Evening journal., 1918-02-20

LONDON, Dec. 2i-According to my
wife the entire London colony OF Amer
loans today narrowly averted quaran-
tine. That is, II they quarantine for
chicken-pox in London. II was like
this:
The women Of the American Women's
Club this afternoon had just got all ar
rangements completed for the clubs
second annual special Christmas cele-
bration in behalf Of those American
YOUNGSTERS IN London who have no pri-
vate santa Claus Of their own. And Mrs.
Keen, boss Of the Job mad just declar-
ed the Job done. And the telephone bell
rang and Il was Mrs. -, mother OF
six needful little ones. And she said
that they'd all be on hand tomorrow
for the party except Michael. Michael
couldn't come because ne had the
chicken-pox. And Mrs. Keen had to ten
Nlichaels mother frantically but tact
fully that they mustn't any Of them
come. that their Christmas would be
brought TO them, chicken dinner and all
by Mr.. Caldwell, colored messenger Tor
the American Embassy.
It's going TO be some party, as they
say in London, same as they do in u.
=. Some Of II will be at the clubhouse
in Mayfair and some Of It in Glasgow
and other points, by mail.
Great care has been taken 10 provide
each small boy or girl with just what
he wants. The one that pronounced
for "plenty to eat" will get Il, just as
the boy who timidly suggested a book
on induction coils will get that.
Certain things hone Of them will get
They include a collection OF headless
dolls, snoutless bears and other worn
out toys from the nursery OF titled
American woman, who seems to have
misunderstood the spirit in which the
women's committe is providing this
Christmas for the youngsters.
LONDON, Dec. 25-Christmas day is
ending without any OF the things hap
pening that a large portion OF the Lon
don public has expected to happen.
For one thing peace hasn't been de-
cared.
For another London does not lie in
ruins.
These have been principal items in a
surcharged the atmosphere in which
dwell those folk who do not read the
papers, or who read only to disbelieve.
How large this class IS I've had occa-
sion 20 note In the past several days
since the same thrilling information
has come 10 me from at least a dozen
different sources in that time. With
slight variations. according to the wide
eyed susceptibilities Of the different
informants, the central fact appeared
10 be as follows:
Christmas Eve the Kaiser was to
make a final offer TO England to quit.
n early Christmas morning he had not
received a favorable response a fleet or
1000 aeroplanes and a hundred Zeppe-
Inns would embark for London.
BY Christmas night all London would
be lying in ruins, the combined effect
Of bomb explosions and fire.
Then there's to be peace"
Most every teller Of the tale conclud-
cd II thus. Asked how he-or She
knew that then there'd be peace. he
or she was apt to become evasive or
sullenly suspicious. Sometimes, how
sver conflrmatory evidence was offered.
my father was told by a man that
aead about 10 on the bulletin board at
the Chelsea Town Hail." said one, lead
ing another to chime in: And It was
posted up in Victoria Stationw
Unless the next hour brings tre-
mendous events. this particular rumor
as applied to this particular Christ
mas will be dead. Perhaps II will be
revived for New Years Day. though by