Evening star., 1917-10-23
CAPITAL WELCOMES
SOLDIERS TO HOMES
Thanksgiving Invitations to|
"Some Mothers Boy"
Are Numerous.
REAL HOLIDAY ASSURED

"some mothers son." the "farthest from
home the better" to take Thanksgiving
dinner in a home where the spirit of
patriotism glows warm, were extended
today in large numbers, through The
Star.
How the hearts of the mothers and
fathers in the National Capital were
touched, and responded to The Stars ap-
peal in behalf Of "a soldier guest in
every home Thanksgiving day." which
campaign is being conducted in co-opera-
ton with the War Department commits
sion on training camp activities, is best
shown by the letters received. few of
which are printed below.
They are simply alive with eagerness
to be honored by the visit of a soldier
on that sacredly home day. They want
to know what the soldier guest likes best
to eat, SO that his favorite portion iatt
be prepared. They show that each visi-
tor will be treated as d favorite son
and an honored guest.
Hospitality Has Spread.
The spirit of hospitality to the SOL
dier has spread to such an extent that
to invite to their homes on Thanksgiv-
ing day some members of their own
family for big family reunion are now
advising these brothers or sisters or
cousins to stay at home and entertain
some soldiers themselves.
Indications already are that this is to
be Thanksgiving for soldiers only"
celebration.
How welcome the idea is to the mill
tary authorities is shown by the fact that
At liz ,h ~ sy,
about Washington are to be given full
holiday to enjoy this National Capital
hospitality. The official approval comes
in an enthusiastic commendation of the
man of the War Department commission
on training camp activities.
Plenty of Soldiers.
That there will be enough hungry SOL
diers to accommodate all persons who in
vite soldier guests on that day Is shown
by statement by Col. w. w. Harts. in
barracks. He has about 1000 men un-
der his care and there will be probably
5000 more engineers at the American
University camp by Thanksgiving day.
Col Harts estimates that more than so
per cent Of his men will eargerly accept
an invitation to dinner.
''Can. q duck swim?' laughingly COM
mented Col Harts. when asked II his
men could eat good home dinner on
Thanksgiving day. "It is the greatest
piece Of hospitality ever done Tor the
soldiers said Col. Harts seriously. 1T
is setting an example worthy of the Ma
tional Capital. 1t shows this Is city
beautiful in thoughts. sympathies. pa
triotism and good deeds as well as In its
physical aspects,
II know the zeal with which the peo-
pie here are taking to the idea of en-
tertaining a soldier. and know, too.
,x,lfI fA Ind IN, 6nd inc
what a well worth while lot Of young
men will respond to their invitations.
It is a good thing for the soldiers, and
it is going to be good thing for the
homes. too. This sort OF practice will
20 a lot farther to get good results
than a great deal of preaching.
To Be Official Hostess.
Tho official hostess for the soldier
guest Thanksgiving is to be Mrs. Will
liam Hamilton Bayly. president OF the
Young Women's Christian Association.
who is chairman of the home hospi-
tality committee of the District COM
Associated with her will be group of
women representing the Hebrew Home
Service Organization and the Catholic
women's war service committee and all
other organizations cooperating In the
effort to do kindly deeds for the SOL
diers.
While all persons wishing to invite a
soldier guest should address a letter SO
stating to The Soldier Guest Editor.
The Washington Star" these invita-
tions will be distributed through the
various camps to particular soldiers by
these women's organizations, SO that
each soldier may know in plenty of
time at just which house he is to be
guest on Thanksgiving day.
Time of Dinners ARRANGED,
Effort will be made also to arrange
the time so tnat persons planning for
an afternoon dinner may be assured
iently absent from camp during the
afternoon, and others may have at
evening dinners those who can get
leave from camp during the evening.
While the general rule Is that all SOL
diers are going to have the entire hol-
iday, committees are already at work
endeavoring to find what are the most
convenient hours. In a general way
it may be stated that for the three
regiments of field artillery now sta
toned at Fort Myer and also for the
troops at St. Asaph, the afternoon
dinner will be preferable. For those
at the American University. Washing
ton barracks and other camps the
evening dinner will be preferable
There will be great deal of work nee
essary before all the soldiers can be
assigned, but the women In charge of
this work are going at the task with
enthusiasm and love for the soldiers
in their hearts.
Example Is Carried.
And Wash,ncton's example is being
carried to other communities. A COM
mi.tee OF Washington women. composed
of Mrs. Bayly, Mrs. Charles ". Rich
ar6soa and Mrs. John F. Scuily. is go
ing to an all-day conference at Pitts
burgh tomorrow. 1t is for leaders in
what Is known as the east central field
of the Y w. c. A., at which delegates
from Maryland. the District of Colum-
bia, Pennsylvania and Delaware will
be gathered.
OF this conference Mrs. E. r Stotes-
bury is honorary chairman and Mrs.
P. Coleman du Pont is active chairman.
The soldier guest campaign will be
eestion from Washington, and it is be-
lieved that 1t will thus be spread as a
good example to the other states The
conference is particularly on the war
work of the association. and so the
" ashiugton delegation thinks that ii !
In carrying 4 particularly worthy mes I,
saae.
Following are extracts from a few !
IF the letters received today, showing |
welcoming the soldiers 10 their homes !
Expressions Of Hospitality.
Robert F. Robb. 1905 Decatur street |
northwest, says: "On behalf of my FAM
enter our demand for soldier to be en- !
,orfained in our home next THANKSGIVING