Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-26

Graphic Story Of Life IN Prison Camps and Their "AtmOO
phere of He0rt0ches" Told BY Man Who Has Minis
tered to the CGptiUes Of Many Nations

power, OF keeping these men up to q
point. at least above deterioration,
and perhaps even to better their
stand, Is the gigantic task to which
the Young Mems Christian AssOcia-
ton has dedicated itself. For the
problem Is not one primarily Of look
ing out for physical needs. Even II
many Of the prisoners Of war today
are sufficiently well fed and clothed,
and housed TO maintain life In O
healthy condition under ordinary cir
eumstancee, they are in captivity,
suddenly deprived Of their freedom
and Of the chance TO serve their coun-
try In the time OF greatest need.
More than food, clothing and shelter
Is necessary. Idleness, the greatest
foe to personality, gets In its most
deadly work in the prison camp. Men
worn out with months in the trenches
and the excitement and strain of war
fare are suddenly plunged into i'm
activity, are cut on from the world.
The result IL one Of mental and
spiritual. and often moral degenera-
ton.
Hungry for Books
| And how city Association secre-
tary would chortle with Joy to find
among the members Of his Associa-
ton men of the talents and capacities
that one finds within the barbed wire
Of a prison camp settlement. Pro-
fessors, journalists, lawyers, engi-
neers. skilled artisans, musicians,
and 50 on throughout the range Of
talents, are at the war-prisoner sec
retary's hand to help In the establish
ment OF work In the prison camps.
recall a camp Of somewhere over g.
| 900, where, with q school which in
cluded an equipment of only fifteen
text books, three blackboards and
about forty benches and tables, we
had within a month enrolled 100
| students in thirty-five courses of
study, including five languages, with
courses in general science, mathe-
MATES up to and including plane and
solid geometry, and lectures in
various subjects. From eight in the
morning until six at night one class
| after another came into this little
school building and forgot their cap
tivity and their homesickness by ac-
cupying their minds with one study
or another. In the prison camps,
things which at home we have taken
for granted and neglected, suddenly
assume tremendous value. Think Of
a library of $50 books in which every
day every book is drawn out, includ-
ing the dictionary?
| 1t is so easy to think that the man
who has been removed from the con-
fict and placed In a prison camp il
out OF the fight. From q moral point
Of view, however, his fight has really
only Just begun. The battle field
calls for heroism, but the prison
camp call heroism even greater be-
cause 1t calls for that courage pa
tiently to endure monotony, to hold
ones spirit high through weeks of
waiting, to suffer and perhaps to
die far OF from ones own country,
out of touch with home, and alone.
| Prisoners Steadily Increase
| The Association has 1t In its power
to save the lives Of many, the sanity
of many others, and preserve the man
power of countless thousands by the
work that 1t Il now carrying on in
the prison camps. IL It strange that
landing In America, after many
months in the atmosphere of heart
ache, stupendous sacrifice and such
magnificent heroism, felt with
a little pang the strain OF self
complacency, the willingness on the
part of 80 many to forget what
Is going on on the other side
and their duty? 1t Is impossible
at . time like this for Christian men
to divide themselves up into Nations
when it comes to working for those
who are helpless and destitute.
Many have given their lives that
the whole world might be spiritually
quickened. I wish that / might be
ONE OF the many workers who could
bring home to us our duty and our
responsibility at this time, who could
rouse the last phlegmAtic heart OF
every man In America out Of any
SNUG complacency which still dwells
there. The work IL we'll begun. II
must be carried on. The war goes
onward, the number Of prisoners Of
war increases; their needs increase.
1t Is indeed q challenge to the Chris
tian students Of America such a. has
never faced them before. This is our
| greatest opportunity to step In and
with helpful service and heart full
of the Christian spirit re-kindle and
brighten the fame Of Christian broth
erhood which alone can heal up the
wounds and bind together the shat
tered world. Jesus said. Thou shalt
| love thy n0fghbOr."