Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-17

Like the moon on a Winter night
before the first snow, the remem-
brance of Washington people warns
the naked hill roads of life for 500
World War veterans at Walter Reed
Hospital.
1t is no longer d comfortable after
noon sun of gratitude shining upon
legless. armless men, as it was when
the evening of war time was approach
ing after the hot noon of battle. 1t is
something DINNER and colder now
The roads have grown wearier and
nanny have forgotten. But it is
bright enough and warm enough to
soften the cruel outlines of the stark
cliffs ahead and the painful gullies of
the present.
1t is just this yellow moonlight of
Washington's remembrance that
makes Walter Reed "a comparative
paradise among veteran hospitals.
Such is the opinion of the perman ent-
ly disabled and pain-wracked men
lounging about the Red Cross quar-
ters or Hmping along the garden Dor
dered paths. Most of them have ex-
perienced other hospitals and are glad
of the change, although their trans
fers here often forecast dangerous op
erations..
Capital Has Not Forgotten.
For some time past there have been
disquieting reports that Washington
had forgotten. 1t is difficult to trace
these to any of the veterans. Almost
to a man, investigation shows. they
are satisfied that the heart of the Ma
tional Capital has not grown cold to
them. Perhaps there are not so many
pretty girls on Sunday afternoons.
Automobile rides may not be quite as
plentiful as they were a few years
ago. The men do not expect it.
A casual inquiry among consider
able number of patients on crutches
or with bandaged faces leads to the
remarkable conclusion that among the
men at Walter Reed there are very
few real malcontent. At the average
Army post, where perfectly healthy
men find time heavy on their hands,
they amuse themselves with grum-
bling, cursing and hating the whole
established order of things from the
top sergeant up. AT the great Bright
wood hospital, time not only hangs
cases life is a continual experience
of pain and in many instances of
hopelessness. Apparently it is an
ideal breeding ground for discomfort
and revolt and hatred. But the OBJ
server is faced with the curious phe-
nomenon of such surroundings pro
duclng content and ambition.
Discipline Rests Lightly.
Walter Reed presumably is a mill
tary hospital under military disci-
pine. The veterans are there by invi-
tatlon of the War Department, unless
they happen to be still in the Regular
Army. But the discipline rests light
ly upon them 1t is applied only as
medical treatment is concerned. Other
wise the veterans are free to go and
come as they please.
a Star reporter visited the hospital
the other day to trace down whatever
substance might be in the rumors of
Washington forgetfulness. The most
cynical man on the staff was chosen
Tor this assignment. Naturally, he
didn't expect to find any particular
heroism at Walter Reed. He expect
ed to find complaining, whining men,
who had got into their poor heads
the curious idea that they were heroes
and ill-treated heroes.
Found Real Heroes.
The statement that he found real
heroes who did not complain, but who
actually thought they were getting as
much from the people of Washington
as was coming to them, is almost
unbelievable, but true. Among about
score of men interviewed, he failed
to find single complainer-and some
OF them obviously were in constant
physical pain. 1t is more remarkable
in that the veterans didn't know they
were talking to a reporter. They
! thought The Star man was an infantry
corporal just transferred to Walter
Reed from Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, to be
operated upon for stomach trouble.
There was unrest, of course. Spring
| is enticingly dancing upon lawn and
| fiowerbed. Auto parties with girls
wearing bright red hats speed through
| the grounds from Sixteenth street to
Georgia avenue. Outside the gates is
the abundant life of May, with the
sun getting hotter and the woods
getting greener. And 500 sick men in
the wooden wards have only the
| Winter moon of diminishing remem
brance to light their lives in this
season Of surging creation. But not
one of them complained.
Worse Than War.
After all, it Is one thing to charge
a machine gun nest and quite another
thing to live for 10 years with one
| leg and a skin grating operation al
| overwhelmingly frequent intervals. The
] fist is heroic only because it is pic