Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
MAKE SERVICE EASIER
Work of Woman's Army and
Navy League
ON LAND D SEA
HOME COMFORTS SENT TO ARMY
POSTS AND WARsHIPS.
More Than Twenty Five Thousand
Books Sent Out Last Year-An-
nual Report of Officers.
ON LAND AND SEA

pared by the army book committee. which
shows that boxes containing 1929 pounds
of books were shipped to the various army
posts hospitals, etc, in the United States
and the Philippines. More than half of this
literature went to the Philippines. From
this one item, showing the enormous num-
Der of books sent out by the members OF
the organization. approximating more than
$500 volumes. some idea of its work can
be gained There is no other organization
in existence, it is said, that has been so
successful in its work or has been estab-
lished on such very practical basis.
The Womans Army and Navy League is
not charitable organization in any sense
of the word Neither is it a corporation
organized for gain. 1t has no religious al,
hliations nor is it's work directed by any
of the numerous philanthropic societies.
While its task is, to an extent, philan-
thropic. none of its members lays claim to
the title of phllanthropist. Its methods,
views and objects are of the broadcast char
acter Through its work in the army 1t
covers every section Of the United States
and the Philippines; through its work in
the navy it is known and recognized
where ever naval vessel lies, whether II
be q battleShip or a gasoline launch 1t
does not work on theories. 1t has no
works for and with the soldier and sailor
and the only compensation II asks is the
comfort and satisfaction of the soldier and
sailor. Sometimes it doesn't get the thanks
1t deserves and sometimes II is not thanked
at all. because the things 1t does have be-
come much a matter of course so much
a part of the life of it's benefciaries, that
they forget. Few of them can realize what
the condition of things would be If the or
ganizatiOn suddenly disbanded. The
army and navy would still go on and the
soldiers and sailors would get just the
same, amount OF food and just as much
clothing and every bit as many hours of
liberty from duty. But. it is stated, they
would not get books to read and they would
not be supplied with magazines. song
books. sheet music, organs and such little
things that make life in a far-away land
Evable, they now, because there
would be no womans army and navy
league to supply them and that Is what
the Womans Army and Navy League
stands for in the army and navy of the
United States.
Not a Reform Organization.
The band of women who are interested
In the work of the league are the antithisis
of the ordinary society of women reform
ers. One reason for this IS that they are
not reformers. They have no idea of re-
forming the soldiers and sailors. That
sort of thing is done only in theories or
nice eulogsuc papers read before philan-
tHIOpic anu religious SOCtSIleS. Lley say.
They want the soldiers and sailors to re-
main just what they are-healthy decent
manly Americaus-and all they ask is to be
allowed TO help them do it. And they do
not get their ideas of the way to help by
reading or study or through interviews or
investigation. They do not think the things
they do, they know. Because every one of
them has been associated every day and
every hour and every minute for long pc
RODS of time with soldiers and sailors.
They are all the wives, mothers or daugh-
tiers Of soldiers or sailors, and have lived
with them and by them and for them SO
none of them is required to look up or in
Quire into what the men she serves needs.
She knows just what he wants and consid-
ers 1t her duty TO give it TO him.
The WOman's Army and Navy League IS
the trustee of the American people in CIV
ing TO the soldiers and sailors those things
that are not provided in the army and navy
regulations and in providing them with a
home atmosphere in army post and on
shpboard. Their work is not confined in
an indiscrimInate distribution of things
here, there and everywhere. They do not
send out a single ieafiet or newspaper to
an organization that does not through It's
officers or some person in whom they have
confidence. make request for such things.
There are so many organizations or So
cietles organized for the purpose of laid
ing soldiers that the league does not be-
lieve its purpose is subseryed by forward
Ing piles of books and papers to places
where other such piles might have been
received from other sources. The league
reaches places other organizations cannot
and It's work Is done along lines other or
ganizations could not adopt. There are no
strings to the benefactions of the league
When It sends pile of books melodeon
or gTaphophnre to a regiment or COM
pany all it asks is that the books will be
read and the instruments used. II is not
opposed TO anything, except dishonesty and
Wylciousness, and wants to get everything
IT can for the soldier At a recent meet
Ing the league adopted a strong resolution
advocating the repeal of the so-called anti
canteen legislation, and during the last
session Of Congress the officers of the
league worked hard and persistently with
This object in view
In Time of War.
The organization was formed many years
ago, In the days of the civil war by a few
wives, mothers and daughters of officers In
the regular army and navy who lived In
Albany, n. y, and some of these are still
honored members of the league They
noted that during the war all of the vol
unteer regiments were supplied with htera-
ture and good things by the people of the
cities and towns from which they came
The regiments and companies in TIE regu-
lar army had no state or city, and what
they received of the good things that found
their way into the field came to them as
bounty from their more fortunate COM
rades, To correct what they believed to be
an evil the league was formed and it
worked hard and faithfully during the war
with most gratifying results. At the close
Of hostilities the work OF the league, while
not abandoned. was not carried on with the
energy and address which had therefore
characterized 1t. 1t was not until the
Spanish war that the organization bios
somed forth with its old-time force Sol
diers passing through this city. both vol
unteers and regulars. were cared for in
the most tender manner Coffee and sand
witches. books. papers. writing paper, etc,
were given the men from the headquar-
tiers established near the railroad depOts
and everything was done to help make the
life Of the men In the service easier When
the troops We're ordered to the Philippines
the league secured a code that could be
used to make cable tolls less OF a burden
on the men when communication with
home by the quickest means became neces-
sary and copies OF this code were furnished
on application.
Soldiers and Sailors Club.
After the war with Spain the attention Of
the league was directed TO a soldiers and
sailors club that was conducted in this city
for many years by Miss Lavinia H. Chase
a woman whose name has been known
throughout the army for almost a genera
ton. Miss Chase was conducting. without
support from outside sources to any great