The times., 1898-07-08
Headquarters. for Visiting
Soldiers.

Above ii hutters a sheaf of star-border-
ed pennants with the word Welcome"
blazoned on each in letters of true blue
And the meaning of the placard and
poster and pennants is this:
The establishment of Camp Alger at
Falls Church brings a great many soldiers
TO this city. most OF them strangers, who
have no place 20 go when tired out with
sightseeing or exhausted with the heat
A number of ladies and gentlemen. feel
ing that pleasant rooms where such Wis
itors would be welcome to rest read the
papers or write letter. would be
appreciated. have fitted up a suite
of rooms at the above number
and have extended invitations to the Off
GERS and soldiers of Camp Alger to con-
slider the place their headquarters when
ever they come to town.
The idea originated about three weeks
ago with Miss Harriet Hawley, the
daughter of Gen. A. c, Hawley. who
went at once to her aunt, Mrs. Case.
wife of Capt. Case, of the army. for as
sistance in her scheme. Mrs. Case is an
earnest worker with d great deal of expe-
rience on such lines. gained during the
civil war, and it is through the unremit-
ting energy of these ladies' together with
| Mrs J. w. Babcock, DR. ida Heiberger.
Miss Jennie Meigs and others prominent
In military and philanthropic circles. that
| the movement was placed on a substan-
| tial basis and is fiourishing within three
| weeks of Its inception.
| The first meeting was held June 23 at
| he residence of Mrs Case consider
! ways and means for the opening and sup
port of a headquarters for visiting SOL
| diers." Mrs Babcock was elected presi-
! dent. Mrs. f. L. Sherwood vice president
/ and Mrs. Case secretary and treasurer.
| The executive committee included Miss
| Hawley. Dr. Heiberger. Miss Meigs. Mrs.
! George G Hazelton. Mrs f. Villa Mrs.
| Clifford Howard. Mrs. Stancell. Miss Os-
! burne Miss HosaCk and Mrs. Moore.
Almost Immediately afterward. a suite
! OF three rooms on the second floor OF
! the building on the south corner of
Pennsylvania Avenue and Twelfth Street
were secured and speedily fitted up with
donated furnishings that any soldier
! who takes advantage of the little pla-
| card. the big poster and the fiuttering
pennants has only to walk up one flight
! OF steps to find himself on the threshold
| of three big, breezy rooms. in any Of
| which, or all of them if he chooses, he
| can rest for as many hours as he pleaseS
and make himself really and truly at
! home.
| He VIII find Miss Hawley or some
! other OF the ladies' in charge waiting in
] the reception room TO give him a cordial
! welcome and they viii leave him
! free 10 amuse himself into o-restfulness. IL
/ he is well enough 10 read or write. or
to care for him professionally If he is
| ILL., DR.. Heiberger has generously donat-
| ed her services to the cause. and spends
| a portion OF each day at headquarters to
| help those In need of medical aid.
| In the reading room there are chintZ-
covered couches, wicker easy chairs. an
| ice cooler and a big table in the middle
| of the floor piled with papers and maga-
! zines.
The washroom is just back of the read
ing room. and at almost any hour in the
day 1t IS occupied by from one to half a
dozen soldiers. who fairly revel in shiny
tin basins OF cool water. cakes of soap
and big. snowy towels. In this room.
! also, there are lockers for packages, a
/ blacking outfit and luxurious outlay of
/ whisk brooms. brushes and combs There
| are awnings at the windows of each
! room TO keep out the glare of the sun.
! In the reading room there is a large
| colored map tackled along the wall. and
everywhere may be seen shields, prints