The Robesonian., 1918-10-28
A NEW PHASE OF CAMP LIFE
What the ''Y" Man Finds to Do When
An Epidemic Strikes Camp.
10 the Editor of The Robesonian:


Lately another phase of camp life
has presented itself to the Y. NJ. C. A.
man. His normal duties being to
serve the men in camp by providing
entertainment, educational features
religious services, and looking after
their general welfare, what does the
T.. NJ. c. A. man find to do when
epldemics strike the came? Well.
we have had the ''flu'' good and plen-
ty. Quarantine was placed at once and
wards being filled to capacity, tents
were placed by the hundreds for pa
tlents to be taken to. The boys be-
gan to die. Suffering was very se-j
we're. The nurses overworked.
The whole situation about as bad
as it could be. This was the Y. mans
opportunity as it was also the op-
portunity Of the Knights of Columbus
and the workers of the Jewish We'll
fare Board. Denominational and re-
igious differences were not thought
of, neither could be.
The hospital area was divided so
that all the available men of all the
organizations could be used, and we
went at it. My own experience have
been the experience of all of US, for
it was the same all over the whole
area. Writing letters for them-to
their mothers, wives, sisters, fathers,
brothers and even sweethearts. These
letters have to be largely the compo-
sition of the amanuensis as the pa
tient is often too i'll to tax his mind
beyond some strictly personal mes
sage. A big Sweede from Minnesota,
after giving me his wife's address,
wearily turned over as he told me
to write "such letter as you would
write your wife" He then dozed off
while wrote the letter, stamped. and
mailed it,
We hunt up lost baggage for the
Camp Grant contingent They are
the ones who introduced the influen-
"a into our camp-a whole trainload
of them had it when they left Camp
Grant. We look up their lost mail and
bring it to them. We get their checks
cashed for them. We keep them sup
piled with chewing gum, cigars, to-
bacco and cigarettes and stamps AL
ways, upon entering ward we con-
suit the nurse as to who may not be
spoken to-often, some are semi-de-
lerious and must not be disturbed. We
also ascertain what may not be al
lowed others who are in better con-
dition. Sitting on the side of cot
cheering up a boy thousand miles
from home, or writing letter for
him, is one of the greatest privileges
1 have ever enjoyed. Securing a
priest for a Catholic boy who feels
he may not get well, or calling in the
rabbi for a Jewish boy brings a
warmth into ones heart not to be had
through any other means. The jew
ish welfare brother and the knight
of Columbus do the same thing for
the protestants. Note the Knight of
/ Columbus looking up the Lutheran
pastor for Lutheran boy and not be
impressed-you will be impressed un
less your prejudice has sealed you up
tight. Il don't mean you, Mr.. Editor,
Pm talking to your readers). Nobody
knows or cares WHO is Presbyterian.
Jew or Catholic. In handing out Tes-
taments the Y. M. c. A. men call at
tention to the story of the "man call
ed Jesus" who went about doing
good" and we ask the question
"What would he be doing it he We're
in Camp Hancock right now?" A
Jews answer to that question, few
days ago when it was asked a group
of convalescents, was, "Just what you
! are doing, 'Y'".
That same man had been very ma
terially helped only two days before
by 'Y man." In our very imper-
feet fashion we are trying to work In
imitation of Him.
| I wish we might have another
Thomas A. Kempis about now.
The "flu" takes sudden and unex-
pected turns and anything boy ex-
presses desire for we try to do i'm.
mediately-it may be his last request
and as far as may be we try to take
the place of the "folks back home"
Our camp is, getting in bette.
shape daily and hope soon to be ou
of quarantine two week
more.
Our Robson county boys have com
through it very nicely. Some OF then
have had it but are now out of dan
ger. / heard of one man from nea
Orrum who was very ill with it. H
was not where could get to him an
! do not know the outcome.
Let the folks at home pray for u
and all will be well. The war new
is great right now.
| = Yours truly,
] J. P. RUSSELL,
| Y. NJ. C.. A. 231.
Camp Hancock, Ca, Oct. 21, 1918.
THE WOMEN DID
THEIR FULL DUT!