The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-11-28
LETTER FROM NEW YORK
New York. Nov. q, 1918.


New York, Nov 81, 1918.
Editor Leader-A visitor to New
York City has bewildering list Of
places to see, and hardly knows which
to choose first One always writes
home about the wonderful bridges,
The Woolworth building, nearly 800
feet high, the Metropolitan tower,
Central park and Coney Island.
AT the Battery facing New York
bay, at the tip end of the city, | was
attracted by the great 16-story build
inc of the Seaman's Church Institute,
bearing aloft the memorial lighthouse
to those who persisted in the sinking
Of the Titanic. Through the courtesy
of DR.. A. R. Mansfield, superintend-
emit, had the privilege Of being
shown through this marvellous insti-
tuition, which cares for many thou
sand seamen evey year. never had
it impressed upon me so strongly
before what a great part seamen
of the merchant marine played IN
helping to swim the war" Regard
less of the danger from submarines
those "tigers Of the sea" which
the sailors contemptuously call tin
fishes, the seamen have been at
it night and day, moving munitions,
food, equipment and even our own
soldier boys, as we'll as food and
equipment for our allies.
Just word or two about the IN
stitution may prove Of interest TO
YOUR readers. They have sleeping
accommodations for 686 at an average
cost of about 80 cents; and there is
never night that they do not turn
away from 100 to 400 seamen for
lack of room. Clean linen, towels,
etc, every day, fine tub and shower
baths, with an abundance OF not
water are provided free on every
floor. They feed from $500 to $500
every day, have reading and writing
rooms, game rooms, billiards, roller
skating, basket ball, auditorium with
movies, concerts, lectures, seamen,sa
store, barber shop, two chapels with
inspirational meetings for men IN
many tongues-for here gather the
seamen of all nations-a great melt
ing pot. At every turn one is struck
bv the Injunction, write Home" and
stationery is furnished to enable the
seamen to do so.
In the three stories under ground
are located the kitchen, dining room,
laundry, savings department, light
ing, heating and refrigeration plants.
There is also a baggage department
on two of these floors carrying over
38 900 pieces of luggage, reminding
one of the baggage department OF a
great railroad. A launch presented
to the institute carries its several
missionaries to and from the ships
| lying in New York harbor, and brings
seamen and their luggage.
The whole top floor is occupied by
navigation and marine engineering
school where hundreds Of apprentice
boys and junior officers spend their
time while in port. The flagpole on
the roof not only carries the Stars
and Stripes, but the signal code flags
spell the glad Welcome" to the sea-
men as they sail up New York bay.
An inquiry elected the information
that this great philanthropic plant,
costing million nd quarter dol
| lars, is supported by voluntary con
tributions from thousands of friends
in every state in the union. The ia
cilities for service will be nearly
doubled by large addition soon to
be made. The management is in the
hands Of Christian people, is strictly
lnon-sectarian and the impression that
one gets is that Service" is written
large in every department.
did not have an opportunity to
look sver the register to see if any
boys were registered from Covington
and vicinity. 1t should be a source
of satisfaction to the folks back home
to know that when they do stop
there they will be in good hands. ]
would advise my friends when they
come to New York to be sure to visit
the Seaman's Church Institute
Yours truly, H. HART.
RYARS-HALL AND RIPLEY