The war wasn't mentioned.

Sharp and I might have come from Bungtown and Jonesville and not from France and England.

We were not encouraged to talk--the local personal joke held the time and conversation.

This astounding fact must be the result of this lone-hand, water-tight compartment method and--of the neutrality suppression of men.

The Vice-President confessed to his neighbour at a Gridiron dinner that he had read none of the White Papers, or Orange Papers, etc., of the belligerent governments--confessed this with pride--lest he should form an opinion and cease to be neutral! Miss X, a member of the President's household, said to Mrs.Y, the day we lunched there, that she had made a remark privately to Sharp showing her admiration of the French.
"Was that a violation of neutrality ?" she asked in all seriousness.
I can see it in no other way but this: the President suppressed free thought and free speech when he insisted upon personal neutrality.