The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-08-21
BOOKS FOR SOLDIERS
Nearly All the Boys In Camps Like to
Read Books.

NcdTiJ All tne Buys IN lamps Like 10
Read Books.
Washington, Aug. 19.-One of the
most interesting developments of war
times was announced today to the
War Service Committee OF the
American Library Association in a
letter from a ''rookie" in a camp
Somewhere on the map" telling OF a
revolutionary innovation in the game
of poker.
"a good book beats a royal flush"
wrote this rookie. and is the only
thing known that can beat this COM
bination of the cards. Old regulars
had told us this when we first came to
camp. but we thought they we're mere
ly spoofing Now, among a lot CT
other things, we've learned that they
We're right about the books"
almost all of the boys here would
rather read than play cards. any day,
and our most exciting gambling when
a book appears is to draw straws to
see who'll be second and third and
fourth on the waiting list Any book
will do. Some like novels and, some
like histories. and some like books of
travel But in a pinch wen find good
reading in even an arithmetic or
grammar"
Steps to meet this need already
have been taken by the American Ii
brary Association, which through a
committee on camp libraries has
started a campaign to raise $1,000
600 TO build libraries at the 80 can
tonments and encampments of the
new army to supply the men with
books and to provide good reading for
the sick and injured at home and
| abroad, for the men in the trenches.
and for sailors afloat and ashore.
Each city and town in the land Is
asked to turn 8 per cent OF its popu.
| lation into dollars. for the pleasure
and good of the young men they have
sent into the war The base of the
Statute of Liberty in New York was
| provided through contributions of dol
lars and multiples Of small amounts,
| and the library war service commit
| tee feels that this library fund also
should be provided by widely popular
subscriptions.
In a letter to Secretary of War
Baker, Chairman Raymond b. Fosdick
of the Commission on Training Camp
Activities of the War Department
said.
"The American Library Associa
ticns plans comprehend the erection
of library building in each of the
cantonments, with the Y. NJ. C. A
buildings and the Knights of Colum
bus buildings as distributive point
To put up these buildings and Obtain
the necessary books and magazines
will cost approximately Sl,000,0OO
and the American Library Association
will assume entire responsibility TO
raising this sum. II already ha
named a war council and | under
stand that President Wilson has beef
successfully appealed to, to counter
ance this plan. 1t in no way conflict
, with any plan the Red Cross has 4
mind"
I As is the case in and around Wasl
! ington. the need of books for the so
: diers may be seen at any camp O
4 place where detachment of men
9 standing guard over bridges, or waite
ways or other property The "boys
at the score of such guard camp
around the national capitol are chez
ful and optimistic, but they yearn fC
occupation In their spare hours
Hope is entertained that the Sl,0O
600 needed will be subscribed in
| short time and the library war Sc
{ vice committee is anxious that ever
! man. woman and child in the counti
, should have n finger in the pie" {
at least a dollar in the fund