The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-06-29
fcd Cross Cantccn.

The writer had an opportunity the
ether day TO view at close range the
great work being done by that band
oi sacrificing women COMPOSING
the Cantccn Of the Sumter Red Gross
end he feels that the people OF SiIun-
! ter should know little of that wor,,
Therefore, if you can spare . littlc
space, | will cndeavor to tell some
thing about what / saw.
The principal duty of this ban
consists Of meeting various troon
trains which travel through our citv
in al! directions, and serving some
End OF rcf cshment to the soldiers on
| tEcsc trains. ON the day in question
The Cantccn had notice :hat there
would be train Of soldiers through
sumter. The train was late, and a
IL consequence these ladies had ne
opportunity to attend to any Of thei
J household duties for practically th
whole day. When the train finally
arrived there were ready and waiting
three large tubs OF iced tea, and
many other things. This tea was Q:
good as would be served on ary table
in Sumter, and prepared with lust as
much care. AS soon as the trai
Stopped. service Of tea began. anG
while il may sound as if it were ar
| easy matter, l would suggest that ycu
or any Of your readers find cut JUS:
how hard it is by putting gallon o:
iced tea in 4 pitcher and holding j
over your head, and pouring it into
cups. At the same time others Of tn
party were busy distributing sane
| NichCs.
If you could have heard The exprcs-
sions of appreciation, OF thanks OF
the soldiers to those ladies. and could
have seen the enjoyment in wnics.
they ate the sandwiches and dram.
the iced tea, you would have wanted
as I did, TO have some part in this
aplendid work
The trains came in close succession
and were served, some with iced to-
and sandwiches, othors with plums
peaches, bananas, candy and cigar
e;tos.
l list herewith just what was given
away and served by these loyal wo.
men:
Six large tubs OF iced tea.
Cne buahel OF peaches.
Cnc-half bushcl OF plurns.
! 500 sandwiches
SIX large lunches Of bananas.
Ten pounds OF peanut brittle
About 500 cigarettes.
Now. where does all OF this como
from? Some OF it comes from the
horos Of the ladies who have charg
ed themselves with that duty, some
from those who are familiar with Ia.
work OF the Cantcen, some by Dur.
chase and some by gift Of the very
generous and loyal merchants Of this
town
l am informed that almost without
exception any request made by the
| Canteen for supplies from the mer-
chants is met with the hcartiest re-
sponsc.
While the local chapter of the Red
Cross is back of the Canteen and all
OF its work, the cantecn does not like
10 ask for funds needed for other
work Of the chapter, and a few peo-
pie who know of the work nave yer
kindly gone deep into their pockets
and given money and supplies.
am informed that the greatest
need at this time by the canteen is
the help that tho ladies' OF Sumter can
give thcm. This help consists ia the
making Of sandwiches. There are few
homes in Sumter who could not at the
cell OF the cantecn make two dozen
sandwiches. That would mean a lit
lie over a loaf of bread These sand
Wiches do not need to be meat sand
wichcs; jelly, preserves, tomato, or
any other filling is much appreciated
| both by the soldiers and by the can
teen. If any lady in Sumter feels that
| she can help to that extent | know
that the canteen would be glad to
have her phone her name in to Mrs.
\. G. Phelps, ana | believe the can
'oen Will send for the sandwiches.
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