The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-03
Observations
Country Failing
to See Meaning
Of Invasion
BY Helen EsSsry

The INVASION, But When / see
and hear It glibly discussed l feel
III and weak with horror
The war must be fought and won,
now that We are in il, body and
soul We must get somewhere
quickly-if We are ever TO finish
IN awful thing.
The Invasion the words have
a Conquering sound. But I cannot
picture the triumph. We will sue
coed We will win. We must But
as think the words The lnya-
sion | cannot picture glory alone,
nor hear only the beating OF eXult.
ing drums. ! hear also the beating
OF hearts, timed to desperation
and fear.
And see some OF the boys
knew. nice young boys. babies al.
most, and thousands OF other boys
climbing hateful cliffs. struggling
through murderous waters Throw
ing themselves Al suffering and
death
think OF the leaders who drive
the boys on. And OF the nonchal.
snce OF people like you and me
civilian people.
I've been travelling about the
country lately and have been ash.
AIMED OF civilian indifference.
Washington is condemned some
times for its wartime friyolity.
Yet a kind OF pail does hang over
the city. In other parts OF the
country was reminded OF this
observation made in The New
York Independent during the worst
days of tho Civil War:
Who at the North would ever
think OF war. II he had not a friend
in the Army or read the newspa-
pers? Go into Broadway and We
will show you what is meant by
'eXtravagance' Ask Stewart about
demand for camels hair shawls and
he will say. 'monstrous'. Ask Tiff
fanny what kinds OF diamonds and
pearls are called for. He will
answer the prodigious kind. as
near hens eggs in size as possible
price no object. What kinds OF
carpeting are now anted? None
but extra Brussels and velvets
are now used from basement TO
garnet.
I NOW MOVE QUICKLY TO
ONE COMMENDABLE EFFORT
10 bring Washington TO a proper
wartime basis. Everybody knows
that in this elegant gathering place
Of the military you may see more
exciting personalities than any
where else in the town
So popular has the club become
as a result OF this happy com bina-
ton OF vitsmins and decor. that
President Allen Gullion and the
board OF governors have had 10
make a ruling which is a polite
attempt to discourage the ladies'
lunches that now flourish daily
in the clubhouse at Seventeenth
and Eye Streets so that men who
are running the war may be able
10 eat quickly and get back to
their Offices
Writes Club Secretary William
c. Coe In special bulletin:
The house committee has d.
rected that during the lunch hour
the south third OF the main din
ing room and the adjacent rooms
fronting on Eye Street will be re-
served for men. The necessity for
this action is based on the difficult
~ OF obtaining table space fire.
ouently experienced by officers de.
string TO have lunch in the main
dining room OF the club
1T HAPPENS NOW AND THEN.
however, that when some women
move in. other women and not men
have 10 move out | illustrate my
point with a lively quotation from
a letter that came TO me this
morning.
The letter is from AN Irritated
Army Wife. 1t may make sew
eral people mad. But It 10 bona
fide and hereby print part Of the
Communication by special request.
Il would like 10 tell you the
plight OF the wives OF the Army
officers in the division OF the PEN
tsgon Building which had a buffet
supper and dance last month at
one OF the Washington hotels.
The wives were definitely not in
vited-at the request OF the female
employees.
The stenographers In this diyi.
sion-so I understand-felt that
their morale (overworked world
was ankle deep in the mire and that
the only thing that would make
their spirits soar high enough for
them 10 carry on their jobs was
party to which the wives were
NOT invited.
One OF the officers mentioned
inviting the wives and was told
firmly by the committee OF steno.
graphers that inviting the wives
did not meet With the girls ap-
proyal. At a previous party wives
were invited and stayed in little
groups with the officers while the
girls who had been told to bring
dates but evidently had none to
bring, were wall flowers"
WASHINGTON APP The
CusnJtah nxnkanao ill., r -gr.kz1.-