The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-07
Government Hotels Again.

To the Editor. The Washington Herald
'Subversive of Decorum,'' is the
title of the letter that I wish to
answer in my second defense of the
government hotels. was greatly
amazed at Mr.. Pope's misinterpre-
tation of my statement concerning
the privilege of entertaining our
friends seven nights in a week. !
was fully convinced OF the fact that
ito the evil all things are evil. but
to the pure all things are pure"
In my letter nothing was said about
date making" merely implied
that we could receive our friends
in a dignified and hospitable man
ner without unnecessary interior
ence. / meant that we are allowed
to use the parlors every night in
the week for the entertainment OF
our friends-ladies or gentlemen
up to a reasonable hour.
AS a matter OF fact, a great many
of our guests are taking advan-
tage Of washington's educational
opportunities and are unable to de-
vote many nights a week to their
friends. Since the majority Of the
ladies' at the government hotels
are people of stability and educa-
ton, they can do just about as
they please" without need OF CEN
sorship. However. II would be un-
true to say that there Is mo re-
straint" here. All visitors are
obliged to leave the hotels no later
than IL o'clock n. m. and guests
who remain out after that hour are
required to leave their names at
the Office in order that investiga-
ton may be made when necessary.
Moreover. the management does
everything in its power to maintain
a high standard for these hotels.
For the sake OF argument. let US
suppose that one OF our girls had a
brother or a gentleman friend who
wished to Jsee her two or three
nights a week. Would IL not he less
"subversive of decrSum" to meet
him in the parlor than TO enter
tain him in the hall, on the steps.
in a park. or in a moving picture
theater as many girls In this city
arc forced to do?
Again ! saw most emphatically
that these hotels are still serving a
splendid purpose. Mr.. Pope says
that there are plenty Of Washing
ton homes in which these young
ladies may find all the comforts and
privileges of their own homes. What
a sweeping statement! How does
he know about the comforts and the
privileges Of our homes? Has he
visited the homes OF the 1900
women who reside at the govern
r.
one of these. hotels7 II his knowl-
Washington" is on par with his
knowledge of these hotels. con-
sider his arguments Of little ac-
count.
In regard to the housekeepers
who periodically" turned their
parlors into bedrooms during the war
period. am inclined to think that
in Tnanv cases, We would not have
received their hospitality without a
monetary consideration. When
seeking a room at the home Of one
of these ladies. she assured me that
she would want me to feel lat
home" She kindly consented to
allow me to heat enough water to
wash my face three times a week
provided that I furnish q vessel of
the thinnest tin which heats very
quickly She provided hot water
for the bathroom once a week.
There was a decided lack of home
comforts here long after the war,
as the following instance will illus
trate. A young woman who COM
planned to her landlady about her
cold room was advised by this
woman to follow her method of
keeping warm; namely. to drink
warm water containing peppermint.
This. she explained, heated the body
and saved fuel.
I know of patriotic" woman
who rented a house for $26 and
sublet one of her rooms for $50 per
month. Another woman. eager to
do her bit." paid $3.50 per month
Tor her house and rented rooms
that brought her over 800 per
month.
Mr.. Pope says that .the govern
ment hotels work a great injustice
upon q large proportion of the citi-
zenship upon which the government
Is quick to lean in times OF emery
ency." but does the government
lean upon the citizens of Washing
ton alone in such times? Could "the
heartof the nation stand the stress
without the assistance OF the forty
eight Staes7