The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-15
Community DANCE
AND SUNDAY SING
Training Camp Activities Commission
Planning Recreation for Camp
Lee Men.

! A community dance and what In
termed Sunday sing are two features
OF a program to promote recreation
land entertainment now being mapped
out by the Richmond commission or
training camp activities in the inter-
est of army and navy men.
| ]. r. Fl. Radeker, of Washington,
representing the war department and
navy department commissions on
training camp activities, came to Rich
nlond yesterday to confer with @. II.
Winfrey, secretary Of the local com
mission. regarding this ctty's partieipa-
ton in the recreative work. Discuss
ing the community dance. Mr. Rade-
KEY said.
/ The idea has been tried out in
numerous cities 10 the vicinity Of army
and navy camps and has been found
an admirable one. No doubt It Will
prove TO be one OF the most enjoyable
features Of the Richmond commi ssion' s
activities. The dances usually are held
in armortes or other large buildings
! suitable for such purpose. and ar
engagements are made for a large at
tord dance OF soldiers, sailors, airmen.
etc. The local commissions part is
TO provide dancing partners for the
young men, and to supervise the enter
tainment generally In order that there
can be no question about its thorough
Responsibility.
I'm some instances II has been
found entirely satisfactory for the
executive committee of the commits
zion to appoint a suitable number Of
lchsperons who make IL their business
TO assemble groups Of girls and wo-
men, numbering ten. twenty. thirty or
more to group. as the case may be.
The chaptrons take their charges to
and from the dance. Only girls who
are personally acquainted with men In
the service are escorted to the dance
by the men themselves OF course. in
a city like Richmond. where there are
50 many soldiers at Camp Lee whose
homes are here there would be in
Vulnerable instances OF couples pairing
csf naturally as a result of a prior ac-
Graintance. But I'm the case OF scores
of others the SAFEGUARD of a chaperon
is considered highly desirable and
necessary"
Mr.. Radeker pointed out that Ii Is
the aim OF the commission on training
camp activities to. see to 1t that the
recreation provided for soldiers in their
free time is clean and wholesome and
that channels are opened through
WHICH tIlS men may VFu suD8tflulo6 Tor
the normal relationships OF FIFE from
which they have been suddenly cut
off. II is necessary, ne said that the
men should meet people in Richmond
and be entertained as an antidote for
inconsistencies. depression and socia
loneliness, whicG constitutes a real
menace to the naorai verength of the
men.
The SUNDAY sing is form of enter
tainment that has been tried nut else
where and found desirable, said Mr..
Radeker. 1t consists of song ser
Vice participated In by singing units or
eaniyed at camp and groHps Of
t@wnspeonle organized for musical pur-
poses. The local commission plans to
inaugurate the Sunday sing at an ear
" date. holding the service in q build
ing capable OF accommodating q large
crowd The commissions efforts In
this direction will be supported. Sec
rotary Wfufrey said. by the wednes-
das club. Large groups Of men from
Camp Lee will take part In the sptsr-
tadnments.