The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-10
TRAINING FOR ''Y"
WORK IS STRENUOUS
T.. w. Hudgins, Member OF House
Recounts His Experience in Pre-
pairing for Overseas Service

E. w. Hudgins. member of the
house Of delegates from Mecklen-
burg county, after six weeks train
ing at Columbia and Springfield, Mass.
was in Richmond early this week en-
route to his home In Chase City. Mr..
Hudgins. While waiting for his pass
ports for overseas service, Will as
sist in state war work.
He was Il member of fifteen Column
bia conferences of Y. NJ. G. A. sec
retaries Cor overseas work. The need
for men for this work, he says, is
so great that of 165 men and women.
only about seventy nine were allowed
Sixty men and nineteen women. whose
passports had arrived in New York.
we're sent across at once.
The cours- at Columb ia consists OF
three hours a day study OF French.
Beginners. that is. those who have
never studied the language, are taught
French phonetic sounds and phrases
by a French woman. There are adj
vanced classes for those so qualified.
One hour and half a day is de-
voted to physical training. Games OF
all kinds which the soldiers play are
taught. and lectures are given on the
care of the body under war condf-
tons as they exist at the front and in
the different war zones In France.
The rest OF the time from 8o'clock
in the morning until $50 at night, IA
spent in listening to and taking notes
OF lectures bv "Y" me who have sery
ed IN France.
In this manner the 7. NJ. c. A..
men know just what the conditions
are in France and what they may
expect to face. Every man who in
~ nj hoy
States, France, British or Italian
forces must take ths course.
The physical directors are required
to take a months course at either
Springfield. Chicago or California, the
only three such schools in the world.
At Springfield the French lectures are
continued The athletic work is in
creased from one hour and half
To six hours. All the games are
sire nuous, such as baseball. football,
modified football, soccer ball, voiley
bali. polo. basket bail. boxing. swim
ming. mass boxing. military drill, etc.
At Columbia Mr.. Hudgtns was as
signed 10 o room with A. Gray Gil
mer, Of Bristol Va Mr.. Gilmer is a
In W. partnes of Mr.. Stroud. member OF
the house from Washington county,
and brother OF Howard Gilrner.
mem her Of tho hous5 from Pulaski.
They were the only two Nirrinians
in the thirteen war work groups at
Springfield
Jpon arrival a springfield about
II o'clock at night they were asst gu-
ed TO Il bed with a Hindoo The nj xt
morning Mr. Hudgins was given a seat
at a table between a chinaman ard
his wife and that nisht at supper he
sat next to "A Pole.
hmm cdi3telv after supper the 30 men
of the thirteen war groups lined up,
ssventy-ffvc on either side. with their
belts In their right hands. and invit-
edthe newcomers to march down the
line II seemed to these two Virgin
ians that they had been thrown with
a bunch OF rough necks." but. TO
use Mr.. Ifuigins' words. they were
game
After staying week at Springfield
and getting acquainted. they found
the Hindoo rad just conf leted a four
year course at the Springfield college
and expected TO join the British army
corps Of natives CT India. and tho
chinamar was graduate OF Harvard
and was taking a four-year course at
the Springfield International Y. NJ. C..
A. college.
The great majority OF the $50 men
com posing tie war work gorups were
college graduates representing every
section OF the United States and. ac-
c@rainC to- Mr. Euigins. they were
the <@fin%s* fiiifeff Of fellows ore ever
met all filled with the determine
ton TO carry the spirit of Christian
service to the army.