Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1918-10-02
a WALLED CITY
OF WOMEN

| inside q high wall In france within the
last year. Its square fiat houses stand
In straight even rows and along one
side of the city wall is a long dOrini-
tory for single women. There are many
more of them than of the families in
the drab little houses. The village Is
full of women-old, young, middle
aged-whose faces, hands and hair
slowly are turning yellow from the
powder which Ii is said will eventually
| affect their lungs. But most of them
are refugees and the fact that they
are giving up their good looks, their
health, and perhaps their lives In the
munition factory, is of little moment to
them. They have come into the walled
| town from ruined villages and devas-
tated farms with their frightened little
| children. their despairing old people,
carrying all their earthly possessions
in tiny bundles. instheir individual
| lives there is no future FIN sall their
world there is no Interest but the con-
| quest of the Hun.
! No one comes into this little war
community that centers around the big
new munitions plant but those VITO
work. Because Of the danger and the
bllghting yellow powder. the work Is
highly paid and all the workers are
| volunteers.
| The women wear overalls or apron
dresses, some of black sateen, some
nondescript. The dull garb harmonizes
with the yellowlng faces and despair
ling eyes.
/ Into this modern walled city Of de-
spair the Blue Triangle has flashed the
first message of hope. The Y. w. c. A.
foyer Is, the only recreational center
within reach. The cars which find
cafes at the end OF the line a mile
away, stop running at seven o'clock TO
save fuel. The city is three miles
from the factory.
MY problem" writes the Y. W. G.
A. secretary in charge, sis to keep the
women occupied in the evenings. to
that they will forget their sorrows and
go to bed and sleep, physically tired
out from playing"
She goes on to tell of some Of the
women and girls who come to the
| foyer:
There is a pretty little round, rosy
checked girl here who is just beginning
to show the effects of the powder. The
roots of her hair and her forehead are
pale yellow. The palms of her hands
are deep burnt orange and her hands
and arms bright yellow.
There is an ex-professional dancer.
an interesting girl who enjoys the
foyer and helps entertain the other
girls. There is professional pianist
who does her bit at the noon and eve
ming hours. There is one rough-and-
ready girl who speaks English. whose
father was an innkeeper In northern
France. There is a pretty little girl
who is engaged to French soldier
who still is rejoicing over the five min
utes she had with him recently during
an air raid. His mother Is the care
taker here and he is one of six sons in
the war. Two of them are German
military prisoners, two are civil pris-
OhcAS III oSihuuy anu wv dAC SoiuiCiS
In the trenches. Her home In the
north Of France was destroyed and she
escaped with small bundle of such
things as she could carry In her hands.
"There Is sweet-faced girl who
was lacemaker In Yalenciennes, who
came direct to us from the German
ridden section after hard experience
In getting away"
These are the women the Blue Tri-
angle is helping to forget--perhaps
only for an hour at time-the hor-
rors that have blackened their hearth
stones and darkened the world.
"My foyer" the secretary writes,
Consists Of hall and two large rooms
with cement floors. One has writing
table and paper, pens and Ink, sewing
machines cupboard with teacups In
1t, large table with papers and maya
zines, easy chairs and my desk. The
other room has a piano, more tables,
chairs, ironing boards and Victrola.
There are unframed French pictures
and American and French war posters
around the room. The walls are paint
ed gray and white"
Saturday evenings they sing and
dance. First they have chorus"
writes the secretary, ''such as lie Reeve
Passe' or the 'Hymne des Amateurs or
something equally thrilling, and at the.
final notes Of triumph voice at my
ears begs, 'Un polka. mees.' The polka
finished. there is call for the 'Hymne
Americain' and weNsing the Star
Spangled Banner lie Drapeau Etoile)
In two languages"
These foyers have been established
in several munition centers In France.
Each one has a cafeteria. a recreation
hall and rooms fitted up as rest
rooms, writing and sewing rooms. At
night these rooms are filed with
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