192 MEMOIRS OF
Frank looked as though the earth had opened before him for, of course, neither he nor Jessie had thought of it in that light, only welcoming the opportunity to serve. It was a tremendous disappointment to them both, which they accepted in the finest spirit, and he afterwards went over as a Y.M.C.A. worker without remuneration.
Since the War, George Creel has mentioned this episode in one of his amusing stories published, I think, in the Saturday Evening Post. He stretches the truth a little to make a good story, saying that as Frank was going up the gang-plank of a transport the President took him by the collar and yanked him off.
There was also the case of Margaret. From the moment of our entrance into the War the dream of her life had been to go over and sing to our soldiers. Her father was unwilling, saying that she would be another person to feed on the other side and that, being the President's daughter, she would put a responsibility on the French Government. Tearfully Margaret accepted this decision. She told me that she felt herself a slacker. The fact is that few women could match the contribution she had made in money alone, remitting to the Red Cross every penny earned on two long and profitable concert tours.
As the War drew near the end, however, I am glad to say that the President yielded to her prayers. She came down from New York, bringing her music teacher and her accompanist, Mr. and Mrs. David, for a short sojourn before sailing. It was a pleasure to see one so happy and radiant as she went about die house singing, busy with preparations for departure. It was impossible not to share her enthusiasm when we drove to the train to see her off.
This brings back the memory of still another complication along the same line. The husband of a relative of the President petitioned the War Department for contracts in connection with the building of cantonments. Some of these had been granted when a friend of the President brought the