Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-18
Views and Rev9eaus
Personal Observations on
Current and PASSING Esvnts

/
Where do story writer's find the names for
their characters! Do they invent them as they
do the plots in which they are woven. or do
they appropriate them for use with modification
or disguise as they do their backgrounds and
scenery? These questions propounded them
selves as read the short story contribution by
Meredith Nicholson in-the current number of
Scribner's = magazine, remembering that the
author married into we'll known Omaha family
and as periodic visitor here is personally ia
mar with the people who figure in our society
doings. In this sketch, sticking out here and
| there, the reader will be struck by these names
more or less connected up or run in together,
webster" whom his wife addresses by the
familiar abbreviation, "Web," the wife being
referred to as Mrs. Burgess, that being the last
name OF the couple. Again we have the girles
in evidence and some one by the name Of
Windridge, (who can it BEL? who acquired the
title of Governor" and>another parsonage men,
toned as Saybrook and listed as senator. Of
course differences and nnuendoes may be>whol-
ly unwarranted Perhaps Mr.. Nicholson would
have written the same story and chrstened his
characters exactly the same if he had never been
in Omaha, but we have a right to indulge our
imagination as much as he has
Returning from Chicago this week, an elder
ly man boarded the train at Clinton who seemed
to be at loss as to how to locate himself for
his berth. -
This is the first time ever rode in a
sleeping car" he confessed when some advice
was volunteered
Where have you been. all THE timer" he
was asked.
81 have worked for this railroad "a years
and it don't cost me anything to ride except for
the BERTH" was the reply, "but never went far
enough to feel that needed to have bed on
the train l am going to Council Bluffs l
was there last fall and travelled at night one
way sitting up in the coach, but I couldn't
sleep: SO this time am going to come into the
sleeping car"
Former Senator Theodore E. Burton is eyi-
IDENTIFY thriving on his freedom from the stress
and turmoil of politics, contrasting his latest
appearance here with his visit prior to the last
presidential campaign when he was just reliev-
ing himself of the burden of his long career in
congress by retiring from the senatorship and
was being groomed as a possible presidential
candidate. At that time he seemed tired and
travel-worn, whereas in his freshness of today
he actually looks younger, as if the hands of
his clock had been turning backward. He is
we'll posted and in as close touch as ever with
the current of public affairs. is keeny analytical
Of world conditions both, at home and abroad,
servation in foreign lands. in addition to his ex-
perience as public man in the councils of our
nation. Incidentally it may be said that he
shows himself deeply interested in republican
success in l92O.
From my friend, Isaac F. Marcosson, I have
a copy of his book, IS. o. S.: America Miracle
in France" inscribed by the writer, in which he
has brought together with additional data, the
articles from his pen in the Saturday Eve
ming Post In this volume is described what is
called "the army behind the lines" officially, the
service of supply, with due credit to those in
charge for work equally important, but less
spectacular, than that performed on the battle
field. Perusal of the Marcosson book discloses
the fact that some of the conspicuous positions
in the S. o. S. were taken by men who havesa
local connection with Omaha The plans for
receiving and supporting the troops abroad
were inaugurated by Col. Daniel E. Mccarthy,
well remembered as head of the quarternrssters
department here in Omaha before it was
transferred to Chicago, who, unfortunately was
compelled by i'll health soon after to make way
for another officer and return to this country.
Brig. Gen. Charles G. Dawes, at one time
practicing lawyer in Lincoln, though later, and
for many years big banker in Chicago is de-
scribed as general purchasing agent, who began
in small room in the Hotel Sainte Anne
spreading until he occupied the largest hotel in
Paris with his staff, and had representatives in
nearly dozen different countries. Col. T. B.
Hacker, of quartermaster experience here had
charge of salvage. There are others, too whose
names will eventually be written large in the
official records of the worlds greatest war.