Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-07

AT TRAINING CAMPS.
Conditions Were Never Befoe so Favora-
Bile for Health and Morals.

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Many persons doubtless think the
average soldier has little or no oppor'
tunity for recreation or amusement il
the army training camps, but in that
people are very much mistaken.
The Y. N. c. A. is found in every
camp and they have at their disposal
from nine to fourteen buildings devoted
to recreation. amusement and the kind
of physical training that makes for
better morals as we'll as stronger
bodies.
The knights of Columbus, which
stands IN much the same attitude to
those of the Catholic religion as the Y.
M. e. A. does to the Protestant relig.
ion, is there. About sixty per cent Of
the soldiers are Protestants.
They have what Is now called Post
Exchange for each regiment. 1t takes
the place of the old CaDteen. No IN
toxicants are sold, but the soldiers may
buy handker:hlets, toilet soaps. candy,
tobacco and many other articles that
are not provided by the government:
The profits of the Post Exchange are
spent for the benefit of the soldiers OF
the regiment or in any way the regi-
ment may direct. The gross daily
business runs about IS. 900.
There are dramatic entertainments
given IN fully equipped modern the
atre and millions OF feet of moving
pictures are used each week by the
sixteen ca comments.
Musical training Is also given and
the word has gone out that Uncle Sam
will send Il singing army to France.
Following is a quotation given from
the letter OF an officer:
"Between five ana six thousand men
participated in the most inspiring eve
ming | have ever enjoyed.
when everybody sang The Battle
Hymn of the Republic and Harry
Barnhart got the soldiers emphasizing
Glory Glory! HalIeljuah! His Truth
is Marching ONT you should have seen
the faces glowing under the lights.
The camp became inspired. The men
cheered and cheered. Then the South
ern boys CALLED for Garry Me Back to
Old Vrginny' and My Old Kentucky
Home Then We sang "A Perfect
Day and MY Hero Then they called
for Ole. Black joe The harmony was
wonderful.
Automobiles way out on the road
footed their horns. and 1t was ten min
utes before the enthusiasm subsidized.
1--WE sang from eight o'clock until
ten o'clock, and ended with the star
Spangled Banner. have never heard
this song SUNG before. The Com
manding Officer came forward after
the singing and saio it was the great
est thing he had ever listened to-
The Redpath Entertainments are al
SO provided. The profits 60 to the reg
iments. No general concessions are
sold to any persons but it is all oper-
ated on the cost basis and the surplus
goes for the benefit Of the soldiers.
A course of training IN learning
French and learning the geography OF
France is offered but 1t Is entirely op-
tionaI.
Every possible effort is being made
by societies and people to prevent the
sale of lntoxlcants to the soldiers and
all immoral conditions are controlled
and suppressed to the utmost. The
is lending all possible aid !
in this work.
1t Is very probable that thousands of !
young men will live under vastly bet
Ter conditions m morally. educatlonally,
'ocially and recreatively than ever be-
;ore and every indication now points to
,oung men coming home better citi-
:ens in every way than has been the
:ase in any former war.