The Washington herald., 1918-05-16

Special Correspondent Of The Washington Herald.
New York, May l5-One of Car
toonist Webster's thrills that comes
once in a lifetime came to the writer
along with hundreds of other New
Workers last week. i saw the 100
Tam O. Shantered. red checked. boy
ish demons-the Chasseurs a Pieds,
the Blue Devils Of France. whose feats
at arms would make a thousand epics.
And the same day saw the 80 Per
shing fighters. Pershing's veterans.
they are called.
One of the veterans l saw was fully
10 years old. He had been gassed and
bombed and shelled in France. Tin
hat on the back of his head. gun
slung from his shoulder, brown OF
face and lean with the leanness that
means steel muscles. he swung easily
along. smiling at everyone
Some about 30 years old seemed old
indeed in comparison to the majority
Of the veterans. They were boyish
enough to be thrilled by the adulation
of the crowds. They delighted in the
cheers and handclaps and showed it
plainly, and that is what endeared
them more than ever to the throngs
Laughing. singing. happy boys-will-
ing to go to their death for America.
No wonder New Workers saw them
and wept openly and unashamed.
Fathers cried on each others Shout
ders. l saw a big full-blooded hulk
of a man standing on the curb as the
Pershing men went by. He had
cigar in his mouth and he tried TO
call out some words OF encouragement.
but he couldn't talk. His throat closed
and tears stEeamed down his cheeks.
Alongside of him was a little white
faced woman. 1 believe e was
mother Unconsciously she gripped
my hand. She held it tightly as the
boys went singing by. Not a tear
came to her eye. She looked upon
them with the tenderest look that /
ever saw. Her lips mumbled in prayer
and heard her say: God bring him
back to me-" and I could stand no
more l stumbled away from her.
The Blue Devils made an inspiring
picture about the streets with their
round. fiat sagging caps. wind beaten
faces. their dark blue uniforms. the
stripes on their right arms meaning
wounds and on heir left years OF
service.
A woman appeared on Fifth Avenue
the other day with a hat trimmed
with gilded chicken feet. The next
day a bonnet appeared trimmed with
English walnuts cracked open 10 show
the kernels. Another hat was made
of a single alligator skin garnished
with a single gray squirrel. There
are lots Of new millinery thoughts
70 brighton these sad Times
Charlie Chaplin almost broke up
three shows in one evening on Broad
way as the result Of being piloted
around by a New York newspaper
man. He may be a lowbrow come
dian, but he loves highbrow plays
and wanted to see Nazimova in "A
Dolls House,
The audience recognized him and il
almost became necessary for the man
agement to ask him to leave From
there he went over to see Fred Stone
and his presence in the box resulted
in his being half the show. The
chorus girls became enamored.
Up atop the Century Grove. the
chorus girls bid on a chance to kiss
him and the highest bidder was to,
get a kiss and a liberty bond. Chap
lin wound up his evenings at Child's
eating buckwheat cakes and the cooks
and walters refused to work. Chaplin
Is a child surprised by his success
and sometimes he wonders IL IL isn't
dream. He calls himself a 'high-
brow" comedian and defines Il as "one
who Is grateful for life and gets every
good he can out of every good thing"
He has no hobbies. no fads or mis-
sions.''
He loves art in its highest form
He has been to hear Galli-Curci sing,
seen Chalif dance. watched {. d.
Gibson draw. He looks much like a
boy in his sophomore year at college