The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-08-05
Nv FORBES W. FArRRAIRN.

London, Aug. 4.-washington inn.
Headquarters for American Officers IN
London during the war. Wal soon
| close. The passing OF this famous
hotel, known as the most popular 7.
M. c. A. hut in Europe, occurs stimuli
tansously with the departure OF the
last OF the United States troops from
England. =.
Situated In the historic St James
Square, once the ultra-exclusive CEN
ter Of social London, 1t occupies a
commanding location in h city's
| West End. Palatially furnished, un-
der the patronage Of American resi-
dents In London and prominent Brit
ish men and women. It became the
social center for American ofhcers In
Britain almost from the date Of is
opening.
A happier location could not have
been chosen by It's builders. St.
James Square is ave minutes from
F! Buckingham palace, three minutes
from Piccadilly circus and Leicester
Square, ten minutes FROM the Strand.
one minute from Pail Mall. fifteen
minutes from Hyde Park and Is the
center Of the theatrical and shopping
districts. The houses OF parliament
and Westminster Abbey are Just q fey
moments. walk through St. James
Park along the famous whitehall
home Of Britain's mighty war ma
chine,
The inn was opened Jun 10. 1915.
The formal opening came a few weeks
later when the Duke OF ConnAught.
and the Archbishop Of Canterbury in
the presence OF a distinguished COM
pany OF Americans and Englishmen
declared the hostel open for the use
Of American and allied oncers. A
49, -Aa% N&AYA.
inent Americans In London TOOK
charge Of the business affairs Of the
inn. Wilson Cross. OF the Vacuum
Oil company was chairman and his
committee included G. ". Hough. ].
Parker Henry. walter Blackman ana
r. H. Cabell, European manager Tor
Armour and company. Associated
with them were Lady Alastair 1nnes-
Ker. the Countess Of Essex, and the
Hon. Lady Ward. Lady Innes-Ker
managed the inn in conjunction with
At cost Of $4,000 the inn was
built inside the square. around the
statue Of King William III. PERMITS
sion was gladly granted for its erec-
ton by the residents Of the square on
condition that no trees should be re-
moved and the square handed back
Ito It's owners In the came condition In
which It was received. The one-storied
building took the form Of q series OF
wings %radiattng from the statue In the
center like spokes from the hub Of .
work, tiles and wood. II was .
ishly Furnished and was said TO be
the most luxurious hostel Of it, kind
in the world.
An immense reading room flled with
papers. magazines and books from the
states, gave a homslike touch, and the
deep lounges and chairs with which
It was furnished reminded the visitor
of a luxurious club. A writing room,
converted three evenings = week into
a ballroom. was similarly equipped.
forts Of an American home were In
~corporated into the atmosphere Of the
inn.
The Inn accommodated 10 ofacers.
hut this was found to be altogether
too small. Plans made to en-
large the wings last fall, but the SUD
den weakening Of the German military
machine and the subsequent signing
Of the armistice stopped the work.
who lives At No. ( Of. James Square.
placed the ballroom Of his homs 1T
the convenience Of the Inn. and ae-
commodation for . further 100 msn
was found there.
The washington Inn meals proved
to be so popular that every noon long
queues Of ofAcers waited In turn Tor
admission to the dining-roorn, which
seated nearly 500. The directors OF
the inn served American meaas-very
different from those found In h or
binary London rsstaurant-And every
fAmerican ana Canadian ofaces who
twas In London found his way to the
inn at noon and for dinner In the eve
ming whenever possible.
Then the Drttiah war once found
out about the good American food
and meals md they proceeded to Hood
the place until they nearly squeezed
the Yankees out.
The MONDAY meal became % pOpu-
lar that the management anAtly had