The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-03-03
LADIES OF SWITZERLAND WASH
CLOTHES OF THE MEN
AT FRONT FREE.
REPLACE OLDGARMENTS
Magazines and Useful Articles Often
Thrown In When Washing
Is Returned.
tBy Marie widmer.l


ming of August 1914, few members
of public utility associations in the
City of Berne met and debated how
the "Stay-at-Homes" could also be
of service to their country and while
their thoughts dwelled with the
brave army of soldiers at the front,
they surmised that there would un-
doubtedly be many who were not in
a position to have their weekly wash
attended to. 1t being generally, ad-
mitted that a human beings health
and efficiency depends largely upon
cleanliness and physical comfort,
they sent out word that all such men
were cordially invited to forward
their laundry regularly to given
address in Berne where it would be
attended to free of charge.
The proffered opportunity was
gladly seized by numerous soldiers
who were not fortunate enough to
have somebody at home who could
look after their personal wants and
the first military wash day" actu-
ally took place on August 20, 1914.
4 notice, drawing attention to the in
auguration of this field activity was
then published in the official organ
Of the Swiss women's public utility
association and shortly afterwards
there were about rs sections of these
so-called war laundries. A few
patriotic women in districts where
troops are stationed, went even so
far as to start soldiers laundries out
of their own means.
The big as well as the small under
takings had about the same concep-
ton of their individual purpose and
duties. They all undertook to take
care of and mend the laundry Of
soldiers stationed in their vicinity
and to replace, if possible and when
absolutely necessary, garments which
were worn out.
Obstacles of varied description,
such as the rapid changing about of
the troops, etc, made a systematic
working of these establishments
most difficult, so that mum Der OF
them were obliged to interrupt or
even abandon their activity and the
three best known war laundries at
present are at Berne, Basic and Lau-
same with a number of voluntary
private establishments scattered in
different parts of the country.
AS the war laundry at Berne is
the most important undertaking of
it's kind, a few details depicting its
activity will probably prove of in
terest.
The undertaking was started on
very modest basis. Only one strong
laundress was engaged to do the
heavy work and all other duties
were performed by voluntary female
helpers. These brave women under
took to sort and mark the incoming
laundry-not always very pleasant
task-and they themselves attended
to the ironing, mending, sorting and
re-packing of the same. The graft
tude of the Leneficiaries of Their toll
was their only recompense, Tut they
deemed it sufficient and were happy
to see the smiling faces of the men
who called for their parcels of clean
underwear, or to read the grateful
messages from soldiers stationed at
a distance from Berne. In the
depth OF the Winter of 1914-15,
when the demand exceeded by far
the drying facilities, it was decided
to send the laundry for washing and
drying to regular laundry equipp-
ed with the necessary installations.
This method has been adhered to
since and with the exception of six
paid laundresses, the help who is
now attending to the ironing, mend
ing, etc, is entirely voluntary and
consists of women and girls belong
ing TO all classes.
As the Berne war laundry made
it's first business to impress upon the
workers that an exchange of launder-
ed articles was the most grievous sin
which they could commit, errors of
this kind, which were unfortunately
frequent occurrences in the other es-
adjustments, have not been made
often and this is also one of the
reasons why this particular under
taking gained such great favor
among the soldiers,
Besides the uninterrupted work in
the rooms reserved for sorting,
finishing, mending and packing of
the laundry, a most active propagan
is also made among the soldiers who
are necessarily transferred from
place to place at frequent intervals.
The circulars which are sent out and
passed among the men state that the