The evening times., 1898-07-29
NAERts0l0I[RS Nlfagf
The Con lert Rooms Afford q Ma.
-~-s
ven Tor Weary Volunteers.
INCIDENTS OF THG WORK
The History Of One Days Events
There Forms Ample Qualification
: The College-Bred Boy-stories of
Mothers Lads and Their Woes.

ss-6- n. -. :
It Is now a little over one month since
the headquarters for visiting soldiers was
opened at No. 120 Pennsylvania Avenue
northwest. and over 1000 soldiers have
found there rest and comfort that were
not afforded at any other place in the
city. These men come from Camp Al
ton. and as the rooms are opened early
in the day. many have dropped in on
their arrival, who wash up and freshen
themselves before going out sightseeing.
while those tired from tramping around
in the heat and dust come In to rest
and read the papers before starting
back to camp.
The history OF one day In camp af-
fords an object lesson as an excuse for
the RESTS" being. At 7:3o the janitor
opens up the rooms, which are swept
ing flowers on the tables alongside of
papers donated by the publishers Of va
riouS dailies, morning and evening. The
couches are all trim, and the pillows
unmussed by tired heads. The well-shad-
ed windows. north south and east, are
open. and the welcome" banners sus-
pended from the ceiling futter In the
fresh morning air. Presently two or
more ladies put in an appearance-most
likely Miss Hawley. Miss Meigs or Miss
Taylor-whO are, with Mrs. Case; the
''s,and-bys' until the regular detail of
hostesses for the day appear.
DR.. Heiberger Is also one of the first
arrivals, for the men who have sore arms
from vaccination come in to have them
dressed. as such fitness Is usually con-
sidered too Insignificant for the field hos
ptal surgeon to attend to. Yet bad
arm may cause a great deal of discom-
fort. The woman doctor is a popular per-
son with the boys who need her services.
The service is all the more beautiful be-
cause DR.. Heiberger Is one of the best
equipped physicians in the city. and had
already enough to do when she felt called
to give some OF her time to the soldier
boys. Sick headaches and other slight
ailments are looked after during the day.
From o'clock there Is scarcely a day
when there are not fifty or more visitors.
All the ladies who are on active duty
wear the badge bearing the insignia
Soldiers Comfort Rooms In gilt letters
on the red, white and blue ribbon.
Each day affords its quota OF Incidents.
College-bred boys, who remind one of
some kind Of choice fruit or flower done
up in a rough sheath of leaves, the SOL
diers' uniform. for one soon LEARNS to pick
out the cultured lads by words or man.
ner. just as readily as one may read the
sign in word or carriage that another
comes from the farm, and has seen but
little of what is called life. Some come
in with a tell-tale flush on their cheeks,
but all receive just such a welcome as
their mother or sister would be likely to
give them at home under similar circum-
stances. The idea Of the comfort rooms
is always to put some kind OF home ele-
ment into its hospitality such as will
supply a want In their lives.
Only the other morning a soldier from
a Tennessee regiment came In from the
camp, and into the rooms for the first
time. ..,,....,
Il have been by here several times; and
wanted to come in, but was afraid I had
to sign something or do something did
not know or care about" he said. .,
"Oh,' replied Miss Taylor, you do not
have to do anything but make yourself
at home. and get rested If you are tired,
or read. or refresh yourself with a wash
up
well. It is the incest place I've ever
seen," he said. as he stretched himself
out on a lounge to rest. Il will tell the
boys what fools we have been not to come
in before"
Pretty soon he was fast asleep.
One day boy not over nineteen, with
trouble in every line of his youthful
coun.enance, was visitor. One of the
older women asked him what his trouble
was. He dropped onto q lounge and hid
his face in a pillow as he moaned OFT
he had just had letter from his mother
that morning saying she was well and
only sorry to be separated from her son.
but in less than an hour telegram came
announcing her death from heart dis
ease. He was on his way home at attend
her funeral. and having been at the COM
fort rooms before. and as 1t was an hour
or two before train time, his first thought
was to drop In and see some of the moth
erly women who are always there to
help in just such cases.
When he went away he was speechless
with sorrow. but looked unutterable
things as they bade him gOod-by.
There was a happy boy in the rooms
the other day. His mind had been. alto
gether impervious. hitherto, to prayers
or efforts of the Y. M c. A. He had been
called ''heretical," but 1t was wise
motherly woman who touched his heart,
and he saw God in the world round him
for the first time" and was happy.
Some Of the soldier visitors coming In
early IN Lne ulOEuiHS Wdhl " hSip ar
range the reading table or the rooms,
and usually they are permitted to do SO.
as these women know mother boy"
when they see him, In whatever garb he
NAV come and they think 1t a good sign
that he is not ashamed to fuss around
the house. with the women folk.
There is a little spirit lamp, which oc-
casionally is used to prepare light meals
for those who are sick when the come
in. and who need nourishing food. The
BOYS gather around the nurse-Miss
Meigs or Miss Hawley-and watch every
process, as though that style of cook
cry was a newly-discovered fine art. None
sends them away. 1t is a touch Of home
life. and it does them good, they say,
s'to see good women doing things like
that"
One who had taken his first spree"
and was brought into the rooms to keep
him from the disgrace Of going to the
station house. was dealt lenlently with. 1
He was put to bed on a lounge. and al
lowed to sleep a couple Of hours, when
strong, hot coffee was given him, and
he was "sobered up. before he was al
lowed to depart. When he did go he was
a shame-faced lad declaring: III other
people treated the boys as well. they
would not do that again." He volunteer
ed to "sign or" one of his comrades TAX
ing him directly to the cars for camp.
That he was in earnest, appears from
the fact that he confessed to his mother
by letter, who Is w. c. T. U. woman,
and she Vrote thanking the ladies for
rescuing her boy.
cov,,. ~ tho hove hate fo have fhe WO-