The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-02-27

wASifiNGTON. feb. ~. -- once
upon lime there was camp for
horsemen on spot which il now
almost the geographical center %
London. There was an enclosure
aud a gate aTh ~ the gate two
guards on horseback.
The war which produced tho camp
came To an end. The fighting horse
men marched away. The limits of
In. camp grew smaller until finally
the growing city h.fnrned u about
and all that remained was an ordt
nary looking city iot with some iron
gates and some buildings. But ai
each side Of the iron gates thc horse
men daily appeared on guard There
waa nothing 20 guard. but nobody
thought 20 remind them and an the
years have gone on tho hornrguards
sitting On their beautiful mounts IN
BRIGHT black and scarlet have become
one - tn. historic sights % the
greatest city In tho wvrid.
They have become typicai also Of
what Happens when somsbody sup
po~ed TO BE- ia authority forEcts TO
give orders. Tho reason has gone
bu; IN. guards remain.
How many ru~sn-nto~- OF war are
going 70 remain IN tho United states
because somebody doesn't remember
about tho little thlngs--bccauhe I, II
nobody's particular duty 10 fcmsm'
Der and. therefore. nobody doeaf one
il reminded. for example. when pass
Ing the big bureau Of printing and
engraving building here by seeing
three little lookout houses with
guards IN each. supposedly on watch
for en.erpri-ing Huns who might be
riding up in armed batiaiions 20 grab
of the paper money as u comes
fresh from the presses.
Those little guard hoxes and
guards. with their windows. their
electric lights and telephone oonncc-
tons. were ali put there as a war
emergency. just as guards were sta.
TONED At each end OF tn. bridge
across the Potomac which connects
Washington with Virginia. The
bridge guards have long since been
removed. but tn. men In their little
boxes go on reading their news
II you have occasion TO visit any
Of the group of buildings in tho vicin-
lty OF sixth and y Hts. whore the
great army OF ordnance clerks and
officers toll. you would be met at
the door by n guard In uniform and
would be sent along TO n room where
Z 81. Ls
are ready to find your business and
direct you to the proper room. Passes
have been required or other crcden-
tails 10 enter these buildings. but
after you get In and are on your
way 10 an office on the second or
third floor you notice guards Mt the
foot of the stairs. These are sleepy
old gentlemen sitting In chairs. some
times asleep and sometimes not.
They pay no attention TO you and
Il is not necessary 10 present any
further credentials or explanations
In order 20 get by them. II they
have any duties. ! have not been
able TO learn what they are.
would hate TO see any Of the old
gentlemen separated from the pay.
roll. Age generally needs a Job and
these old parties probably help 20
support q family. But they are like
the horseguards In London and they
probably will 30 on now Indefinitely
doing i'm their chairs and seeing that
nobody runs away with the stair.
case or the banistcrH before the
wrecking crew appears.
Not long ago came across party
of e navy boys on desolatc Flor.
Ida key. They had been on duty MS
part Of the coast patrol. and when
the patrol duty ceased they were sent
to the nearest station. which was
the key In question. and there they
were. apparently forgotten. They
were wondering hunRrily II anybody
would ever rfmerpber them and let
them go home 10 their Jobs. their
wives and the moving pictures.
I noticed the other day that n cou.
pie Of companies OF Wisconsin boys
who had been recruited as automo.
bile engineers complained they had
.
emily to remain forever at Gum
Springs. Vlrginin. where they had
been set to building country roads.
The boys thought they had been
enlisted to fight the kaiser. and when
I Bll took to Holland and the presi.
dent began writing the peace terms
they were ready to go back 10 home
and mothers. But nothing happened.
/ Road labor WAS scarce and even
colored men who worked Alongside
| them were getting $3.50 q day. SO
nobody remembered 10 discharge
them or buy them tickets back TO
good old Madison.
In the district Jail OF Washington.
| ID. c.. | found last week. there had
been a poor German girl who more