The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-10-05
The Y. N. c. A. Among the Soldiers.

Reatie Mcpherson who short
time ago enlisted in the Engin-
eer corps of the army, and is
stationed at Vancouver barracks
in Wash, sends his father a
write-up OF the Y. M. G. A. work
as conducted at their barracks,
this organization having charge
of the recreational and educa
tional work of the enlisted men,
both for the indoor amusements,
including shows, lectures, con.
certs, etc, and the out door
games Of base ball, football and
like sports, as we'll as religious
instruction. The following is a
clipping from the wrlte-up Of
the Oregonian Of Portland:
Not long ago patriotically inclined
men and women in Portland and in
every city and town Of the United
States gave as they could to the Y. M.
c. a. They were tod that this money
would be used in. giving to the men
same of the joys Of life, to sort Of
ba ance the daily grind Of work un-
der forced draught, which is necessary
to make Of them effective fighting
units in the shortest possible time.
Over at Vancouver there Is now es-
tablshed an excellent example of
what people gave their money for
| when they contributed to the fdnds of
this association. Any evening, if you
should walk through the Vancouver
Barracks. you would come on two
great, new buildings, with many win
dows, and throwing out the glow Of
many lights within. II you stepped
up closer and looked inside, you see
everywhere from 100 to 800 young
men, those who first volunteered to
the National Army, writing letters,
/ reading. playing at games, or enjoy
ing good music, either produced by
talented people OF this section or by
the soldiers.
The Y. NJ. G.. A. tries to be the
home for the boys who have gone
with the Army. 1t is place where
they can find good fellowship and
every diversion that can be arranged
for them.
Around the walls Of the two build
| lngS at Vancouver are many benches
and many bottles OF ink and paper
| 1t is an ever-ready inducement for t e
1 boy to write at least q few words TO
i those at home. who are awaiting Gag
erly his every. line. in another part
Of the room is q library of recent lit
cratnre. where the soldier may find
! something out of the variety that is
surely to his liking Many more
I books can be used there, however,
and II they will he sent to the head-
1 quarters they vii be appreciated. not
I only by one hoy. bat bg the dozens
who tjnd recreation III the books and
4 magazines they tiud there.
| Over on the long tab es any number
oi games are I ing ON cnee,, cheek
ees and various other anusemenls
that while away the hours ana sharp,
en Wis
HI another room, III fact in several
other rooms, You wiz ind groups ot
young men studying Lard. the mnrs
mnr OF their vo ces making a low
monotone that Is u reminder ot school
days in the little red house on the hill.
Iho.e men are studying French under
the system inaugnrated by the y. NJ.
G. A.
SO the work Of the association has
lid y dbgit>s III lut III QocS apbuL
everything Tor thu boys that Uncle
Sam, IN bis practical way, has left
tor others to do 4 he work, roughly.
is divided into four parts, which W
| w. Dillon, camp secretary, groups as
follows:
First Social and recreational work.
which covers all the entertainments
and general lectures IN the rooms OF
the association
second Educational, which covers
the lecturrs OF educational subjects.
talks on popular subjects ana the
French classes.
Tird-The physical work.
Fourth Relipinus work