The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-11-29
NIGHT IN A Y. M. {. A TENT
IN A LOUISIANA ARMY CAMP
What being Done For The Material AS Well As The Serious Side
of The American Soldier Vvid Described Rev John Ely

short talk by one of the secretaries on
the appropriateness of the service.
Some more singing that took US miles
away from wooden hut and set US
down by our loved ones, and they sang
with US, and if few stray tears slip
ped from the eyes-well. you under
stand.
Then the show starts. The Colonial
rarely gives as good. There was the
Sergeant, who put on the skit of pat
ter and song which held the crowd for
ten minutes. Then the house rocked.
A yodler. Some buck and wing dane
ing. A clever monologist. Another
Sergeant put across his stunt He
came to the Army from the vaudeville
circuit. Poor chap! He is on his way
to the bedside Of a dying wife as write
this. | stopped this letter long enough
to drop him a short note. At nine
O'Clock the programme is over. An.
other secretary starts some games,
while the girls are surrounded by q
host of ardent soldier boys. The cakes
which the girls brought out In great
quantities disappeared and the punch
begins to lun low. The desk at the far
end Of the shack makes a splendid coun-
ter. A company of theatrical people
who are presenting The Mlkado" in
the Red Triangle tent come in and add
to the festiYity.
On, yes. It's some party, all right
If you don't believe it ask Corporal
B, who slyly contides to the pious
| CD secretary that tits the damn finest
time he has had since he left home ten
weeks ago" However, do not judge
too sharply, because Corporal B
Immediately adds. when are you goin'
to have another meeting Of the bunch?"
meaning the Bible Glass on his com
pany street. which meets twice a week
For he is interested in that class-was
good member of the church back
home, unctiously agrees that it won t
hurt any of US to have qittle praying
here in camp"
There was not the slightest infringe
ment of the rules of good society evil
dent during the entire evening. Some
how that service gave the whole happy
evening an atmosphere which at once
set it on little higher plane
There are two things in Hut l which
strike the eye as you face either end of
the building. Over the platform, with
IS simple green background, ported
plants and homemade pine furniture,
there hangs large sign. the gift of a
Kansas City sign company. 1t stretch
es across the entire platform and reads,
QUIT YE LIKE MEN, BE STRONG"
It's fine sign to work UNDER a silent
inspiration to Jew and Gentle, Cath
Ole and Protestant, the Cody or the
careless. At the other end of the build
ing, just above the desk, is handsome
framed picture of the Knight in Armor
Sir Gallahad. One of the dear men,
bers of Bethany who could not be at
the last service the minister conducted
sent five-dollar gold piece, which was
slipped into the minister's hand with
herl" God-speed' and the wish that it
should be used In some small way for
the help of the boys. That picture
represents the little gifts, which was
not little. It's hard to say how many
boys haye stopped to say something
about that picture. Scarcely day
passes without some comment, and the