The Washington herald., 1918-04-14

the alternate had no vote unless her
principal was absent, and by no
means TO miss any of the social meet
ings. But conditions this year have
made all that impossible. The hotels
are doing their best. but n very great
many OF the greatly reduced number
of Daughters in town are staying with
friends. I understand for instance that
Mrs. Whitman, wife of the governor
of New York who is to be the guest
of the da Gamas this week at the
Brazilian Embassy. comes primarily to
attend the ID. \. r. Congress. though
in view of the many hospitalities that
have been arranged for her one won
ders when she will find time for its
sessions.
|, Mon dieu, but isn't life a sadness7
When one will have for the rest of
ones days to explain how it happened
that one left Paris just an hour before
the great German gun began its bonn
bardment? And when one has had the
misfortune to make a sea voyage OF
the year 1918 and not had even a
glimpse of submarine? That is the
plight of the fair Countess Madeline
arrived here recently after having sys-
tematically missed all the big shows
of 1918. She is herein America. l
mean New York for the moment.
Washington mot vet but soon")-as
the agent of the French government
under the direction OF A. Lebrun, min
lister of the blockade and of the lib
Grated regions. to tell to Americans
the story of reconstruction in the
devastated areas of France. She has
many exciting things to tell about her
adventures as nurse since the war be-
gan, but she sighed yesterday over the
story that might have been had she
waited another hour before taking the
train from Paris for Bordeaux.
Il never saw anything but an air
raid she said. looking out over the
roof tops from Miss Anne Morgan's
studio at 4 West Fortieth street, where
she will make her headquarters. 1--WE
don't pay any attention to raids in
Paris. When the-what you call it
the 'sen-ren'-blows, oh yes, SIREN"
when the whistle blows. for a warning,
we gather up our most valuable ar
ticles. or what appears most valuable
at that moment, and we go to the
cellar.
Never yet has bomb burst through
to the cellar in Paris, SO it is safe.
One takes them with much calmness
in Paris. My sister and 1 walked
home during a raid. One does not
fear; only on the streets it is necess-
sary to talk very loud all the time. to
save the people from humping into
one. 1t will be strange in New York
to see the lights at night"
The Countess de Bryas expects to
tour the country. in the interests Of
the American committee for devastat-
ed France. of which Miss Anne Nor
gan Is chairman. She will speak first
at a benefit at the Strand Theater
next week.
The Countess de Bryas believes that
reconstruction work behind the French
lines can be extended even during
these critical days of the great battle
in Picardy. as there are many miles
of devastated area. far from the pres
ent battle line. which have never been
touched by reconstruction workers.
Although she is a native born
F'renchwoman, the countess is related
by birth to Mrs. Ava Willing Astor and
other prominent Americans, She is
said to be the first woman in France
10 take up the work of rescue for the
people of the devastated regions.
In April. 1915. the only work among
these people was that of a small group
Of English members of the Society
of Friends Countess de Bryas or
ganized a society in Paris to supply
funds. and secured temporary homes
and farm goods for the people of 2U7
villages. Later she adopted thirty
one boys from the village of Thanh, in
Alsace. and organized for them a
school in a chateau in Normandy.
This work she varied with periods of
nursing in military and civilian hos
pitfalls.
There Is very general interest In the
fashion fete which is being arranged
to be held at Mrs. Dimock's on the
18th for the Permanent Blind Relief
Fund for the war blinded of all the
allies. 1t is the same show arranged
by Harry Collins that has been such
a graf success at the Plaza in New
York for weeks on end. OF course
a great many of the smart set have
seen 1t there. and they have brought
home such glowing account of its be-
ing absolutely the last word. my
dear in what we're going to wear;
the newest and smartest styles, the
most wonderful materials, and the
rarest combinations. The women are
H..