The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-09
Men Find Y. M. c. A. Useful
In All Circumstances;
Crowd Buildings
COMP ARES ~ BOYS
TO GOOD SAMARITANS
Does More Than Anything
Else To Keep Men Sane,'
He Says

George Burba, formerly secretary to
Governor Cox and now connected with
the Columbus Dispatch, recently Wis
tied Camp Sheridan at Montgomery,
where his son Is in training and has
written an account of the great train
ing camp that gives every possible
angle of the camp as it really appears
to one who has investigated it care.
fully.
Mr.. Burba is especially impressed
with the work of the army Y. NJ. G. A.
and in his account of his trip, publish.
cd in the Columbus Dispatch, gives
the following statement of his opin-
ion:
No man ought to write anything
about Camp Sheridan without saying
something about the Young Mems
Christian association. have been in
formed that the association is doing
the same good work in all of the
camps, and can believe it, But what
! saw myself, ! can tell about-and
saw this great work of the Y. M. c. A.
at Camp Sheridan.
Secretary Dixon, formerly of Day
ton, Is in charge of the entire work of
the Y. M. C. A. He is as energetic a
fellow as there is in camp. He has
been in the work for years and years
! iph m a hn
is a likeable fellow at all times, and
since he has been here he has en-
deared himself to these troops in a
manner that gives him decided ad-
vantage in performing the work at
how'd. The officers like him and the
en swear by him, and everybody
'acognizes the fact that the associa-
tion has made a find in securing the
services of such man
There are seven buildings devoted
to the use of the association, with five
the regular workers of the organiza
ton. They live in small, plain rooms
or hunks connected with the several
buildings. They eat with the privatos
or the officers as they see fit and pay
for their food, because the govern
ment does not undertake to support
the association 1t co-operatcs with
it, and every officer on the ground is
glad to have it here but tho Y. M. G.
A. is supported otherwise than by the
government, and 1t has no official con
nection with the government.
These big "Y" buildings, as they
are called, are open day and night to
the soldiers. There are writing desks
provided, and stage where there are
entertainments from time to time
} lectures and talks and amusemcnts
. provided by the men themselves. In
9 first class theatrical performance and
y opera for'the soldiers but that Is I'M
y der II separate department of the "Y,
and am not discussing that excel
U lent feature.
l. have seen these "Y," buildings 80
crowded with mon that they were
literally hanging out of the windows
| have seen men standing in line
waiting for chance to sit at Il tabl,
to write Il letter | have seen men b!
, the dozens crowding around secrC
/, tary asking questions, and getting ad
] vice, | have seen boys take thci
letters to these secretaries to be read
and others going to the secretaries I,
have letters written, have soeI
: thousands of dollars turned over T.
these secretaries to he sent to rela
tives back home or held in the SAT
until the men wanted ii.
Talk about your Good Samartans
or your Big Brothers, or your anythin
else These "Y." boys are the rea
T. thing, and these buildings are tn
g. clearing house for human happiness
L. understand the Knights of Columbu
y are going to do the same work, bu
l. they are not as yet in as good shap
Il for doing it as the y, NJ, c. A. | ~
10 not making any comparisons | hop
o and believe that the X, c, will do II
IL great work as the Y. NJ c, A. is d'
ing,
One must talk with these secreta
4. icsI call them all secretaries fC
Dl want of better term-in order to III
n. derstand what they are really doing
s. either to them or to many soldier