Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-03
SALVATION ARMY
SERVES SAMNIEES
Establishes First of Chain
of Wholesome Recreation
and Service Centers
DAINTIES AT COST RATES
BY HENRI BAZIN
Stdn Correspondent Of the ErcHfn1 Ledger tLi
the American ArmV IN France

| StnH Correspondent Of the ErcutnD Ledger Ltth
the American ArntU ~ France
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS
! IN FRANCE. Sept 30.
The American Salvation Army is "on
the job" somewhere in France. In little
while IL will be Somewhere" and that in
quantities Under the supreme direction
ot Colonel william S. Barker, of New York.
and the direct personal direction Of staff
Captain william Halpin, who comes from
Philadelphia, the first Salvation Army hut
was thrown open today not many miles
from where these lines are written.
The hut Is really long sectional wooden
building, $50 by 40 feet, brilliantly lighted
through ten windows upon each side. The
door at one end is as wide as the well
come that goes with It. ] did not measure
IT, but Sammees in columns of fours could
pass through with room to spare.
The hut is in charge Of Ensign Hickey,
who has five men and six Salvation lassies
with him They are all musicians and Will
give concerts and song services for the
Sammees at frequent intervals. They pro-
pose in addition. making fudge, homemade
caramels cookies and clkes, with real
American pie to be sold at cost prices.
The aim of this Salvation Army venture
Is in a measure different from the aims
generally associated with the army's work
at home Religion is by no means the main
scheme in view, but rather righteousness.
and the salvation of the body coupled with
clean, healthy, moral pastiming. To that
end the huts will be used for service and
Bible classes on Wednesday and Sunday
evenings. At all other times they will be at
the disposal OF the Sammees for denomina-
tional services, or club and fraternity meet
ings. Already arrangements have been
made for a Jewish service by tho Hebrew
Sammees of the battalion quartered near
the hut, and the Loyal order of the Moose
will have an initiation and lodge meeting
during the coming week.
Tho six women rank as captains In the
Salvation Army Their names are Edith
Hickey. wife Of the ensign in charge
Helen Purviance, Margaret Sheldon, Geneva
Ladd Elsie Merrifeld and Frances Reuton.
They come from Chicago and western
points. It is their intention to open a
clothes-mending bureau. and to darn socks,
on buttons and repair rents in khaki
trousers free of charge. All Sammee has
to do is to bring his torn or worn duds, and
get 'em back ready to wear in few days.
The influence of these six women has
already been felt in the village where the
hut has been erected They are the first
American women who have come into the
army zone to live the life of the troops and
as such. are looked upon in respectful won
der. They will cook their own meals in
quarters attached to one end Of the hut
and being ready to serve at all hours Tho
Salvation Army men will live in tents and
take mess with the Sammees
Stlff Captain Halpn. who is in charge
of the enterprise directly on the job In the
zone, told your correspondent that the SAL
walton Army expects to put up a similar
hut in every town and village in the zone
Captain Halpin. who is member Of the
Philadelphia Musical Union and is we'll
known at Salvation Army headquarters,
Eighth and Vine streets. is establishing a
newspaper section Of the hut His aim Is
to supply newspapers from every town in
the United states from whence hail the
Sammees. in sections where the original
hut stands, and where all future ones are
TO be erected. found that as usual among
all young Sammees that l have talked with
in these somewhere in France that a fair
proportion hail from Philadelphia, and 1 |
started the newspaper section by handing
to Captain Halpin seven copies of the
EVENING LEDGER, with the promise to let
him have more as time went on. When l |
left for correspondents headquarters seven
different Sammees were looking at these |
seven different EVENING LEpGERs, and |
every mothers son Of them had his paper |
open at the sports page, giving the baseball |
news the earnest once over.