Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-15
COMMUNITY DANCE FOR
SOLDIERS FROM CAMP LEE
Richmond Commission on Training
Camp Activities Announces En-
t~crtainmcnt Program.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON CONCERT
Provision to BE Made for ChapcrOns
for Each Group OF Girls Not Per-
Sonnlly Known tn Young Men
With Whom They Dance.

y community dance. and what is
termed a sunday sing" are two fca-
lures OF a program TO promote rccrca-
ton and Entertainment now being
mapped out by the Richmond Commits
sion on Training Camp Activities in
the interest of army and navy men.
j. r.. IL. Ttadcker, of Washington.
representing the War Department and
Navy Department Commissions on
Training Camp Activities. came TO
Richmond yesterday 70 confer with c..
III. W!nfrey. secretary OF the local COM
mission. regarding this city's p~artici-
patton i'll the rccreativc work. Dis
cussinE the community dance. Mr..
Radckcr said:
The idea has been tried out i'm nu-
mcrous cities i'll the vicinity Of army
and navy camps and has been found
an admirable one. No doubt il will
prove 10 be one Of the mos, enjoyable
features of the Richmond COMMISSIONS
activities. The dances usually are held
IN armories or other large buildings
suitable for such a purpose, and ar
ranscmcnts arc made for a large at
tendance Of soldiers. sailors. airmcu.
etc. The local commissions part is TO
provide dancing partners for tho young
mon. and to supervise the entertain
'ncnt generally in order that there can
be no question about Its thorough re-
COMMITTEE NAY NAME
SUITABLE CHAPERONS
I'm some instances il has been found
entirely satisfactory for tho executive
committee OF the commission 10 appoint
a suitable number of chapcrons. who
make il their business TO assemble
groups of girls and women, number ten.
twenty. thirty or more to 4 group. as
nc case may be. The chaperons lake
their charges 10 ind from the dance.
Only girls who are personally ac-
quainted with men in tho service are
escorted to the dance by the men them
selves. OF co Irsc, III :. city like Rich
mpnd. where there are so many soldiers
at Camp Lee whose homes arc here.
there would be innumerablc instances
OF couples pairing Oft naturally AS \
result OF a prior acquaintance. But in
me case or scores of others the safe
guard Of a chapcron is considered high.
~ desirable and necessary
Mr.. Radekcr pointed out that II is
me aim or the Commission on Training
Camp Activities 10 see to II that tho
recreation provided for soldiers in their
free time is clean and wholesome, and
mat channels are opened through
which the men may find substitutes
for the formal relationships of life.
from which they have been suddenly
cut off. IT is necessary, he said, that
the men should meet people in Rich
mond and be entertained as an anti
dote for inconsistencies, depression and
social loneliness, which constitute "A
real menace TO the moral strength OF
the men.
The SUNDAY sing" is n form OF en-
tertainIrent that has been tried out
elsewhere and found desirable. said Mr..
Radeker. II consists OF q song SER
Wee participated in by singing units
organized at a camp and groups OF
;oWnspeopie organized for musical
purposes. The local commission plans
TO inauEurate the Sunday sing at an
carr! date. holding Tho service in a
building capable of accommodating a
large crowd The commissions efforts
in this direction will he supported. Sec
Rotary Winfrey seid, by tho Wednesday
club. Large groups OF men from Camp
Lee VIII take part in the entertain
ll.EtS