The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-03-04
TO
GIVE SAMM|ES
WARM WELCOME
(Original copy OF this letter went
down with steamship Andania.)
By Margaret Walter

American army first began to come
to Europe many Londoners, Ameri-
can and British, began making plans
for the entertainment of American
officers and men. A few women
arranged for weekly afternoons
at which American officers were
specially invited to meet their
brothers in arms, and distinguished
American and English civilians. At
first there were not many officer
guests, then little by little they be-
gan to drop in quite naturally, and
now not week goes by that there
is not a crowd, glad and thankful
to have a little irresponsible social
| intercourse.
And it has been just the same at
the American Officers Club, pro-
NOTED by the British Pilgrims. The
only trouble is that there has not
been room enough for the guests.
In opening a new club, the Amer
lean Officers Inn, established by
the American y. NJ. c. A. in Cav
endish Square, Ambassador Page
said that he was only too proud to
acknowledge the gratitude which
the United States government felt
for all these courtesies to our Of
ticers. He said that it was neces-
sary that certain number of
American officers should always be
in London, and at training camps
not far away, that in their free time
they naturally wanted to come up
to town and it was the duty of
every American here to make their
stay as pleasant as possible for
them. He said that he had been
skeptical of the entertainment en-
thuSiaSm until couple of Ameri-
cans who were in a Canadian r.gi-
ment came in to see him on bust
ness one Sunday afternoon, their
only free time Mrs. Page made
them some tea and they both tried
to make the visit as homelike as
possible. Next Sunday half a doz-
en- young Americans dropped in,
there was another impromptu tea
party, and all went off nicely. The
next Sunday there were twenty
American boys to tea and so it went
until the fifth Sunday found the
embassy drawing room full of
homesick soldiers. Later one Of the
officers was at the embassy, he con-
tinued, and young attache re-
marked he was glad the boys liked
our ambassador 50 much. "Why,
we don't care a rap about the am
bassador," said the officer. 1--WE go
to see Mrs. Page. She's the first
American lady we have seen for
months and it's most like going
home to drop in on her"
No. 5 Cavendish Square is one of
the smartest houses in one of the
most fashionable districts in Lon
don. Every house in the square is
renowned for its distinguished in
habitants this 200 years or more.
Harley street runs into one side and
Oxford street and Bond street are
close by on the other side. John
Lane, the publisher, has lent the
gems of his famous collection of
pictures to decorate the walls and
the whole place is furnished ir the
best of taste. There is an elevator
and every modern American con-
venience has been installed. The ac-
commodation for forty officers in
residence has already been taxed to
the full and the list of waiting
members is long.
Home folks may think that our
officers over here could find ac-
commodation for the few days they
spend in London at hotels, but no.
body stays at hotel now if he can
possibly help it. The restrictions
for public eating houses are so
close that it's mighty hard work to
get full meal, unless you can pay
three or four prices you have not
even pasSable accommodation be-
cause service is short and supplies
shorter still.
Major-General Bartlett, who is in
command of the American forces in
England made a short soldierly
speech in which he said that the
army appreciated what was being
done for American soldiers over
here, He complimented the women
on their splendid work and said
how finely American and English
women were working together.
But the thrill of the afternoon
was when a little group of Civil
War veterans filed in, their little
flags firmly grasped in fists and
stood beside Lord Bryce and Lady
Randolph Churchill, listening in
tently to every word spoken. There
is a London branch of American
Civil War veterans and these splen-
did old fellows have taken the keen
est possible interest in everything
done for the American sold ers.
They rode in motor cars at The
great August parade and were the
guests of honor at the opening of
the Eagle Hut. asked one, a Con-
necticut artilleryman, what he
thought of our soldier boys. "Why,
they're every bit as fine as our boys
in Blue were an mebbe just mite
huskier. | reckon they'll do their
job all right"
The president of the Veterans
Club has just died at the age of
eighty-four and last week they lost
a member who was 106 years old.
All the Ingredients.