Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-20
al Members Added
to Y. w. G. A. First Day

The first days campaign in the in
terest o. new members for the Young
Women's Christian association result
ed in Al additions and "a renewals, re-
ported last evening al meeting OF the
team leaders and workers at the 7.
W. G. A. rooms. This brings the mem
bership Of the local organization up 70 7
1914 Hereafter report of each day S I
progress will be made az MONDAY /
meeting to be held at the rooms In the /
Central Trust bank building The /
final report will be made at banquet I
20 be served Friday evening IN the
dining room Of the First Methodist (
church This banquet will be seryedf
not only 10 workers in the cause or
the y W. C. A., but 10 any who are IN
any way interested Tickets for the
banquet may be- procured from the
association headquarters at a nominal
charge
There are so Young women cOmpos-
ing the various teams and they hope 10
bring the total membership to the
900 mark before the end of the week.
The local association win assist later
in the effort 10 raise the Y. W. g, A.
war fund Of $4,0O0,000. undertaken
throughout the United States This
money is 10 be used in work among
the Young women connected with the
army service The association is now
working I'm So centers. Ten hostess
houses have been erected, Is are un-
der construction and requests for u
more have been made. The hostess
house rs place near the army can
tonments, provided with rest rooms,
reading room and o luncheon ROOM
where women visiting the camp may
meet their friends and entertain them.
Al Houston the hostess house is To-
Gated opposite divisional headquar-
tiers. is painted green and is the only
house in the entire camp that is paint
cd Before the hostess house was
built visitors had to stand around in
che hot sun, often in the pouring rain,
ar sit on fence rail waiting for
friends tu be released from duty for
a few moments of rest and relaxation.
II Us the onf-duty periods at noon. 4;3O,
and g. that this attractive and com
Portable building huns like a bee hive
for the rooms are then crowded with
men la uniform and their women
friends Ia light dresses and bright
|. colGcd sweaters, consuming sand
virhes. cakes. ice cream, and soft
4 drinks tn The accompaniment OF
laughter aud occasional music from
iha piano 'ls this q country club"
q stranger might ask looking about
Hi the gay scene and listening to the
chatter. bnt as the bugle sounds and
tine men bid o hasty though often az
teCti0nate farewell and swing into
line to toll through a hot afternoon
under terrific strain. az bayonet prac.
lice, thrusting aud Iunging at stuffed
dummies painted 10 represent an i'm
ag.nary enemy. one realizes that the
scene he has just Witnessed is but q
momantary relief from the grim tasf
of preparing for war The hostess
house Is almost the only spot in The
army post which provides the honey
atmosphere which these men so eager
ly crave. Many men just come TO the
doors 10 look at the pretty girls, OF
hear the sound of a wOman.s voice
aud they all say, You have no ide;
how this place helps"
Aside from creating an atmospher,
and Offering q comfortable place tI
meet and eat, the stats at the hostess
house must be ready TO do many otheI
things The one In charge of the in
formation desk answers thousands o
questions q day. must be able to lOcat'
Podunk Center and tell exactly wha
time the train arrives and leaves sal,
station. pick up o stitch which SOM
novice in the art of knitting has care
lessly dropped. or find a comioTtabl
f.It
possiblel for the lady friend" OF som
solicitous soldier One of the secre
farys visits 10 the many concession
about the camp, becomes acquainte
with the girls employed there, AM
tries 10 keep a watchlul eye on Oh
conditions nearby
The real intensive work with girls
however. is carried on in the clu
house OF the Young Womens league
an organization which is maintaine
by the national board of the Youn
Women's Christian association nea
plattshurg reserve officers tranin
camp. Nine clubs have been organ
lied. each OF which meets az leas
once each week for meetings and ha
the choice of numerous classes. gym
nasium, sports. games and all sort
OF other activities. Once or twice eac
month the club house entertaus 1t
membership and their friends with
stunt party, lecture, sociable, or en-
tertanment OF some kind That hi
work is worth while is evidenced i
such remarks as this from youn
Freuch-Canadian factory girl. wv
didn't know where was so much fu
IN the world till youse come to Platt'
burg"
From Plattsburg came the first n
quest for a "house or something e
the girls" and in 10 days a buildin
was opened which has become II
center OF social life in the communit
IA honey. wholesome. friendly plat
for every soldier boy and everyone il
terested in the soldier hoy.
Fair Novel and Successful.
The Golden Rule Bible class OF n
al