Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-08-25

stories of adventure and war altogether
very excellent collection of books for
men in our situation, and besides TINS
we have about l5Opaper covered novels,
the gift of Mr. Frank Stone. These
books are all. very much appreciated
and are IN constant use. Mr., Brown IS
skilful in keeping some of the more
attractive books on table, which is
surrounded by attentive readers.
| wish to express hearty thanks to all
who have remembered US so generously
in donating literature and in sending 1t
to us, and also to the Ladies Auxiliary
of the Y. NJ. c. A, and to Judge and
Mrs. Weeks for a generous check OF $40.
The same amount was received earlier
as the proceeds Of the recital given by
Mr.. Stewart.
If our friends could have seen the
building last night, every writing table
full, every seat with a boy reading
paper or magazine, the platform
crowded with boys singing about the
piano, am sure they would have felt
repaid for their efforts.
The wear on the books and papers in
such place, especially in this abomln-
able climate, is considerable. While our
present supply is good, small packages
of recent literature sent by mail will be
useful as long as the regiment is on the
/ border. How long will that be?
Nothing would please us more than to
be able to tell. But we have not the
slightest idea. The construction Of
frame cook and mess buildings, good
enough to last five years, for the 10000
troops here, looks as if the War Depart
ment thought we might stay some time,
1t has been a hard question for the
college students and the men with fam
lies to decide whether they ought to
STAY, or to take advantage of the ar
rangement for their discharge. Many
of them come to me for counsel, and OF
course try to present both sides as
fairly as | can, leaving them to their
personal decision. think majority
of the students will return. Not large
proportion of the men with families
have applied for discharge thus far The
fear of being called 'piker" influences
them, and they still hope that the State
will find way to fulfil the promise, as
they understood it, Of extra pay for
men with families at least. If such as
sistance had been given promptly, 1t
would have helped much in the spirit Of
the men and undoubtedly have PIE
vented much actual suffering
Last night we had one of the fiercest
combinations of wind and rain ! have
ever seen. 1t began about dark, fitful
showers with hard winds at first, but
about taps it settled down to rain
blizzard. The water came in barrels
full and
1.-The wind she blow like hurricane,
Bime bye she blow some more. :"
1t was an angry storm, the wind
roaring in rage and trying to see how
much harm it could do. The officers
mess building, Is feet from my tent,
strongly built and well braced, was laid
fiat About third of the tents are
down this morning and most of the
others were kept up only by re-
peated efforts of men drenched to the
skin. One of the new cook and mess
buildings collapsed and is now pile OF
twisted and broken timbers. The hos
pital tent is fiat in the mud and not a
doctor has a roof over him. Carefully
constructed company streets are all
washed out and a weeks hard work
must be done over. The new incinera-
to,s are full of water, and every brick
must be laid again. Not only clothing,
but papers and records are soaked and
many of them destroyed The horses
and mules are standing up to their bellies
in running water
Others Jared worse than we. A
Maryland Ambulance company, on lower
ground across the railroad, has only one
tent standing. The End Kansas lost
over half their tents and in their head
quarters row not one is standing.
Their Colonel, man of 62 years of age,
walks about in rubber coat and boots,
trying to keep up spirits by good stories
and jokes. Soldering in Texas is not a
picnic, even if there is no war.
Perhaps providence favors the Chap
lain, for my tent still stands and the
pegs show no signs of pulling have
written this letter with everything
packed up, ready for the worst If 1t
comes. Most of me is wet, but have
some dry clothing bound up in my
blanket roll and when the hurricane is
over and the sun comes out, will APP
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