Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1918-08-01
HOSTESS HOUSES
OF THE Y. ". c. A.
Are Centers of Hospitality for
Women Visitors at Various Can
tOnments $50

Miss Ethel Horton has received for
publication from Miss Julius Davis,
central field secretary of the Y. w. G.
A an article on hostess houses. Every
woman from Baraboo or elsewhere
who goes to visit a soldier at camp
should at once seek the hospitality of
the hostess house if one exists at that
camp is the advice of those that know.
The following article reads as follows;
War brought the men of America
to the camps of the country 1t
brought the women, too-mothers,
wives, sisters, aunts, sweethearts.
The government had made its plans
for the men, but it had made them
without the thought of the women.
And the women came to visit their
soldier relatives. The camp cOmman-
ders looked at the stream of feminin-
ity, coming steadily toward them and
asked what was to be done. Then
the war department began to think of
the women. And it asked the young
women's Christian Association for
help, and the Hostess House was the
answer.
Eighty-five houses are now either
in operation or are definitely under
construction. They are put up only at
the direct request of the camp COM
mandants. Some of the commanding
officers were a little doubtful at first
as to the practicability of the scheme.
These very officers are now asking
for second and even third Hostess
Houses in their environments. Wher-
ever, colored troops are stationed,
buildings are being erected for their
use and social welfare work under
trained colored leaders is carried on.
These centers of hospitality are UNI
der the supervision of the War De-
partment's Commission on Training
Camp Activities. They are a part of
the Governments war work. The
War Work Council of the National
Board of the Young Women's Chris
tian Association promotes them as one
phase of the Associations work for
the country in this national emep-
gency. Mrs. Edward M. Townsend
of Oyster Bay, Long Island, is chair
man of the Hostess House committee
In each House are five women who
have charge of the social work, bust
ness etc.
The general plan Of construction
is the same adapted to local condi-
icy lU
ed into two parts by huge chimney
with fireplaces on both sides. In
winter Ieaping fire gives cheer and
warmth In summer evergreen
branches fill in the big stone open
ing. Interior decorations make the
houses beautiful with the dignity of
simple lines and harmonious coIors
Gay curtains at the windows give
brightness even in stormy weather
The cT1fntz cushions in the wicker
chairs are good to look at as well as
comfortable to lean against.
Half the room is used for a recep-
ton hall The other end forms the
cafeteria. There is always a rest
room for tired travellers. A nurs-
cry with bright quilts and curtains
is waiting for the babies who come
to visit their fathers. Not unusually
the house contains sleeping rooms
for the hostesses. One or two spare
cots are frequently provided for
very exceptional cases where it is
impossible for women to leave camp
that night. Sometimes bad storm
effectua1ly holds them prisoners. Or
the mother of a sick boy anxiously
for a crisis in the illness.