The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1931-12-02

picture WOaC ms WOul0 nave USGu
at the Front; somebody would
have always have had to be
looking after him one way or
another, and he would certainly
never have become an f.!C.O.
Demonstrations in the streets
were called for this afternoon.
Prices have been soaring every
where for months past, and the
poverty Is greater even than
it was during the war. Wages
are insufficient to buy the
bare necessities Of life, ana
even though one may have
the money it is often impos-
sible to buy anything with 1t.
But ever more and more gin
palaces and dance halls go
up, and ever more and more
blatant is the profiteering and
swindling.
On Strike!
Scattered groups of workers
on strike march through the
streets. Now and again there
is a disturbance. A rumor Is
going about that troops have
been concentrated at the bar.
racks. But there is no sign
of it as yet.
Here and there one hears
cries and counter-cries. Some
body is haranguing at a street
corner. Then suddenly every
where is silence.
A procession of men in the
faded uniforms of the front
line trenches is moving slowly
toward us.
It is formed up by sections,
marching III tours. Big white
placards are carried before:
Where Is the Fatherland'S Graf
itude?-The War Cripples Are
Starving.
The men with one arm are
carrying the placardS, and they
look around continually to see
if the procession is still COM
ing along properly behind
them, for they are the fastest.
These are followed by men
with sheep dogs on short,
leather leads.
The animals have the red
cross of the blind at their col
lars. Watchfully they walk
along beside their masters. If
the procession haltS they sit
down, and then the blind men
stop. Sometimes dogs off the
street will rush in among the
column, barking and wagging
their tails, wanting to romp and
play with them. But these
merely turn their heads and
take no notice of all the sniff
fling and yapping. Yet their
ears are erect, pricked and
alert, aAd their eyes are alive;
but they walk as if they no
longer wished to run and to
jump, as if they understood for
what they are there. They
have Separ ted themselves
from their fellows, as Sisters of
Mercy separate themselves from
jolly shop girls. Nor do the
other dogs persist long; after a
few minutes they give up and
make off in such haste that it
looks almost as if they were
flying from something. Only a
powerful mastiff stands still,
and with front legs widely
straddling, banks slowly, deep
and hollow, till the procession
is past.
A Hidden Face
1t is strange how a face with
out eyes alters-how in the
upper half it becomes extinct.
smooth and dead; and how odd
tne mouth is in comparison.
when it speaks! Only the lower
nalf of the face lives. All these
nave been shot blind: and 50
they behave differently from
men born blind. They are
more violent, and at the same
tlme more cautious. in their
gestures that have not vet
gained the sureness of many
years OF darkness. The mem.
Dry OF colors, of sky, earth and
CW1llgnt still lives with them
!ney move still as if thew
nad eyes: involuntarily thew iii
and turn their heads to SEQ
who it is that speaks "a them
some have black patches or
oandages over their eyes but
most go without them. as if bv
mat means they would stand
nearer to colors and the light
Thelr eyelidS are withered and
Closed; only the narrow strip
OF the lower lid still prC trudes
little, blotched, wet and red
IKE a dim, cherries dawn
Many of them are healthy
powerful fellows with strong
nmns that would like well to
move freely and have. plav
Inc pale sunset of the March
SKY CLEANS behind their bowed
neads: In shop windows the
1lrSt lamps are being LIGHTED
BUT they hardly feel the mild,
sweet air of evening on their
prov. In their heavy boots
tney move slowly through the
everlasting darkness that
stretches about them ike a
cloud; and troubled and per
slstent. their thoughts Chamber
up and down the meager scale
OF figures that would mean
bread and comfort and lfe to