Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

LONDON i. S. HOTEL
TO Be CLOSED SOON
Washington Inn Mecca for
American Army Officers
During War Period.
LOCATED IN CITY'S WEST END
Operated by Y. M. c. A. and
Equipped at Cost of $4,000
by Patrons.
LOCATED IN CITY's WEST END
ny Forbes w. rA1npA1nS.


Inn. headquarters for American OH
GERS in London during the war. will
soon close. The passing OF this ia
nous hostel. known as the most pop
ular Y. NJ. c. 4. hut in Europe, oc-
ours simultaneously with the depar-
turc o! the last OF the United States
troops from England
Situated N the historic St James
Square One the ultra-exclusivc cen
ter Of social London, IL occupies a
commanding location in the city's
West End. Pnlntialiy furnished. un-
der the patronage OF American resi-
dents in London and prominent Brit
ish men ana women. il became the
social center for American officers in
britain Almost from the date OF it's
opening.
y happier location could no, have
been chosen by IT, builders 81
buckingham Palace. three minutes
from piccadlly circus and Leicester
SQUARE. ten minutes from the strand.
minutes from Hyde Park and is the
enter Of the theatrical and stopping
districts. The Houses Of Parliament
and Westn inscrr Abbey are just a
Park along irc famous whitehall
home o. Britain's mighty war ma
chine
Famous Inn Opened June 10. rs.
!lt mn "dS pib'nrH June IL. lflN
The formal opening came Il &c" weeks
and tho Archbishop Of Canterbury in
the presence o: "A distinguished COM
pany OF Americans and EnEl!Shmen
declared the hostel open for the use
Of Atnerican and allied officers
committee oi some o: the most prom
:Ncnt Amer. ans ~ London took charge
o: the cuisines. .tI.tIrS OF the Inn WI
son Cross. O! the Vacuum oil Company.
MAS chairman ami n!s committees in
..I,. ,..h ri
Walter Bia knau and X ". Chbcu.
Europeon manager for Armour & 60.
Associated viii them were Lady
A!asta!r lnncs ker. TN Countess q
Essex and the Hon. Lad'y Ward. Lady
lnncs- Ker managed tho i'm In commune
ton with the y VI. G. y.
Inn Cost $4,000.
Al cos, OF $4,000 the inn was built
OF King william Ill Permission VAS
gladly granted for :ts erection hy the
residents Of the square on condition
the square handel hack 10 us owners
in the same condition III which II vas
received. The one-stor:ed building
rldia;ing from the statue IN the center
like saOkcs from the huh OF whce!.
II was uu:lt o! brick, Iron-work, tiles
and wood II MAS !av,shly ,nrnishsd
hostel OF It's k;ni IN the world.
IN immense reading room MED WIN
rapc-S, magazines anu pDuNS rom NIl'
states. gave = homc!;ke touch and me
deep lounges and chairs With which
II was furnished reminded the visitor
OF luxurious club y writing room
converted hrce evenings week INTO
n ballroom. was similarly equipped.
50 FAR as was possible, AL the com
forts Of an .\m+ritan home we're m
corporatcd into the atmosphere OF the
inn.
Not Enough Room.
The inn accommodates 10 officers,
mt this was found TO bc altogether
TOO small Plans were made To en-
.l~ge the wings last fall hut me suo
acn Weakening OF the German military
machine and Tho subsequent signing
II The arnIst!cc stopped inc work As
/. SUBSTITUTE Major Waldorf Astor.
who lives a. ST James square, placed
tn. ballroom Of his home at the con-
venicncc OF the inn. and accommodate
ton for a further loo men was found
there.
The Washington Inn meals proved TO
bt so popular that every noon long
queues OF Officers waited III turn for
admission l.. the dining room which
seated nearly 800 The directors Of the
inn served American mea!s-rery DIFF
fercnt from those found in the ordin-
ary London rcS'aurant-and every
american and Canadian oihcer who
WAS III London found his way to the
inn at noon cnd for dinner II the
evening whenever possible.
Then the British War 0fiice found
ont about the good American food and
meals and they proceeded 10 food the
place until they nearly squeezed tho
Yankees out.
Swampcd With BrsiursS.
The MONDAY meal became SO popu
lar that the management finally had
TO limit the number Of diners TO ESQ.
with preference TO Americans. Dishes
like pumpkin pie. lnince pie. apple pie.
ice cream. unheard Of in England. lent
the home touch to the meals served.
and il is estimated that during the
year the inn has been open nearly 300
600 meals have been served in its dim
ing room.
1t was the american touch" that
made that dining-room SO attractive.
with the voluntary service OF nearly
200 American women and girls as
Mattresses as an extra added attrac-
;ion TO the homesck officers. And
during the thirteen months the inn
has been open more than $4,000 officers
have been guests Of the ~
Royalty placed its seal OF approval
on the hostel June 26. 1918. when the
King and Queen paid a visi, TO their
American neighhors in "The Square"
They were delighted with tho inn and