NEW YORK IN WARTIME

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 161, 27 March 1918, Page 3

NEW YORK IN WARTIME

'-'£ NEW ZEALANDER'g DEPRESSIONS. )_ Writing from Now York to relatives in this city, a New Zealand lady says in tho course of her letter: '"this is the coldest winter since the 'eighties, and tho suffering through shortage of coal has been very keen. We havo had two workless Mondays and more are to follow. This is a plan to conserve coal. Every energy is bent upon transporting men and fowl across the ocean, and the coaling of ships is the first consideration. The inclement weather prevents the coal front being moved, as linos aro blocked, barges frozen in, and tlio coal frozen together in the trucks, so that it has to undergo a second mining. Devilish aliens are causing fires and explosions all over the country. Some apartment houses have not been able to get coal, and rich people have had to shut up their houses and apartments ryyi flock into tho hotels, which have been crowded. People are stinted in their food, and it is very had for the gnfwing children and for hardworking people. It is very hard to get a paper at present. All the paper-sellers are out on strike. The price lias,.gone up to 2 cents., and the sellers say that the profit on tho papers is smaller since the larger'rate began. Woollen clothing is almost unknown hero. I paid about 7s. for a pair of stockingß that I could have got in pre-war days at 2s. 6d. "Tho Russians are judged very leniently here. Tho word 'republic' is not one to conjure with, and a woman said to me tauntingly, 'You're under K ; ng George's thumb.' Most of them have no idea of our form of government and connection with England,' and yet in many directions they are_ amazingly well-informed and public-spirited, and are taking the right to vote very seriously. Classes are held all over the city to educate foreign women how to vote intelligently. Clever women have great opportunities in this country, but I think you have to be educated in it to get the hang of things, somehow. Public school teaching seems to be a despised sort of profession, but women organisers are valued, and a good public speaker is always in demand. There aro so many clubs and societies all pushing their own particular propa-, ganda. I am often astonished at the viewpoint "of people. I have spoken ,to hero. A very common idea is that Franco is bursting with love and admiration for the United Statu* for rushing to their help. I heard a preacher saying. 'Wo are the most beloved people in the world.' No wonder they are proud of their country. It is "wonderftil in point of size 'mid natural productions. A little while ago I.read that an area in Texas as largo as Germany was on fire. All religions seem to live happily together here, and there is no fuss made about separate schools for Protectant and Roman Catholic children. The President I have seen .several times, and he is hist like his portraits. Milk, wretched stuff,' is 10 cents, a pint bottle, and butter about 56 cents, a pound. War bread is to be the rule from to-morrow, and is to be 8 cents, a pound. Beans aro, very popular, and cheaper than most foods."