Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-06
WORK IN PEKING
AMONG SOLDIERS
Donald Carruthers Tells of
Legation Guards Association
in Far Away China


Donald w. Carruthers of this city
who is connected with Y. NJ. C. A.
work of Princeton University in Pc
king, China, has much of interest to
tell of the Peking Legation Guards
Association, especially timely as Am
erica is working untiringly at present
for the welfare of her soldiers.
In a recent letter Mr.. Carruthers
says:
THE Legation Guards Association
in Peking is located in one-story
building containing one large room,
small diningroom, one small class
room and a kitchen, originally used
as street chapel for q local mission.
1t is consequently not too well adapt
ed to the needs of the present work,
but several high candle-power electric
lights make it one of the brightest
buildings in the vicinity and conse-
quently quite inviting. The flags of
the various nations droop from over
head. Large straw mats have been
placed on the floor and give feeling
of comfort. Attractive flowers and
shrubs; an aquarium; copies of paint
ings and portraits, both European and
Chinese; a large table with illustrated
booklets of almost every variety, and
another filed with current periodicals
In several languages and inviting Nor
ris chairs add to it's attractiveness.
The kitchen is without doubt one of
the cleanest Chinese kitchens in Pc
king, a feature especially appreciated.
The association competeS successfully
with the open forces of evil which
surround the building on every side
to which the man in uniform too Of
ten falls a ready victim.
THE American Guards now form
the main field for work. German,
Austrian, Dutch, Italian and American
soldiers in considerable numbers have
used the building at the same time.
Their spirit while in the association
was well illustrated when the secre-
tary introduced a German soldier to
Belgian. The latter said, We are enc
mics but will shake hands with YOU.
A branch of the Peking School OF
Commerce and Finance enables en-
listed men to pursue courses of study
in our night school. Others have
been aided in securing correspondence
courses in desired subjects. A fire.
side talk is generally held on Wednes-
day evening when themes of special
interest to enlisted men in the Far
East are presented by outside speak
ers. During the serving of the re-
freshments the speaker answers i'll
formally questions asked by the men,
who much enjoy this opportunity OF
conversing with "a man from the out
side"
Movies For the Germans
"The German barracks have been
given the use of the moving picture
machine each week for shows in their
own barracks. This definite service
has been appreciated. Regular visits
are made to the German and Ameri-
can hospitals. These are supplied with
pictures, reading matter and flowers.
Firm friendships have resulted from
these personal visits, some men hav-
ing sent for the secretary to come and
sec them.
There is an advisory committee
composed of one French representa-
tive, one German, one Dutch, two
English and two American representa-
tives. More than $1,000 (MeXican)
have been subscribed by the foreign
community for the support OF this
work. The names of the American,
the Japanese, the German, the Dutch
and the Belgian ministers appear on
the list of contributors. One COM
mandant has asked his government
to make an appropriation to the asso-
citation of $3.50 per man in his COM
maud
The announcement Of the army as
sociation is sent personally to each
United States marine on reaching
Peking. The secretary was the only
American civilian at tho station re-
Gently to see a detail of twenty-one
marines off for America after more
than thirty months in China. At the
funeral of marine held in the United
States barracks the secretary was the
only civilian present except the Off
ciating clergyman.
ITO the traveller. the Far East be-
comes a land of charm and mystery,
but to the enlisted man stationed in
China it becomes after a time land
of unforgettable loneliness and isola-
ton, in the midst of q people whose
language and customs will forever re-
main to him perplexing riddle.
Few men in distant America can fully
realize how strong must be the fight
for character OF men separated from
all the restraining influences of home,
in the face of this all-powerful Sc
ductive spell of the East" termed by
many who have felt it's forever damn
ing blight on their manhood the hell
Of the East
I'D. w. CARRUTHERS."
Mrs. Frederick Watson of Gales
burg, ILL.,. left for home this morning
after spending ten days with her sis
ter, Mrs. Charles Allen Les er, of State
street.