Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-07
PRETTY GIRLS SERVE
SAMMEES IN LONDON
Yankees Dance and Sing at Y,
M. G. A. Hut While Britons
Cape in Wonder
STARS AND STRIPES FLY
Prominent Women of Both America
and England Aid in
the Work
BY ELLEN ADAlR

IoNlDON. NOV ~.
SSrT,HIS is sure the best place in the
whole of England 20
A sailor with the white eagle Ct
America on his arm and ribbon OIL
his cap bearing the inscription ~. S. S
Huntington" had just entered the Amer
lean Y. NJ. c. a. in London. and was
looking around delightcdly.
"This is the first bit of real life I've
seen since arriving" he announced
Now as nearly all the vo:un.ary help
ers In the Eagle Hut hail from across
the Atlantic. every one was pleased ut
the tribute. and no enc minded the gentle
aspersion that England-outside the
hut-was a bit slow and sleepy,
Certainly inside the hut everything
was bright and light and fun. Pretty
Mattresses in their black and white
striped uniforms and black silk "Dutch
bonVets" rushed hther and thither with
steaming trays and smiles. Delightful
adors of real American dishes drifted
out from the kitchens where some of
the most prominent American ladies' in
London were working as cooks.
The twanging of a guitar came from
one recreation room. and the strains of
rag time from another. thumped hilari-
ously out on n piano.
Endless couples of American sailors
fox-trotted and one-stepped joyously to-
gether to the amazed interest of a crowd
Of Australian troopers. who never in all
their lives had seen such wonderful
dancing,
We've nothing in Australia like this"
said one of them TO me--quite humbly
too. ] was surprised-not at his state
ment, but at the fact that he would
make such q one--for Australia. despite
her many virtues, doesn't like to admit
superiority in any other country. not
even in dancing.
was the perpetual click. click of billiard
balls and pool balls.
The girl at the American soda foun-
tain was doing a roaring trade. I
atched one big New. Zealander with a
dark-skinned complexion that showed
his trace of Maori blood enjoying six
Sundaes in succession.
First time I've ever tasted anything
equal to this he remarked with
pleased grin. Nothing like this at
home in n. H."
So the American hut in London is
teaching Colonials and Englshmen n few
things--more even than the latest steps
in ragtime and the best brands of ice
cream! 1t is teaching them the i'm
mense "bonhomie" of the United States.
the real good fellowship. For every
stranger gets the same hearty welcome
and the same good treatment there.
"Any fellows who want a motor drive
around London this afternoon. to see all
the sights of the city. be ready to start
In fifteen minutes!'' The notice is
shouted through the canteen by a little
man In n big fur coat with immense mo-
toring gloves. his car snorting outside,
ANY fellows who want to meet Queen
Alexandra this afternoon be out at
Westminster at 8 o'clock" Another an
nouncement is being made.
ANY fellows who want the news
papers of their home towns in the United
States. will find them in the reading
ROOM
All sorts of amusements are provided
At the hut. There are concerts every
night, Excellent speakers address the
men, The most prominent of American
actors and actresses--English ones too
give their services free, so that the
men may be entertained.
We want them all to have real good
time" said Lady Alastair lnnes-Kerr to
me today. IL want every American man
and woman in London to interest them
selves In this place. We need all the
help We can get"
Lady Innes-Kerr and Lady Ward are
indefatigable workers at the hut.
could name a host of other prominent
American women. but snace forbids.
They come to work here voluntarily, not
merely one day a week. but every day,
There's a magazine stall in the hut
which always does an excellent trade,
Needless to say. all the literature there
is American. ! notice that the magazine
most In request is ALWAYS the SATURDAY.
Evening Post. Ask any American sol
dier or sailor which is his favorite peri
odical? You may be sure of the answer.
Australians and New, Zealanders and
Canadians express the same affection for
II, too.
I was waiting on a table with six