Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-05
WAR STANDS STILL
WHEN POET CALLS
Pershing HaIts Work to Meet
Late Ella Wheeler Wilcox
in France.

HARTFORD, Conn. February S
decreed that the war must stop for half
an hour so he might chat with Ella
Wheeler wilcox and young lady who
accompanied her, so that companion,
who lives in West Hartford and signs
herself May Randall, writes the Hart
ford Courant Her letter follows
In January 1918, l went to France
with the late Ella Wheeler Wilcox,
famous writer and poet She was very
anxious to get into some kind CT war
work and was ready to give Of her
talents, money and time to help in any
way that opened.
las soon as it became known that
she was in Paris, TO her great surprise
she found she was wanted to give talks
and read her poems. Many Y. NJ. c. A.
secretaries called upon her and begged
her to say few words to the boys in
the recreation huts.
while this was an entirely new field,
as she had never given any public talks,
if this was really what was expected of
her she would gladly try her hand.
From then on to the time of the arrnis-
tice that was her work. We travelled all
over France. giving entertainments in
Enthusiastically Received.
"She wrote many poems for and about
the American soldier and was enthusi-
aStically received everywhere. The boys
all seemed glad to meet such a distin-
guiShed countrywoman, to get an auto
graphed poem or Just to shake her
hand. recited the poems both the
new war poems and many of the old
favr a
mand. One day she was kept busy
autographing $50 copies of a little poem,
The Girl From the u. S. A
I'VE had been in Paris only short
time when, one day, on arriving at our
hotel after Q day of work in the Grand
Palais, she found a message signed by
Gen. Pershing, requesting the presence
of Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox at his
headquarters. An orderly would call
for US in half an hour.
I'VE were certainly thrilled at this
command There was just time to
scramble into one Of our few pretty
frocks to do honor to the occasion.
The first thrill came when the generals
own car drove up to the door Up to
then our only conveyance had been
crazy voiture with, usually, a drunken
driver.
"A short ride brought US TO the beau
tiful house once the home OF a high
French official. but now the generals
headquarters. We were ushered into a
large, lovely room hung with gold bro
cade and beautiful paintings. Soon
Gen. Pershing appeared with out
stretched hands in greeting and the
famous Pershing smile.
Praised Her Work.
Now he exclaimed, this war viii
Just have to stop for half an hour while
chat with you ladies'
He said he had admired her beau
tiful. helpful poems as long as he could
remember, and had always hoped TO
meet her; so when he heard she was
right there in Paris, O near neighbor,
he thought that was his chance.
II, have often wondered how you
look he added laughingly, and now
know He praised her work among the
boys. said he knew she gave them Q
splendid entertainment. and was only
sorry he, too. could not be present.
During our short call he chatted
most agreFably. and we certainly were
thrilled and highly honored with our
unusual opportunity to have a real in
terview with our famous general. There
were many thrills during that stirring
year, but nothing quite came up to our
meeting with Gen. Pershing."
(Copyright, 1881, By North American News
paper Allianee.)