The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-11-23
A WALLED CITY
OF WOMEN

side OF the city wall Is long dormi- |
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. In their individual
lives there is no future; In all 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 who
work. Because of the danger and the
blighting 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 duh garb harmonizes
with the yellowing faces and despair
Ing eyes.
Into this modern walled city of de-
SPAR the Blue Triangle has flashed the
first message Of hope. The Y. w. 9. 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. @.
A. secretary In charge. SIS TO keep the
women occupied In the evenings, to
give them good healthy amusement so
that they will forget their sorrows and
20 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:
'nThere is a pretty little round, rosy
checked girl here who Is just beginning
70 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 hanos
and arms bright yellow.
"There is an ex-professlonal dancer,
an interesting girl who enjoys the
| foyer and helps entertain the other
| girls. There Is q professional pianist
| who does her bit at the noon and eve
| ming hours. There IL one rough-and-
ready girl who speaks English, whose
father was an innkeeper In northern
/ France. There Is pretty little girl
who Is engaged 10 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 or six sons IN
the war. Two OF them are German
military prisoners, two are civil pris'
oners In Germany and two are soldiers
IN the trenches. Her home in the
north of France was destroyed and shC
escaped with a small bundle of sucf
things as she could carry In her hands
"Ihere is sweet-faced girl who
was n lacemaker In Valenciennes, wht
came direct 70 us from the German
ridden section after hard experience
In getting away"
These are the women the Blue Tri
angle f. helping to forget-perhap
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 room
with cement floors. One has writin
table and paper, pens and ink, SEWN
machines, cupboard with teacups |
it. q large table With papers and megl
zines, easy chairs and my desk IN
other room has n piano. more table,
chairs, ironing boards and a Victroli
There are unframed French picture
ind American and French war poster
/. around the room. The walls are pain
r ed gray and white"
Saturday evenings they sing on
dance. "Flrst they have chorus
writes the secretary. "such as lie ReN
Passc' or the 'Hymne des Amateurs
something equally thrilling, and ut Il
. final notes Of triumph voice nj u
ears begs, Tn polka, mees.' The poll
finished, there Is call for the lynn
. Amerlcaln' and we sing the sta
y Spangled Banner,' Gle Drapeau Etoii
{ In two languages"
q These foyers have been establish
= IN several munition centers In Franc
Each one has cafeteria, recreah
= hall and rooms fitted up as r.
le rooms, writing and sewing rooms.
sc night these rooms are filled WI
lie FRENCH girls learning English, boo
y keeping or stenography, that they m
work in the Offices OF the Americ
Expedltlonary Forces. In connect
CT with each Is a large recreation field
~ park.
m AT the request Of the French min
is try OF war the Young Women's Chr
"A tan association has opened eli
rooms for the sixteen thousand F'rer