The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-09-08
Y. N. c. A. LIFE ON
MEXICAN BORDER
L
ThIrty-elsht Branch Associations
Have Been Established From
Brownsville to San
Diego.
RECREATION CENTERs
Are Extremely Popular Among the
Members Of the National Guard
Who Are in Soldier
Camps.

&
The local Y. NJ. c. A. has received
the following bulletin concerning the
activities of the association on the
Mexican border:
In twenty military camps along the
Mexican broder, extending from
Brownsville on the Gulf of San Diego
on the Pacific, thirty-eight big army
Y NJ. G. A. buildings rear themselves
above the cities of white tents. They
are the coolest places in the CAMPS
screened from flies; dry in the hea. 2
rains; well lighted at night; comfor-
table and home-like. The 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 whirls
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 rollicking choruses.
And they like to sing hymns too. II
there is no record for what they want,
some fellow who can play sits at the
little folding organ and leads in the
grand old hymns of the church or the
faster measures of one OF the Billy
Sunday collection. Some of the more
opulent branch associations have
piano, rented by the month, and this
is rarely silent.
Club Houses of the Men.
Reports to the national headquar-
tiers of the army Young Mems Chris
tian association, 124 East 2Sth street,
from the $50 secretaries in charge OF
the buildings, say they are crowded
with troops night and day. In fact.
the simple frame structures are look
ed upon as the club houses of the men
and are being used continually as the
centers of the social and recreative
life of the camps. At the same time. a
weekly program OF religious work is
carried out and clean living is tactful-
ly but vigorously urged as the stand
erd for soldiers Of the United States
The work is thoroughly organized
and its efficiency and widespread in
fluence for good are highly praised by
General Funston and the commanding
officers associated with him. Secre-
tary Baker Of the war department and
General Scott, chief of the general
staff. recently wrote letters commend
ing the associations work in helping
to preserve the morale of the camps.
"Write Home" Reads Sign.
From the opening day of each build
ing, writing paper by the thousand
sheets, has been given out at the sec.
retaries' counter and letters by the
bushel are daily sent homeward. In
every building is the sign-'Write
Home reminder to many thought
less and careless young men. Up to
the end OF August the consumption OF
writing paper averaged about 75,ooo
sheets a day.
Forty tons of magazines and other
reading matter were sent to the asso-
citation buildings on the border be-
tween July 1st and September LIST, and
there were many Individual shipments
from soldiers relatives and friends.
When the soldiers are not writing let
ties or listening to the graphophone.
they are reading. Domino and check
err tournaments are going all the time
with full entries If the quoits are all
in use. any Y. NJ. c. A. secretary can
produce horseshoes as a good substi-
tute.
Movies and Vaudeville.
At night there are the movies and
impromptu entertainments, with tai
ent furnished by the men themselves
There is surprising amount OF good
talent among the troops and while the
programs are not always up to the
highest vaudeville standard, they fur
nisb a lot of amusement and good.
wholesome fun for the men. Only
those who come early are able to get
into the buildings at all.
When all the motion picture equip
ments are installed. thirty buildings
can be turned into movie theatres
every night, If necessary. The motion
picture film trade has generously
agreed to provide free film service for
the Y. NJ. C. A. buildings, the reels be.
ing sent on regular circuit from one
camp to another. The motion picture
machines are so arranged that on
fine nights the screens can be set up
in the open air and unlimited aud
fences accommodated.
Free to every man, like evrythins
else. is a never-failing barrel Of ice
water. The Red Cross Of certain states
is furnishing special tanks with bub-
bling fountains and daily supply OF
ice for buildings used by the troops OF
their states.
Helpful Religious Work.
The weekly programs Of the associa-
ton BUILDINGS are not build for
round of pleasure alone. The secre-
taries see that constructive religious
work is carried on. On Sunday morn
ings regim entail chaplains hold ser
vices in the buildings and in the after
noon CT evening the secretaries them
selves conduct meetings. Men who
would not think of going to church at
home attend regularly. During the
week there are one or more religious
meetings Frequently the evening is
closed with FIVE minutes of hymns and
the driving home of a single simple
lessen and good night prayer. The