The Washington times., 1919-01-13
War DOrn1it0ries Please
. Girls, But Uncle Sans
=, Not So Strong For Job

When Uncle Sam turned lodging
house keeper, his troubles began. Just
at present he Il playing maitre .d'kote'
to 500 fair young war workers who are
Installed In the Government. dormi-
tories on the Union Station plaza And
II you ask hiu, once this cruel war Is
entirely finished and done for, he's
never going TO take in roomers again.
Uncle Sam allows he now knows
how to sympathize with the acid
tongued, vinegary .countenanced land
lady. He even understands WY she
has an acid tongue and a v:neEary
countenance. He knows that while
some roomers will do very we'll, there
are others you couldn't please II you
gave them q room in the White
House.
Mostly Newesners.
The dormatories have Just been
thrown open as an emergency meas
ure to take care OF war workers i'm
properly housed and to receive new
comsrs to the city. Truth to tell, rear
ly all the present occupants are new
comers. They haven't been through
the war In Washington. They haven't
slept six in An attic nor tramped the
streets for days looking for quarters
Therefore, they aren't quite as appre-
ciatiVe as those girls who got into the
dormitories after months OF Washing
ton hardship.
To the latter the newly furnished,
completely equipped, prettily deco
rated dormitories look something
like their own conception Of an ante
which there will be IL when the en-
tire plant Is finished, houses 168
girls. There Is a main office, or ho-
tel lobby, since Uncle Sam advertises
to give hotel service" and a number
OF smaller parlors where the girls
afflicted with young men callers
may receive them in at least pseudo
privacy. Each chamber has hot and
cold water, a spring lock closet. sur
mounted by a hat closet, and finally
the incest kind of a cedar shirt waist
box on wheels, which slides neatly
under the bed. The tax is $50 a
month. When the refectory is OPEN
ed the price will be $45 for room and
board, two meals a day and three on
Sunday.
Ne FuII-Leagth Mirror.
Just to prove that it takes all
kinds of people to make UP the
world, some Of the girls don't ex-
claim over the pretty shirt waist
box or the latest style painted furni-
ture, the urbanesque cretonne covers
or any Of the advantages. They Just
see that the room is small. One ex-
claims: why, there isn't any full
length mirror. How am ] to get the
long mirror"
And the next two, chums, want to
know II Uncle Sans management
can't put a double bed in one room
and let them use the second room as
. sitting room and "have a piano
moved In"
Gently but firmly, 1t Is explained
that the building Is a house of rest.
and that all the piano playing must
be done In the building now being
completed for gathering purposes.
And the next girl doesn't like the
green color scheme Of the room as
signed to her wants blue, because Il is
more becoming to her general style OF
beauty; and one wants q room on the
southwest side OF the house, and an
other doesn't want to room at the end
OF the house wing because 1t is such
long walk to the outside door, and
another won't sleep on the first foor.
Whereupoa Uncle Sam groans, gives
each girl what she wants IL 1t is hu-
namely possible, and turns gratefully
to those young women who welcome
living in the dormitory after months
OF cramped living, OF sleeping on un-
comfortable couches in unpleasant
rooms. Some Of these girls. after q
few days at Uncle Sans hotel, declare
thsF feel better In every way and are