Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-27
THE CITIES AND THE SOLDIERS
How the Town Folks the Soldiers Getting Better
Acquainted.
J..
ny FREDERIC }. HAskIN

relatives, and tho Red Cross has con.
tributcd nvo buildings for tho same
purpose. ~
Hotel and restaurant Keepers in many
OF the cities thought they saw an cx-
ccllcnt opportunity to raiso prices aud
| make big money out OF tho crowds;
Various steps have been taken to stop
this sort of cxtortion. In one city q
letter from tho commanding officer OF
the camp to the Mayor OF tho city re-
suited In sweeping reduction iof'
prices. Complaint boards have been
organized In other cities. In some
places black lists harc been published
and i'll other white lists. Many BUSH
ness men have signed pledges not 10
ovcrchargc mon in khaki.
Blue Lnws Arc problcm. .,f,
Local blue laws have been problcm'
in many small towns, because they.
made it impossible for the men to find
any amusement on Sunday, their only
holiday. Generally the blue laws have
been suspended or modified
or course. the fundamental problem
everywhere is to provide way for
soldiers and the girls of tho community
TO meet and enjoy each others society,
and In many cities the girls have form
cd organizations for this purpose. In
Chillicothc. Ohio. and other cities, tho,
Girls Patriotic League suppers and
concerts At Hampstead. l.. H. a
Girls Friendly Society docs the same
things. n,r
The patriotic leagues are especially
popular, and have been proved a moet
effective method of solving the young
girl problem" This problem Is wcn
recognized by tho government agents
and perhaps only they know how diff
hcult 1t IL. Tho men in uniform have
an appeal for young girls which Is
rooted deep in the experience OF racp.
IN No tinc
racial need for reproduction when men
arc going forth in numbers TO risk
their lives. Add TO this primitive urge,
the peculiar mob psychosis," which ia
produced By the bringing together of
great numbers OF persons. and which
subordinatcs individuality to common
impulse, and the social disturbances
which always follow in the wake OF
armies are readily Understood.
The girl who joins "A patriotic league.
signs pledge to serve her country as
best she can. and 10 uphold tho honor
OF her sex.
Alexandria. Louisiana, has given the
soldiers an especially hospitable wei
come. The townspcoplc have organized
continuous round of social actiyitie,
for the soldiers. An Enlisted Mems
Club has been organized. and theator
has been provided where the soldicra
may give entertainments on their own
account. Sunday morning church
special train ~ operated between the
camp and the town, and IL Is met by
automobiles.
Augusta, Georgia, is another South.
crn city which has lived up TO tna
hospitablc traditions of that section
Twelve reading and rest rooms have
been opened in the town; dances ars
held twice q week and forty churches
keep open house on different nights.
Community concerts. in which both
soldiers and civilians participate are
especially popular in this city. y mill
tary band IL detailed for the purpose.
and forms the nucleus of an immense
gathering every Sunday in the alan
street OF tho city. a unique activity
in Augusta is tho organization Of
groups OF women who go 10 tho Campo
TO sew on buttons and do mcndin. for
tho soldiers.