Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-11-24
J. 7. LONGFELLOW
TELLS Of Y. N. {. A.

WI pol dl JUS. 4 boHS ltllDW III
headquarters company. 361st Infan-
try, Camp Lewis, and former princi-
pal of the Endicott high school, has
written an intensely interesting letter
to DR., B. d. Henry of Endicott in
regard. TO the army Y NJ c, A
Through the courtesy of Dr. Henry
a part of the letter is published here
with as follows:
1t is late, but ! must take few
minutes out to send yon q line or SC
about things in general here and
about the work of the Y. NJ. c. A.
in particular
We thought we knew a little about
the work of the organization among
the soldiers when the campaign was
launched in Endicott last spring. !
must say now that we did not begin
to realize the wonderful work this
organization is doing for the soldiers
all over the world
am in position TO speak from
experience. | have been here little
over two months. During that time
have had less spare time than the
average soldier at Camp Lewis, on
account of the particular kind of
work ] am in. IEt even in my case
the 'Y' is very necessary part of
what would otherwise he rather an
unhappy existence There are always
times when we have no drilling or
work to do. The btrracks that we
are forced to call home are nee
essarily strict mili,-".' In their sim
plicity and seyeritt G. construction.
When a man has leitIe time on his
hands, there is l...a.l satisfaction in
sitting on cot and staring into
space We must have something
definite to do at all times. The Y.
NJ. c. A. steps in with that some
thing. 1t helps in thousand ways,
big and little. shall mention few
of the things it has done to help
make existence possible for us here at
this camp. And when ! speak of
what is happening here at Camp
Lewis, you may rest assured that the
same or similar things are being
done by this big brother to the sol
dier all over this war-stricken
world
The "Y' furnishes good many
things free, to us, and what is not
free Is sold at cost. For instance,
people of the northwest are paying
from five dollars up to hear Nine
Alma Gluck sing. Our "Y" brought
her out here to camp and she sang
an open air concert to about twenty
thousand homesick soldiers. am
now at the Y. NJ. c. A. building No.
1 writing this letter at time when
all the lights are out in all the bar
racks They have furnished paper
and pen and ink to any man here
who want to write letters. In the
main room outside, some one is play
Ing the piano. In a side room are
good many OF my comrads sitting
around fireplace, before a roaring
fire listening to the latest Victrola
records or reading the late maya
zines furnished by the "Y." This is
our home here at camp. Our bar
racks are just places to stay. The
Y. M. c. A. is where we live.
have mentioned only few of the
many things this organization is do
ing for us | have used the word
organization advisedly 1t is an
organization It is made up of real,
i've, red blooded men. They are
banded together in an efficient sys-
EN- with but one purpose-to help
he soldier live a clean, comfortable
ife in the service of his country
There are a large number of build
ngs and great quantities of equip
nent and furniture in use by the Y
VI. c. A. That all costs money, and
he only way the money can be Sc
.ured is by subscription from the
olks at home.
went to the "Y'' a few nights
Lgo and saw a sign that made me
lick, not physically but Sick at
leart" 1t read something like this
Fellows, we need help Our money
S running low. We have got to
aise large amount or close up |
Won't you write a letter home and |
ell your people what you think of
he Y. NJ G. AZ" 1t pulled me up |
With jerk. The "Y" close up? |
Why, where could we go then, What
would we do? Where would we |
meet our friends, or buy our stamps,
r write our letters, or hear good |
music, or where could we find a
place to read? And
With these questions in my mind, |
egan to realize how much the Y
4. G. A. meant to me What 1t
leans to me, it means to the million
r more other soldiers of our country.