Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-10
49,
ssl(" Hostess House
At Camp Dodge
NV Natalie Byron)

m1Nv W UGH i A4BS lACoAo VI as RNNAs 70 !
tho Y. w. c. A. for erecting Hostess
Houses at the big army cantonme nts.
/ myself said what l have since heard
other M saying:
Why should any provision be made
for tho comfort OF women visiting
IN army camp? Women haven't any
business visiting army camps. They
.Aould Etay away" Il
El,rae then ! have learned Why. and
I 'w.sn all those other women couid
learn why, too. l wish they could
realize as L now do that there are
some legitimate reasons for d woman
going to an army camp. i
Ono OF these reasons took mo to
Camp Dodge. Others had taken the
other women whom ! met there.
Emergencies and errands OF various
kinds may make 1t necessary Tor the
soldier TO visit him., particularly as the
leisure Of the drafted men Is so very
limited. Moreover, 1t seems to me.
women have a right to see Is one
of the greatest sights of u genera
tion-the giant, implanted city, tho re.
over tho United States, where the
greatest army which tho world mas
evor known is being created.
But to visit q. city Of $4,000 men,
which ia what Camp Dodge will be
when 1t attains its full quota. would
not us1Qcf any circumstances W al
ensy thing for a woman to do. To Visit
It under present conditions takes an
amount Of courage with which few
are blessed.
The bus which comes from Des
Moines runs we'll through the camp,
upon tho main road Of the camp.
which like all the roads In the camp
Is lined with bare, implanted bar
racks, all exactly similar. and stretches
through the dust In a straight line as
far as tho eye can reach. In the open
spaces .'rookies'' are drilling; along
the roads. much of the time, rockies
are marching.
Upon %nlighting from the bus, a
woman might we'll be perplexed Ms to
which way to turn. She is forbidden
to enter the barracks. and she Is at
tracing oil the attention she wants
from tho soldiers already without p
preaching any OF them. If. she is
fortunate. nhe ma have alighted near
one OF the four army Y. NJ. c.. A. build
inRs. where she will receive courte-
GUS treatment and be directed to
wherever she wants to &C. A walk IN
the road. through whirling wind and
binding dust. past hordes OF curious
And facctious soldiers Is of course n
pleasure.
Perhaps. however. he has been
wise and made definite arrangements
an to where to meet her soldier. Just
where this would be 1t Is hard to de-
eide. In front of his barracks, per-
haps. where the curious and facetious
hordes will be in evidence again. or
upon some windy. dusty corner, where
the curious and facetious hordes will
/ be marching by. Possibly in an arny
] Y. M. G. A. building. but the army Y.
{ NJ. c. A. buildings are intended for
, sibly could she see her soldier alone
or In a quiet comfortable spot, where
/ they could cha in peace.
! After that ten-mile bus ride, she
] might be SO unreasonable as to wish
! TO wash up u bit and powder her nose
I is not q corner in all the length and
breadth Of Camp Dodge where she
/, could, yield to 80 absurd a whim. The
1 plans for the army Y. Nj. c.. A. build
/; ings all provide for women's rest
, oons but they are not yet fitted up.
within the confines Of Camp Dodge.
/ but II 1t did she would lave to 80
= NhuaIry. She could not mess with
! the men. nor buy anything in the
canteen. Even II she had been
I thoughtful enough to bring d lunch,
I could eat 1t without the curious and
facetious hordes watching every
mouthful. To erect Il RESTAURANT In
Camp Dodge where women might ca,
has evidently seemed Unnecessary.
What would happen X q woman
should faint from fatigue, hunger o,
cold? cannot say. l would swea,
that there IL not q couch within the
confines Of Camp Dodge. 1t would
DO terrible to have to go there with
small children.
But. hanks be, Camp Dodge vii
have a Hostess House soon, probably
during the present month. 1t is being
ArAffo6 fhera at the rauiaat AZ Maio,
General Plumer by the National Wa,
Work Council Of the Y. w. c. A..
Centrally located. at the intersection
of Depot and Main streets, in the hear
OF all the AMI activities. near thu
newspaper and telephone building
and tho headquarters of the Masons
Hebrews. Knights of Columbus ant
!: tho army Y. NJ. c. A., a woman
Z building is to stand.
Here q woma a alight from tn,
bus. can. through a. competent offic,
secretary. have a telephone messag'
/ sent to her soldier to meet her there
h can. rest. clean up, can read or writ
a letters While she waits for him in
warm, comfortable spot. can receiv
4 him. II she is his sweetheart, indie
c~haperonage. can all with him In
Honey room beside a blazing warn
fire, car eat with him in a cozy res
laurent where warm, wholesome
home cooked food Is served; can, 1
she. be young wife with small chill
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