The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-02-23

y
that I was entitled to one Of your
cooks, Mrs. X"
$50 you are converted, general?''
cried Mrs. X, area controller and
| doctor Of science. with a twinkle in
her dark eyes.
The general nodded his head
solemnIy. Il have a shorthand typ
list now-one Of your girls-who has
shortened my official day by two
hours. There never was such a
young womanl She has a memory
for everything.
Didn't he like them at first?" 1
whispered to my neighbor, young
colonel.
wouldn't have 'em at any price"
he returned in the same tone. Said
he'd carry on alone rather than have
one woman in the office. Went about
like bear with sore head when
he saw they had to come. Now he
wonders how he managed without
'em. have sixteen working for me.
They have very confidential work to
do, and have discovered that they
never discuss their job even with
each other. Have you heard about
the Hush Waacs'?"
THE --?" murmured.
That's just it; the work is so
secret that one just says Hush
They are simply splendid. The other
night there was an air raid and they
were told to go down to the cellar.
If we can have a light on the table,
said one, we can go on working
down there And they did. Some
pluck"
Then the motor arrived and my
hostesses carried me off to the party.
1t was taking place in a camp about
three miles from the town-a camp
built entirely of Nissen huts, which
look like half barrels cut lengthwise.
There must have been fifteen Of these
huts, and one Of them had been Civ
en- and furnished by the Y. w. 9. A.
as O. recreation room. Every camp
has a recreation room and a piano.
We could hear this particular piano
as we drove up to the camp en-
trance, for the party had been in
full swing since Z and it was now
3.
These girls are 'signallers,' said
the area controller. THAT is, tele-
graphists and telephonists. They all
wear the blue and white badge on
one arm which indicates a signaller.
This is their monthly party to which
they can invite men Of their own
grade, subject to approval"
About thirty girls in their brown
uniforms were waltzing with good
looking lads and stout sergeants.
Others were laughing and chatting
over plates of fruit salad, sandwiches
and cups of coffee. was struck
by the beautiful dark hair most Of
the girls had. also by the fact that
few had cut 1t short. They ali look
ed physically fit and most Of them
in radiant health.
1--WE have to walk some distance
to our work." one explained to me,
"and we get such hearty meals that
we really haven't dared to be i'll. Not
that we can eat all our rations,
though. We draw about thirds
of them and use the rest Of the
money in buying fresh vegetables
and for an entertainment allow
ance."
The music ceased, and after a few
moments the girls all gathered at
one end of the room, the piano
struck up "Old King Cole" and to
that tune the girls began to sing
ditty Of their own composition. Here
is a verse:
Old King Cole was merry old soul
and a merry old soul was he,
He called for his pipe and he called
for his bowl and he called for
his "SignalIers'' three.
Now every "Signaller" was very
fine Wac
And a very fine Wac was she-e-e.
Cant sleep at all in the day." said
: the Signallers,
"This is the way to salute" said
Miss NJ
Twenty seconds late with the din
ner," said Miss s.
Fire in the Kitchen won't burn"
said the Household"
CHORUS.
Happy shell we be-e-e.
There's none so fair as can con-
With the w. A. A. c.!
It went with a swing and every
home thrust was greeted with shouts
Of laughter.
You do enjoy Hfe!" said / to a
plump girl, whose cream colored col
lar indicated that she was a fore
woman" or sergeant.
I'VE do, indeed, ma'am," she re-
piled. Even the night shifts, when
there are only two of us on duty, we
feel, somehow, that we've got to do
our very best, and there is a queer
sort Of pleasure in knowing that
some Of the work at the front de-
ponds on us girls"
Nine thirty; pleasure over for the
day. A dreamless sleep and then to
work again. To work with that same
spirit that they are helping the army
to carry on" That is what per-
vades the whole of the w. A. A. c.
and makes them a help and not a
drag on the wheels of war