Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-09-07
IGoUNcIL next TUESDAY CLUB HOUSES FOR BOYS
Alexandria and Other Virginia Sol
diers Enjoy Many Comforts
On Border.

In twenty military camps along
the border, extending from Browns
vile on the Gulf to San Diego on
the Pacific, thirty-eight big Army
Y. NJ. C. A. buildings rear them
selves above the cities Of white
tents. They are the coolest places
in the camps-screened from Mes;
dry in the heavy rains; well lighte:t
at night; comfortable and home-h ',''
TIE buildings are centers which the
men appreciate so greatly that Their
facilities are used to the utmost
during leisure from camp work and
drill and throughout the evening
hours until the bugles sound taps.
All day long the graphophone
wbirls out music. In the evening
groups of soldiers put on the records
of popular songs and their voices
RING out into the Texas night IN
rol{ickine choruses. And they like
to sing hymns too. If there is no
record for what they want, some te!-
low who can play SITS at the lttie
folding organ and leads in the grand
old HYMNS of the church or the taS-
Ter measures of one of the Billy Sun
4bav collection. Some of the more
opulent branch Associations have a
piano, rented by the month, and thus
is rarely silent.
From the opening day of eacn
;juilding, writing paper by the thous-
and sheets has been given out at the
secretaries counter and letters by
he bushel are daily sent homeward
m every building is the sign -
write Home" reminder to many
thoughtless and careless young mon.
Up to the end of August the cor,
sumption of writing paper averaged
about $4,000 sheets day.
Forty tons of magazines and 9TH
=. reading matter were sent to the
association buildings on the border
between July 1st arl Septemr''r LIT,
md there were maa; individual ship
rnents from solI;.-s' relatives AMI
! friends. When the soldiers are IT
wiling letters nr listening to he
graphophone,- they are reldirG.
! DtElino and checker Tournaments a'c
going all the time with full entries.
IF the quoits are all in use any Y.
F.: VI. C. A. secretary can produce
.'horseshoes as good substitute.
: At night there are the movies"
!. end impromptu entertainments, with
talent furnished by the men them
selves. There is a surprising amount
CT good talent among the troops and
. while the programs are not always
Up to the highest vaudeville standard
iIshey furnish a. lot Of amusement
j End good wholesome fun for the men.
/ Only those who come early are able
TO get into the buildings at ill.
/ When all the motion picture equip
irnents are installed, thirty buildings
can be turned into '!niovie" theatres
every night if necessary. The motion
! picture film trade has generously
agreed to provide free film service
Tor the Y. NJ. C. &. buildings the
reels being sent on regular cir
cult from one camp to another. The
motion picture machines are So ar
ranged that On fine nights the screens
can be set up in the open air and
unlimited audiences accommodated
Free to every man like everything
else, is never-failing barrel Of icc
water. The Red Cross Of certain
states is furnishing special tanks
with bubDling fountains and a daiIv
supply of ice for buildings used bv
the troops of their states.