New York in the Great World War of 1917

The entrance of a great country into a war of such a
serious character as the one now confronting us, brought
forth in New York one of the most patriotic demonstra¬
tions ever witnessed in the history of the city. Flags,
banners, streamers, badges, buttons, and every device by
which the national colors could be appropriately dis¬
played were everywhere in evidence. When the great
War Commissions appeared, and Joffre, Viviani, Balfour,
Udine and Marconi were actually in the streets, the
Allied flags promptly made their appearance and the
effect was indescribably beautiful. Luncheons, dinners
and every sort of public appreciation was lavished upon
the distinguished visitors and New York gave unmis¬
takable evidence of her pro-Ally leanings. The main
thoroughfares like Broadway, Wall Street, Fifth Avenue,
the Battery, etc., were a living mass of color. Such a
wealth of decoration never appeared before and it will
be a long time before it is repeated. So important did
this seem to us that we had a number of views specially
painted to record this demonstration. These pictures in
all probability will soon become of great historic value,
as we know of no others in existence.

The views are by our own special artist. Miss Alice
Heath. They are an interesting souvenir of a rare oc¬
casion and are worthy of careful preservation.

The most important concession the New Yorker has
yet made to the war is to agree to go home not later than
I a.m. At least, all cabarets, theatres, restaurants, etc.,
close at that hour and when you deduct the time spent
in rising when "Poor Butterfly," the "Star Spangled Ban¬
ner," "My Country Tis of Thee," and "Dixie" are
played, you can readily see that the poor New Yorker is
really quite a patriotic martyr. He never knows exactly
for which tune he should rise, so he stands for all and
thus performs a needless amount of labor and besides
lets his dinner grow cold.

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