Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02
For Visiting Soldiers.

To the Editor of The Evening Star,
On the southwest corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street can be seen this
sign: Headquarters of Visiting Soldiers"
The entrance is at No. 1904.
These rooms are just what their name
suggests. They were opened last Thurs
day, barren of furniture, but with great
faith in the people of Washington. So far
that faith has not been misplaced.
On the first day the sign was hung out
about twenty of the boys in blue were en-
tertained, though the only seat that could
be offered was on the window stills.
The furniture began to come in-chairs
tables, a water tank, etc. Printing was
contributed, subscription from The Star
and copies of other local papers. Papers
from most of the states are also at hand.
Since then rooms have been kept open
every day Including Sunday, wnen about
20 per cent of the boys are in the city,
from in the morning towel, as late as
the soldiers want to stay-generally about
Z o'clock.
General Hawley is on hand most of the
time and his voice is one of the first to
greet the newcomers in a way that puts
them at ease on the instant. AS he stands
talking, all at once he spies two men cross
ing the avenue. There come two fellows
now Out he goes into the hail. and a.
moment later you hear a hearty voice cry
ing: Come right in. Make yourselves at
home. Here's the wash room. There's the
backing box and brushes Have a wash
up. In there you'll find plenty of papers
and magazines" And the boys accept the
hospitality in the spirit it Is offered, and
fairly beam with delight as they see the
opportunities to clean up, and then have a.
half hour in quiet with the papers that are
on the long table in the next room. Bum
dies are left in lockers to be called for later
in the day. Faces fairly glisten with the
scrubbing given them, and the height Of
enjoyment is reached as one of the visitors
sinks into a rocking chair, saying: This
feels good. ! haven't sat in a rocking chair
for month
Do not think the boys are being "cod-
died" in way that is weakening, for that
Is not so. They are strengthened as they
come and go. The first picture to greet
them is one OF Admiral Dewey. Their ad-
miration Of him Is not always silent, and
one and all express a great desire to go to
the front. There is good stuff in these
soldier boys Of ours. And these women
VINO give their time to this work are help
ing to keep that good in the ascendancy
and to prepare them for going to the front
ready to do the best work of which they
are capable.
clan and trained nurse. while ali who are
In attendance know how to rebind the bad
arms resulting from vaccination.
II a boy turns up sick. as one did the
other day. half Frustrated by the heat Of
the sun, there is a quiet corner and easy
couch for him to rest upon. The payment
comes when the sick boy says: II haven't
had such a good rest for months"
There has been no general cali for sub
scriptions to support this work as yet but
these rooms need ali the assistance they
can get. 1t Will only take a little help from
the readers of this letter to make the
hearts of these women workers glad, and
to aid them in sending the boys in blue
to the front happy for the courtesies they
have received in our city, and assured that
we do not forget them when they don the
countrys uniform, but rather that we want
to ease their dfscomforts and help cheer
them on their way.
(Rev) LESLIE MOORE,
Pastor Universalist Church,
18th and L northwest