The Mena weekly star., 1917-11-22
B. .MG.a. 00aar 00aork tn franfe

long building perhaps ninety feet long in some cases, perhaps two hundred feet in other eases and from fifty to seventy-flye feet wide. II Is built of boards according Go an approved pattern made by Ameri- can engineers. II is i-story and as well lighted as economy of fuel in the winter will permit
 Scores and scores of writing desks covered with writing paper are scattered about the place, along two sides of a long central aisle. and sometimes two, sometimes three pianos are about the room.
 "BilIiartiltables, tables for all sorts of games, are scattered among the writing desks and at one end of the room is a counter and at the coun- ter are three or four or half dozen American women. selling chewing gum, chocolate, toilet articles, vari- ous small articles of mems furnish ings like garters, hat bands, cuff buttons or small jewelry. and va riety of things that the soldier needs in his daily life. Selling these trin- kets is but small part of the American girls job. It is her job to jolly along the boys-to talk to them about anything in the world that interests them; to give them always the companionship of the women of their kind; to discuss their home affairs. or their love af- fairs. or their military affairs, and to make friends with the hoys.
 The Y. VI. c. <. Mothers.
 The women are generally ma ture women in their late POS, early or late 30s, who know the American youth. In addition to this, many of the English Y. NJ. c. A. huts have camp mothers who take a motherIy as well as sisterly and friendly in terest in the boys. and doubtless some similar arrangement will be made to mother our American boys also. In every large camp is anOlh- CT hut, not unlike the one just de- scribed except that if has al one end or one side a stage This stage is well equipped with all kinds of stage machinery for shifting scenes and for lighting, and on this stage every night amateur shows are giv- en.
 The l NJ. C. A. houses are the great safety valves of the army. The French at first did not see the need for these safety valves, and it was not until within the year that the French have seen the wisdom of providing places for recreation and amusement and relaxation for the men. Indeed. at first the British did not see the need for these things as keenly as they should have, and as a result-one must speak plainly in order to have the need emphasized
 -during the first year of the war. it is said by competent authorities, eighty thousand British troops were laid out of line by social diseases.
 The \. NJ. c. A. knows no creed or denomination. Often the army chap lain, who is sometimes a Catholic, is the moving spirit in the Ys NJ. C. A. In some eases of course, the Cath Eolics have their own places of reere- alton, but i'll several cases Catholic Ipriests in the regular army service Foiliciate in the Y, M. c. A. as leaders of sports. These Catholic priests, many of whom are Irish, with the natural Irish talent for leadership. are great sources of help to the or ganization, and in war times Catho- lie, Protestant Jew and Gentle, Mormon and Christian Scientist, arc all striving for the same American end