Indiana daily times., 1921-04-22
By JOSEPHUS DANIELS,

Copyright 1921, by John F. Ollie. Copy
right by National Newspaper Service.
Copyright in Great Britain, Canada and
throughout Europe. All rights reserved.
including translation into foreign Ian
guages, including Scandinavian. Unau-
thorized reprintins for any purpose for
hidden.
ARTICLE 9.
The coming of Prince Udine to the
capital brought to Washington soci-
ETY. not only one of its most pleas
urable thrill, but, beyond all ques-
tion, its most agitating shock. OF
the latter the Prince was the inno-
cent and unconscious cause.
Washington society, like the so
ciety of all other American cities,
gave itself with whOle-hearted devo-
tion to war service Youth and
beauty and charm engaged in ardu-
Gus tasks for the Red Cross or the
Liberty Loan campaign, and many
a society belle went weary to her
bed at night as a result of having
done a real days work for her coun-
try.
All of US who bore something of
the burden in those days knew the
joy and satisfaction to be derived
from a sense of exhaustion every
tired tingle of which was due to the
expenditure of strength, for the sake
of America.
But there had to be hours OF reiaxa-
ton, times when the strain was relieved
hpy diversion. Mind and nerve could not
~stand the high pressure continuously.
MISSIONS SUPPLY
RELAXATION.
The theaters, the movies, golf, base
ball-these all helped rational morale.
They were as necessary as the stimu-
lating appeals of posters and martial
music and flags.
So it happened that in Washington the
missions from the allied nations served
. a double purpose.
Their primary purpose, Of course. was
to lay before the American government
all the facts and conditions without re-
serve. and to place before responsible of
ficiaIs the true situation as they had
learned it. But a secondary purpose
which Washington discovered for them
was to provide excuse for that relaxa-
tion which everybody felt was requisite.
: but which seemed to demand some ex-
traordinary occasion in order to justify
it.
Our distin guished guests must be en-
tertained. 1t was a patriotic duty to see
that they were treated with the utmost
hospitality. 1t was a duty we owed, not
alone to ourselves, but to the common
cause. These men who came out of the
atmosphere of war. with the weight OF
nations on their shoulders. were entitled
TO their hour Of play, and it was our
privilege to play with them.
YOUTH HAS
ITS CLAIMS.
1t may be that there were those who
regarded this phase OF our war duties
with greater pleasure and interest than
some others. but youth is youth, and
love and laughter and the dance-even
in war time-are youths right. Those
who visited London during the dark
days when Taubes and Zeppelins were
raiding the metropolis remember that
many a brilliant gathering was to be
seen In the dining rooms and ba'lrooms
of the great hotels, and that entertain
ing the soldier on furlough or the sailor
with shore leave was regarded as
mandatory duty and a high privilege.
On all of the missions which came to
America there were men, of course, for
whom the lighter forms of entertainment
held no attraction. But on all, or nearly
all there were men. young, high-spirited
and socially inclined who welcomed the
opportunity to meet our american wom-
en- and girls, to exchange compliments
and to dance with them.
The italian mission was composed Of
the most delightful gentlemen, with all
the Latin grace and courtesy and the
Latin skill for paying a delicate compli-
ment in the most fascinating manner.
PRINCE CAPTIyATES
ALL WASHINGTON.
But Prince Udine was the man who,
from the first, provoked the interest and
won the favor of Washington society.
To begin with, the Prince was a cousin
of the king of Italy, which enhanced the
value of his title. Furthermore, he was
unmarried, and in these dsys unmarried
princes are showing an inclination TO
seek wives in spheres less elevated than
their own. Beyond this, he was hand
some. charming and danced divinely-
what more could you ask?
Society was thrilled!
Society pursued the Prince. There
were many receptions and dances The
Prince was tactful- in comforting his
smiles, and many of the most beautiful
bellies Of the capital danced with him
The series of events reached a climax
in a big hall at which the prince was
the guest of honor.
That night he was more gracious and
charming than ever. He danced almost
continuously and with impartial appre-
citation for the youth and loveliness
which thrOnged the ballroom.
With proud thoughts Of the impress
sion they had made upon the romantic
scion of italian royalty the captivating
daughters of Washington returned to
their homes in the early morning follow
ing a perfect night.
Memory would dwell happily upon
that night for years to come.
Then, suddenly. rumor!
..Nnf NEhn I1-.-..E.-.----.