Evening star., 1917-10-31
THE x?yEN1Ne STAR, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 81, 1917
urges OPEN HOMES
TO SOLD|ER-GUESTS
Committee Chairman Asks
Catholic Pastors to Further
The Stars Plan.

| Miss Edna Sheehy. Washington law
yer, who is chairman of the Catholic
J Alumnae war relief committee, besides
appealing to the members Of her or
| ganization, today asked all the pastors
of Catholic churches in the city to urge
I their parishioners to extend the hos
! pitality of their homes to the soldiers
| on Thanksgiving day.
| Miss Sheehy is enthusiastic over the
| plan proposed by The Star to have SOL
diers, sailors or marines in every home
| in the city for dinner on the day OF
national thanksgiving. She feels that
| in these war days it is particularly ap-
| propriate to pay tribute on that day to
the men who are going to fight for the
| liberty of the world, and that they
| should be made happy in home atmos-
phere.
| Example of Hospitality.
, This is an Illustration of how many
| organizations are lending their influ-
ence to spread the message of good
cheer and hospitality throughout the
! city.
| AS each of the fraternaI and patriotic
organizations Of the city meets, reso-
| lutions are adopted commencing the
| idea of the home dinner for men In
uniforms and calling upon their mem
bers to aid the plan. While some of
these organizations were ready to ar
range for dinners in their clubhouses
or halls. the opinion has prevailed that
/ frof
| with the private dinner is much pref
cradle. and the members have pledged
J themselves to entertain as many serv-
| ice men as possible about the family
board.
Evidence of Appreciation.
| Evidences come every day to the Sol
dier Guest Editor of how much the
men who wear the uniform appreciate
the plans that are being made for their
entertainment Here is sample of the
letters which come frequently: Il un-
derstand that you have charge of list
of families that have been kind enough
to extend an invitation to the sailors
and soldiers to eat Thanksgiving din
ner with them. AS it applies to boys
who are here away from home, and as
we are in the regular Navy detailed
here, we are handing you our names
and will thank you to direct US to one
of those dear women who are throwing
open their homes to U.S. There were
FIVE names signed to this letter. and the
five young men are to have a merry
time at a family gathering.
Messages to Soldiers.
Letters carrying notes to the sol
their own homes. are pilfng UP. The
spirit shown in these personal mes
sages to another mothers son is one of
the finest features of the entire scheme
for having the camps and the homes
meet Here is an extract from one
such letter:
Dear boys: We are glad to have this
opportunity to extend to you both a
most cordial and not altogether un-
selfish invitation to dine with u.s. We,
too, are far from most of our friends,
and it would add greatly to our happi-
ness to share our home with others
who are strangers here. There are
three little ones who gaze with awe
your uniform, and two real soldier
boys would be sure of warm welcome"
The letter also suggests that as it Is
long time to Thanksgiving. the SOL
diers might come for pre-Thanks-
giving dinner.
Asked to Come and Bring "Pa1."
another letter which contained a very
cordial invitation to one soldier to come
| and bring his pal" and which con-
| tanned neat card formally inviting the
pal in the same phraseology as though
| he was to be guest OF honor at an Inn
portant social affair. That seems to be
! the spirit of the people of Washington.
They are eager to show honor to the
men who wear the uniform. and feel
that a favor is being done them in hav-
! ing soldiers. sailors or marines assigned
| to their home.
| The letters of invitation received are
| TOO numerous to mention each individ-
| ually, but the following extracts from
some Of them will show how eager the
| homefolks are to welcome some
mothers son" who has nobly answered
| the call to the colors:
| From A. C. Grew, 22i1 Wyoming ave-
nue.: I'm connection with your recent
suggestion for the entertainment Of
Washington homes on Thanksgiving
day, 1 am very glad to say that Mrs.
Grew and l shall be immensely pleased
to receive five soldiers, sailors or
| cate your public-spirited proposal"
| From Mrs. w. V. Wetzel. 13i3 Monroe
street northwest: I'm the name of my
only son, Charles ]. Wetzel. who an
swered the call of his country last
! June and Is now somewhere in France
/ doing his bit I will heartily welcome
to my home on Thanksgiving day four
soldier boys who are far away from
home boys who have felt the pangs of
Inconsistencies my boy has done, and
y: if they are the right sort of fellows,
F: they or any other hoy in service Will
| always find welcome, particularly If
| they miss mother. Let them come
! whenever they want to. and il they
! would enjoy a good hot bath (Which /
| know camp life does not afford. for
my boy has that luxury but once a
| week.. they can have that home COM
| fort. too.
! My whole heart goes out to these
| dear boys in service, / hope some
| other mothers heart will go out to my
only boy in France"
7 From Jane Randolph Vollmer, Gath
ersburg. Md:
B do you think you could find me four
]