Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-21
tIn,srn.t.on.! News Bureau

"heFs on every mana IS eN!1ence OF
war. where the ma jority OF young men
arc in khaki. where the wounded are
constantly being met. where a swift
social revolution has been effected.
where there are innumerable restric-
tons. where the streets Al night arc
wrapped In Cimmerian blacknesa, and
then see New York during the hrs.
month o: 1919 is 20 provid. a contrast
which Is something OF a SHOCK.
America is pledged 10 Bmits Ger
many quite nurh as is Britain or
France. But Il seemed 10 me New
York in the evening was gala glare
OF light, ten thousand windows sc!n-
t!latinE IN the sharpness OF a zero
temperature. though vas assured tn,
street !lluminations had been reduced
by half.
wAR-TIMEs IN NEW YORK
COMPARED WITH LONDON
The absence OF khaki-clad young
men was strange. True. occasionally !
met wel!-set American soldier. and
within the week / saw bunch OF
lads stepping sprightly along en- route
to training camp.
New York. however appears 10 be
h!!ed with young civilians. m. clerks
a, the hote! where l stay are young
mon. The elevator attendants are men:
tn, walters are men; all The clerks in
the banks are men The Inotor-car
drivers. The street car conductors. In.
distributors OF letters, the railway ser
wants are all men.
This mprcsses me vastly. 1t com
pcls me to remember how. as the
va. has called the majority Of the
British youth 10 arms. hundreds Of,
thousands o: British women are now
doing WORK which their bto:hers did
formerly. There was no sign OF this
In New York.
Certainly there seems 10 D. plenty
o. food, even white bread, the APP
peaIancc and TASTE .. which the Brit
ishcr at home IS beginning TO forget
In the restaurants there IS no serving
o! iuinites!!na! portions Of meat IN
accordance with the edici Of some
stcrn-! awcd food controller. no limt,a-
Ton 10 two ounces o. bread Having
been on sir!c; rA;ion!ms IA England.
Eel, as though had been waft~I
ON canoufagcd ship 10 the land OF
plenty. There IS cream 10 be had.
there arc ice. in plenty: The chocolate
shops faunt their delicious goods -
things denied 10 Miss Hvlton.
The New Yorker inclined TO alconolc
beverages has not 10 Wal: ;iI l2:iQ
for retrcshment. with The bars to be
closed ~ go. Nur Is he restricted IN
the evening TO three hours when h.
can regale himself with stimulating
cheer.
These are little things to mention
but they are the things which caus.
The Briton TO eXc!aim. How different
all this is from conditions a; home -
and then add the mutrcd remark. Why
these Americans cannot know there
Is war on"
But slowly found tha, America NJ
did know there was war on
There were no highly co!ored posters
with tho command. Eat less bread"
There were no pictures OF soldiers
and sailors in war kit. reminding tn.
onlooker what they were doing. and
inviting him TO "do his biz"
PLACARDS IN EVIDENCE
EXPLAINING FOOD SAVING
There wer eplacards inviting patri-
OTIS TO observe mcat!ess Tuesdays ana
vheatless Wednesdays and porkless
Saturdays. There were diSaified bills
explaining why it was necessary to
save food-bccause the allies were in
need OF it..
The man who uses general phrases
to describe America at war will get
himself into mess. When, after be-
Ing houtcd and insulted for two years
by the German government. with the
murder OF American citizens on the
high seas and base endeavors by Ger
many's diplomatic representatives at
Washington to foment civil strife, the
United states, without official alliance.
Joined Great Britain and France in
The task Of claiming the mad dog of
The world. there was lofty conception
Of what the republic was destined to
do II was no less than TO win the
war.
Americans are more demonstrative
than We folk OF British stock. ] came
across the spirit OF spread eagleism
and heard the most wonderful accounts
Of what the Americans will do when
the boys get busy against the Gcrma n
army.
Bu; the man makes an error who
asserts that this "just-wait-and- see
what-I-Will- do manner is typical
American cock-a- hoopness at the pres
cnt time. Tho people may have ex-
aggeratcd ideas OF the divine mission
OF the country in these days OF world
tragedy. and are none the worse for
that, but mark that the great body
OF public opinion is sober and earnest,
that there is a realization OF the stu.
pcndous task before them. that there
will he a great sacrifice OF the flower
OF American manhood--thc sacrifice Of
treasure is thought little about--but
whatever the price, there is a fixed