Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-07
ENGLISH EXPERIENCES
SHOW NEED FOR BOOKS
Weary Waiting In Trenches Only Re.
lieyed by Something
to Read.
ONLY oNE.FoURTH ON GUARD
Others Are Waiting With Little Out
look But Earth Walls OF Their
Trenches-Richmon Women Seek
to Raise $7,78O.

to Raise $7,73O.
There 10 timely article In recent
Library Journal which bears directly
on the question of reading matter for
tho fighting men at the front. which
Is absorbing the time and energy of
many interested Richmond people at
the present time in a laudable effort to
raise ltichmond's quota of the $4,000
asked for by the government from the
State of Virginia. There are people
who talk much (and think little) who
claim that the men at the front do not
want reading matter-thut they have
no time nor inclination to read-and
who shrug disbeiieving shoulders at
the statement the government has
shown In this matter is In response
to the insistent demand of the men
who have rallied to the colors for
something to read"
Now. the Library Journal is a recoS-
nizcd authority on this subject, and
the article under discussion is by
man whose statements have the weight
OF absolute authenticity. Theodore
Wesley Koch. chief. order division. LII
brary, Of Congress. "rhe call for
appeal of the war" The article be-
gins with an account In detail of the
work of the four great agencies
through which books, newspapers and
magazines were supplied to tho British
troops at the beginning Of the war.
Those recognized channels were: Cd
the British Red Cross and Order Of
st. John War. Library; (2) the Camps
Library: (3) the Young Mems Chris
tian Association. and ca the British
Prisoners Of War Book Scheme tedu
cationaD.
ONLY ONE-FOURTH ARE ON
ACTIVE GUARD DUTY
when Il Is recognized" says Sir
Edward Ward. who VAS asked by Lord
Kitchener to undertake, among other
duties. the supplying Of libraries for
the use Of tho troops at the front,
shat In the trenches only one-fourth
OF the men are actively on duty watch
ing the enemy. while tho remaining
three-fourths are concealed at the bot
tom OF the trenches with their field OF
vision limited to few yards OF earth.
IT may at once be realized how impor-
tant,t to them are any methods OF en-
liveuins the long. weary hours OF
waiting" Especially In winter, the
demand for something to read" in
training and rest camps. as well as
from those at the front. far exceeds
the supply.
or course. some things come in that
cannot be sent out. like stray numbers
OF Punch Of the year 18t6; Hints TO
Mothers: How to Cut Blouse;
Meditatlons Among the Tombs." and an
old telephone directory. One agency
found It rather difficult to deal with a
herring barrel full Of I! sermons, and
was distinctly at q loss TO know what
to do with an. enormous bundle OF love
letters included by mistake. AS in the
present instance of Virginia people
sending contributions of books and
magazines. the request Is made by
those in authority that Talks About
Dress Making" and Guides to English
watering Places" and literature of a
similar. nature be carefully CLEANED
from the harvest of books and maya
zines sent to the soldiers.
NO DOUBT HUT THAT
BOOKS ARE APPRECIATED
III any one has a doubt as to whether
books and magazines are appreciated
by the men for whom they are intend.
cd" writes Mr.. Koch. "a glance through
the hundreds OF letters kept at head
quarters will dispel It. 'Cramped in a
crumhling dug-out. time passes slowly
writes one officer, and the monotony
Is greatly relieved by few magazines
from the old folks at home A letter
from France brought this message:
The last parcel of your books came
just as we had been relieved after the
gas attack. and there Is nothing like
a book for taking ones mind of what
one has seen and gone through The
wear and tear on printed matter in the
trenches Is very Lard, and magazines
at the front last out a short while.
Supply wagons known to contain par
cells of books are eagerly watched for
by the troops in the Land of Some
where.
''The lads were never so pleased in
their lives as when I told them 1 had
some books for them" Is the way one
lance-corporal puts It. An extract
from another officers letter tells the
rame story: Most of the men were ly-
ing or sitting about with nothing to do
When l said had n box of books to
lend, they were around me in a mo-
ment like a lot of hounds at worry,
and In less than no time each had a
book-at least rs far as they would
co. Those who hada'- been quick
enough were trying to get the lucky
ones to read aloud. 1t would have done
you good to see how the men enjoyed
getting the books. May we have more,
as many more as you can spaFe?'"
DIR. VAN DYKE. TELLS
OF VALUE OF READING
Mr.. Koch quotes a letter from DR..
Henry Van Dyke, former minister to
the Netherlands, and famous preacher
writer and lecturer. DR.. Van Dyke
wrote: One thing this war has GER
tainiy taught the world, and that is
that victory does not depend solely
upon big battalions,' but upon large
and strong and brave hearts and minds
in tho battalions. The morale of the
army is the hidden force which uses
the weapons of war to the best ad-
vantage. and nothing is more impor-
tant. In keeping UP this morale than
a supply of really good reading for
the men in their hours OF enforced
Inactivity, whether they are in cam
paign preparing for the battle or in
the trench waiting to renew the battle
again. or in the hospital wounded
trying to regain strength Of body and
mind to go back to the battle for
which they have been enlisted, Human
fellowship, good books and music are