Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-22
CHEVY CHASE GIRLS
STIRRED BY THE SPIRIT
OF REALPATRIOTISM
Rookie" Impressed by Week in
Camp, Writes of Its Value in
Arousing Love of
Country
JUST LIKE SOLDIERS.
CHEVY CHASE. ma, May %.

CHEVY CHASE, ma, May o.
Dear Molly:
One week In camp enables me fairly well
to Judge. and must say it certainly is the
finest thing to arouse the love Of country
and mpiant in the minds of all these future
mothers the necessity of military training,
both in boys and girls
General George Barnett was telling US
one.tenth of tho applications for the marine
corps failed in their physical examination;
he also said that onet-enth of the youths of
America were physically weak More attn
letics should be taught, coupled with mill
tary training. He finished by saying: The
national spirit is not alive, few recognizes
our national anthem, and when they DO
rise--because others do it--it is not at at
tention,' as It should be. but In slipshod
sort of way. Our beloved flag should be
saluted every time we pass II"
The sergeant In charge OF my company IS
stationed here at the marine barracks. He
is a German by birth and a dandy drill
master Like the other sergeant. he was
ordered to report at the service campi he
hated to do 1t. but was obliged to obey
orders He only said to me this morning
after drill II could do better work with
this company IL you ladies were only mem
In that case when you do wrong over ana
over again could say things which would
make you remember" '--a
Poor soul, l think he has the patience
Of Job. Only once have seen him show
annoyance, This morning he stamped his
foot and snapped his fingers. don't blame
him, for it seems impossible for some women
to be taught their right and their left hand
one mistake throws the whole company
out. y.@S
We are now learning squad movements.
| and What a mess we do get ourselves into,
l.ltI to- lot nm a
| to march, countermarch and all our other
| maneuvers takes brain and nerve we SO
| through as much In two weeks as the ordf-
| nary recruit in three months. General HRr-
| nett told me that, also my sergeant.
At least men recognize that women have
| brains.
AS you enter the camp grounds you see
| two District policemen on guard. two more
stand ready to relieve them, and about ~
| marines patrol the grounds night and day
| So we are we'll protected.
We have a charming doctor in camp.
| Sick call sounds twice a day those who
are aching fall in line and march to the
| Red Cross tent chaperoned by our matrou.
| who is the general mother of the camp.
| She looks after the laundry, supervises the
water and lavatory supplies. watches the
tents to see IL they are clean, and generally
looks after the girls
Opposite the camp is a frame house
where is served hot ten and coffee, lemon
ade, milk, sandwiches, cakes, candies etc
The day pupils go tneTe LOT iuHcns ana aIIofa
supper the place is swarming with camp
girls.
One day 1t was cold that we all wore
top coats over our uniforms. cup OF hot
coffee felt very comfortable at a. N.
AS / came from my telegraph lesson yes
terday heard sobs coming from one OF the
tents 1 peeped in, and there sat the sad
dest girl / ever beheld I went up to her
and she just cried her heart out. She Is
two and one-half days journey from home.
and naturally she is lonely. tried 10
brace her up the best l could, reminding
her of the old rhyme, THE King of Francs
with $4,000 men drew their swords-ana
put them up again." She smiled through
her tears and said, II came here because
love my country and want to be useful.
but even soldiers get homesick. don't they7s
/ told her that indeed they did, and fire.
auently the bravest suffered the very worst
attacks.
Mrs George Barnett looks dear in hor
uniform, with the generals military cape
thrown over her shoulders. She is cut
most every day Your soldier friend.
POLLY