Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-06
PASSING THE Time
ON j. S. WARSH|PS
by MRS. EULA McCLARY.

BY MRS. EULA McCLARY.
Each ship has 4 welfare fund. derived
from several sources and spent IL
many ways. There IL but one must"
that goes with the spending of thai
money. 1t must give happiness. do
not wish to belittle the must Of the
fund, but never have ! seen a body Of
men together who could get as much
happiness for as little effort as those
dear bluejackets. Their healthfui, busy
lives, their youth-the Navy is place
Of youth-keep them enthusiastic and
natural There is no restraint upon
their emotions in times of play. no pre-
lenses, no conventions to control laugh
ter. They have complete happiness be-
cause they can be absolutely natural.
shall not go into the organization
of the fund, but It is in safe hands
and is wisely spent. with an account
ing to every man on ship OF where the
money went. 1t comes from the profits
of the canteen, the laundry, the barber
shop and from the special dues Of ath-
letic associations. 1t is fairly large
fund on ships where the quota OF men
is large; but 1t isn't large enough
That is where the Y. NJ c. A. has such
a bully chance TO give happiness to the
men Of the feet.
A Movie on Ship.
I wish I could take you to a movie
on the ship and let you see and hear
the foY, the happiness and the whole
someness there. I would take you OUT
to one of the newer ships-the Penn-
sylvania-where the movies are best
After reaching the deck we would walk
way forward where there is screen
of canvas dashed above the great
I4-inch guns. The benches which serve
as dining chairs and church pews are
loaded down with boys In white. Many
stand in groups back near the ships
rail or by the band (Uncle Sam gives
every ship a band). Before the show
begins-7:30 pm. is the usual hour
the boys sing, sing as boys wpo are
Sometimes the piano can be heard
above the volume of their voices, but
more often 1t is completely drowned.
Then the lights go out; the hush u
tense. The feature has aiready peen
AS soon as the name of the star or
stars is flashed on the screen there Is
wild applause The men have their
favorttes. Doug Fairbanks, with MS
frank smile and acrobatic manners;
Mr.. and Mrs. Sidney Drew. Mary Pick
ford, how they love you! You have
never had an audience SO vociferous as
this, SO frankly fond of you: You may
not have a "talkie" part, but they read
=
"The villain Arrives"
The mems comments are worth .
story in themselves. When the villain
comes and the hero seems slow in ac-
ton, how they speed him up! When
tho heroine is in distress how they
give her strength! How they applaud
How they live that story.
There are no walls to place soft
pedal on their voices. Out under the
stars and the heavens they are in that
close sympathy with life which only
youth and the close companionship OF
the elements make possible. Lie
bubbles over. and there is no reason for
II.
When the first reel is run. Part II
will follow" is not flashed. The oper-
ator, who has been chosen and gets
extra pay to take charge of the pic
lures, is also an artist. He flashes on
some caricature OF ship life while he
makes ready the next reel. z@E&
What Is a Scuppsi1 5sjgs
I myself was the useful stop one
with the boys. There ! was carfcA-
tured with large spoon and dish Of
soup. I looked as IL ! might be MAKE
Ing noises with my repast-a form OF
food had been taught was to be eaten
but not heard The words were. Euia
Is Some Scupper." 1t got such
hand I'm sure It was complimentary.
but each officer / asked had different
definition for scupper- But boxing
them all down. I think 1t means IA
good fellow" tS9os
Between the feature and the comedy
here 10 music by the band. and -sone-
lines singing. About 9 O'Clock the en-
is over. Tattoo is Sounded
and the men go below to their dream
sacks" while we all return to shore: :
The ships welfare fund is also used
% give Happy Hours" and '1Smokers-
rhe latter consist Of much smoke, a
wrestling match or two and movies, al
yays movies. The former consists of
movies and any special form
II amusement decided upon.
Sometimes to tho detriment Of the
health Of the contestants II Is q pie-eaf-
,atiug contest, other times running tted
ID In gunnysacks or similar healthful
md wholesome amusements. II a COM
ade is III, the fund can be used to give
lin some luxury. It may be put Into
Ithletic fields or paraphernalia. or any
{ the things needed by youth which
JncIe Sam has not provided Tor. 1t may
70 Appropriated for . nsw piano. for
,ianoG at sea soon wear out ON rare
,ccasions the welfare fund 10 used 70
the 'crew frum apof8efe 41tp-