessary to establish
branch of the American Cooked
Food Association, Inc, in Washing
ton. and the plan was launched with
enthusiasm. and the kiss upon its
forehead OF both the Food Admins
traitor and the Housing Commits
sion-both Of which seemed to think
that it was an inspired scheme to
help them solve their especial prob
lens.
As for the housing situation
anything that will help solve that
really deserves that Washington
should rise up and call 1t blessed.
believe l hinted last week that
Uncle Sans cheerful habit of TAX
ing over houses-"commandeering
them-just as they have been sold
or rented, or just as the lease or
deed is about to be signed. is MAX
ing confusion worse confOunded.
One "Oulu1 lOt Il NNNS
ton the propriety OF Uncle Sans
taking possession. for the period of
the war, and for the benefit of the
war worker, of the scores of COM
.lodious homes that are standing
yacant-or idle.
One of the Cabinet women expressed
herself very emphatically on that
subject the other day. She thought
the government ought to take steps
to eliminate the absentee resident
who has big house here and usually
small family, often indeed only one
person-and half a dozen other big
houses in half a dozen other places
and spends at the outside couple OF
months a year here-perhaps little
more just now, for house here Is
front seat at the greatest show on
earth, continuous performance
which everybody seems to want 10
be in at
The "Cabineteer" argued that even
though some of them are her best
friends-and she admits that she likes
their parties, and likes going to their
big houses-that at present Uncle
Sam can't afford to waste all that
housing for six or eight or ten months
each year She maintained that trey
OuSHl 10 pt lOlu lIdl liitN N4N'-N'
stay in Washington or get out of it
and without wishing to be inhospit-
able, their Uncle Samuel really hopes
they'll decide to get out. Certainly
now that the summer is nearly over
and people are flocking back to town,
Uncle Sans pretty pale blue stickers
on windows and doors are bringing
dismay to many and creating some
fcurious dilemmas.
In fact, people are Fastening home
from wherever they happen to be
spending the summer. to open up
their houses and give them a prop
erly lived-in look, in the hope OF
thereby avertirg the fatal blue stick
or. In just one night last week L
heard that four of the biggest and
handsomest residences in Washing
| ton-three of them pretty constantly
| occupied during the winter-had been
commandeered. They were the Ed
son Bradley's, the Stillson Hutchins,
the Perry Belmonts' and the Ned
| McLeans' I street residence. Also 1
heard that old Mrs. Vance, widow
of a former Senator from North
Carolina, who Vas a social leader
| here fifteen CT twenty years ago,
had come up from her Southern home
to prepare her Massachusetts avenue
! mansion-which had always hereto
fore been advartageously rented-for
Uncle Sam's occupancy, he having
conmandeered it. Pretty good for an
old lady over 50, eh?
As to the four alluded to. found
the blue sticker-it is sort of n
French blue ground bearing in white
| letters the legend ITO Be Occupied
by the United States-No Trespass-
| ing'-actually ornamenting the front
of the Stillson Hutchins' house at
1903 Massachusetts avenue-neXt door
to the Munns' But that house has
been vacant for some time. the prop
erty having been in litigation for
years. so that hurt nobody's feelings.
/ None OF the others bore any out
| ward and visible sign of com
Wandering. though / have heard
> lt from 90 many s9Arcss Of tls Ed