Evening star., 1917-11-11
y. N. c. A. ACTIVE
IN ARMY CAMPS
900 Buildings and 1900 Sec
Z retaries in United States;
4, Even More Abroad.
A BUSY DAYS PROGRAM

IN this country moro than 800 r. NJ.
c. A. buildings have been erected III
Army camps and cantonments. ana
more have been built abroad. In the
United States more than 1000 \. NJ.
C. A. secretaries have been assigned 10
camps and about 800 have been sent
to France.
What are the buildings for?' ana
s~What do these men do?" are two ques-
tions frequently asked in connection
with the campaign beginning today 10
raise s1aO.ooe in Washington toward
the thirty-five-m -million-dollar natlonai
fund to maintain this work
.Nany a business man who THINKS
his engagement calendar Is cIoMoeo
would he surprised at the aay p.o
gram of one of these secretaries says
q statement from the District cam
pa!gn committee.
"These men are doing a tremendous
work under high pressure
To proye this statement the com
roittee asked a secretary at random
working in n camp near "ashihe @ .o,i.
to submit sample of his days pro-
gram. Here it is:
A Days Program.
Got up at 6;45 with the reveille.
overtime. Made the fire. Took break
fast with a company mess
after breakfast did carpentering
work about the building, sold stamps
and money orders to few soldiers,
helped a couple men to write special
letters home. Had a talk with lei
low who wanted some personal ao
vice Went on visit to the hospl,ai
wards. took supplies to men who could
not come to the Y. NJ. c. a. building,
wrote letters for some of them. and
arranged to do errands Tor them IN
town. Then arranged with the chap
lain for Il religious meeting Tor the
following sunday. Had an interview
with an officer TO get permission for
q large part Of his company TO atteno
q church party in Washington.
after mess at noon with the men
made arrangements for boxing match
between a camp favorite and chal-
lenger. Took an hour for recreation
and went to walk with a couple of
enlisted men. This walk always affords
a good chance to get in friendly touch
with the men. Went back to work at
the counter. selling stamps, passing out
wrapping paper and all sorts OF sup
plies. and issued money orders. Then l
began TO prepare for the big social
event of the afternoon. At 3 o'clock
the men began coming in to listen to
addresses of certain distinguished Wis
itors. Afterward the men formed in
line and were served with ice cream
and cake. Eighteen hundred were serv-
ed in twenty-five minutes, pretty good
efficiency record Then / showed the
visitors about camp.
Supper, Then French Glass.
Supper was at $40, but could not
tarry long; had to hurry off to French
class for couple dozen Of the en-
listed men. At o'clock got two
and at 7:30 took charge of moving
picture exhibition. The crowd reached
to the rafters. This being Saturday /
swept out the building in preparation
for the Sunday services. Other nights
the men do this
Nor could this secretary sleep late
and rest on Sunday. His next days
program began with a Catholic mass at
O'Clock in the association building.
Breakfast was at the usual time. At
o'clock he helped with a communion
by an Episcopal clergyman and at 10
o'clock assisted the chaplain in the
exercises for the men. At IL o'clock
another service. under Y. NJ. c. A.
auspices, was conducted by a Congre-
gational layman.
On Sunday afternoon there is more
work than ever at the counter. for
Sunday is letter-writing day for the
soldiers There are many chances at
this time for personal chats with the
men. In the afternoon were several
bible classes and in the evening the
secretary turned his attention to get
ting off church parties. In the after
noon he also attended to assigning men
70 motorists who came out to take
them TO ride. He concludes: "At 1880,
Dunk, tireder' than week day"
Buildings So Far Cost $4,000, 900.
An idea of the nagniture of the
physical equipment is given by the
fact that the buildings already erected
IN this country cost about S3.ooo.00O,
not including any equipment or sup
plies for them,
Taking a single building. there must
Be provided. In addition to the struc-
ture itself, paper supplies free for
every soldier who wants them. A vic
trola always is purchased and plenty
OF good records. Pen. ink ana pencils
are provided. a fully equipped motion
picture machine is bought and good
nllns. There are testaments and sepa-
Iately bound books Of the Bible for
distribution. Furnishings for the in
teftor of the buildings. and living quar-
tors for the secretaries must be paid
1or. Wrapping paper and twine also
1s furnished to the men. Postal ma
chimes. mailing tubes and similar con-
library of books and magazines is in
stalled in the building-usually 1t is
the only one in camp. Then there is
athletic equipment, including boxing
gloves. base balls, foot balls, yolley
balls. basket balls. gloves and nets.
The salaries of the secretaries them
selves must be paid.
The estimated sum needed to carry
on this work here and abroad. and to
extend II to the armies of American
allies. up to June 30, 1918. is the
$4,000. 900 which will be raised this
week in the nationwide campaign of
the war work council. Y. NJ. c. A.