The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-12-15


than break even on expenses during
the season. The team and manage
ment also are grateful to the Normal
School for the use of their grounds
and showers, and for the many other
courtesies extended.
Be Careful Girls
For months the newspapers all ov-
er the land have been urging the
women and girls of America to write
letters to our soldiers, saying that
this will be q fine way of helping to
win the war; that good, CHEEKY COM
rady letters from good women and
girls would be a wonderful help In
heartening up our men so Suddenly
cut loose from home and all that
home influence had meant IN the
lives of these men,
Many girls have taken advantage
of this opportunity with various mo-
tives. Some feel a real motherly or
sisterly interest in the soldiers and
are thinking only of doing them good.
Some send letters of comfort and
cheer, sign some fictitious name and
enclose with it a box of sweets or a
pair of socks, or book and look
for no return. Others with the same
motives sign their names and open
up good, wholesome correspondence
with no sentiment or trace of CO.
quetry. therein. There is, however,
very large percentage of women, es-
pecially high school and college girls,
who feel the charm of mystery in
correspondence with strange young
men. There is something about a
khaki uniform that can make a very
ordinary looking man appear to good
advantage and Sammies who have
handsome faces and fine physiques,
are little short of Greek Gods, so far
as appearances are concerned. There
is so much of praise in every mouth
for the soldier, who has laid his very
life upon the altar of his country if it
should be required, that we cannot
blame young girls, especially, If they
never dream that in some cases a
khaki uniform can cover a multitude
of moral weaknesses. From a recent
letter from one of the 7. M. G. A.,
secretaries at Funston we quote: 81
read the portion of your letter re-
garding school girls writing letters
and sending with their candy IN the
box to the soldier boys-that matter
was taken up at the meeting of the
secretaries at Dur conference this
morning. While we believe that many
of our men would be much benefited
ny Will SOO0
and girls during the war, yet we can
not recommend it. 1t often leads to
most unhappy complications. We,
who are in close touch with condi-
tions in an army camp know whereof
we speak. They may send gifts and
write messages and all sorts of good
wishes, but discourage them sending
their names and addresses"
The following received this week
from an officer at Funston should be
read by every girl in Hays who needs
any information along this line: 81
would strongly urge against girls
writing to soldiers unless they have
known them beforehand, for two
good reasons: I am certain there are
scores of married men writing to girls
throughout the country. Just what
viii come of each case remains to be
seen. In many cases, the fellows have
been surprised at receiving letters In
many cases it is impossible to vouch
for the men, because the officers nev-
er knew them until they came here.
Second, so many girls get foolish
about the thing. "a uniform seems
to have a strange fascination for a
woman. Seemingly they like to see
tight clothes on men as well as on
themselEes.) If within reasonable
distance, correspondence IS liable to
be followed by meetings. In some
cases there may be an interested wife
somewhere.
A man who had his bunk next to
mine in the barracks is in trouble
now over a court martial which will
dismiss him from service. An ex-
wife discovered some things.
would advise following the coun-
sci of the Y. M. C. A, in this mat
ter. The men engaged in the work
are wise with years of experience. A
rather laughable incident happened
here recently. A soldier received a
letter from a strange girl in which
she requested correspondence At
ter a reasonable continuation they ar
ranged a meeting. The soldier
proved to be a negro who thought he
was writing to a colored girl that
had seen him on some previous occa-
sion; but his correspondent proved to
be a white woman.
But our precious girls will not
cheaper themselves, we feel sure.
And instead of writing letters to any
save those whom they know or know
OF, they will content themselves with
gifts and greetings only, leaving the
writer's indentity enshrouded in mys-
tery-and thus raise the soldiers es-
innate of womanhood instead of low