Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-10

went down to the concentration
camp at Yaphank on Long Island to
find out what the Y. M. G.. A. Is doing
Tor the fellows who are going to do the
fighting for those who stay at home
and buy liberty bonds. went down
there to find out what the officers
think Of the Y. M. c. A. and what the
men think Of 1t. I came away alb
solutely convinced that the Y. NJ. G. A.
is doing work that could not be done
by any other existing organization, and
work that is vital to the moral and
physical welfare Of the great army nc
are putting in the field.
This comes from q man who has al
ways SHE'D q little at organized efforts
to improve something or somebody. In
general i've felt that If the game was
to make a ''better' man, there was a
fifty fifty chance Of also producing a
stupid man, in the process. I sort OF
felt that though the waiting room OF
an interurban trolley car line is a good
place to stand under when 1t rains, you
don't have to weep in gratitude about
it, or consider 1t for a permanent home.
I think you get what mean, Clarence
and Phoebe.
Now / say without reserve, after
day at Camp Upton, a short day but
a busy one, that every dollar put into
the Y. NJ. C. A. is doing, during this
war, is going to get tremendouh diyi-
dends, not only while the fight Is going
on, but In that precarious period
when the boys come home. 1t is going
to make the difference between
happy, singing, contented army and
depressed, homesick. and Hstless one.
1t Is going to mean the difference be-
tween clear-eyed, clean. self-respect-
Ing body Of men, and-the other kind.
And that believe me, Is good enough
for me.
Well, the argument ceases right here.
The rest is what I saw. what I heard,
and what I felt at Yaphank.
Camp Upton isn't much to look at in
the full glare of the sunlight. 1t looks
unfinished It is unfinish. And not
only that. but several thousand car
penters, lest you should forget, pound
the fact home to you at every corner.
Bang, Tap! slam! This place
whang, isn't finished-blipp.-
And you say, see 1t isnt"-and side
step falling plank that nearly got you
permanent exemption.
The stumps of trees still stare at the
sky Rockies who have been told to
keep their eyes ahead fall comical vic
tins to the rude wit Of Unfortunately
tangled roots. Remember, the whole
place was a virgin, but not respectable,
wilderness Of jack pine<and scrub oak,
only few weeks ago. There is reek
of boot pounded clay in the air. 1t was
only few weeks ago that tenderly-
cared-for Plattsburg officers were sit
ting under sideless shelters, like toacs
under mushrooms.
But when l stepped out Of an officers
mess room, after having one OF the
best meals ever ate anywhere, there
was something more than ha!f g !:.ccH
shining on Yaphank, and the land
scape was about as mellow as the good
food had made the campers. Looking
off the narrow ridge. on which head
quarters and the flag are placed. thou
sands Of yellow lights are blinking
from the endless lines of two-story
barracks There is an even-paced
motion in the streets. 4, Dark figures
move deliberately. but no sloughing
along. Nobody is assisting telegraph
poles to stand erect All movement