The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-22
WORK OF THE Y.N.C.A.
| PRAISED BY SOLDIERS
What Has Been and Is Doing
AT Camp Dodge
SPLENDID is THE SPIRIT
Entertainments Given For the
Benefit of Boys Who Enter
Cant0nments
Especial to Free Press

tention are just beginning normal
camp life predominant in the program
of the army Y. M. c. A. at Camp
Dodge this week.
While all departments of the Red
Triangle organization are devoting
the week to meeting the needs of the
newcomers, the social department
| is particularly active on their behalf,
according to Fred M. Hansen, Y. M.
| c. A. administrative secretary. That
after fortnight of confinement to
their barracks and of isOation from
other men they need movies" and
"get- togethers" more than any other
forms OF service, is the theory upon
which the Y. M. G. A. is working.
No less than forty-five entertain
ments have been provided for the
week for the seven buildings serving
new men, by C.. A. Bryan, admins
tative social secretary. stunt"
nights, at which the men amuse
themselves and which are very popu-
lar in all the buildings, are not in
cluded in this count. Tom Corwine,
imitator, who is being routed through
all the environments by the National
War Work council; the Dolliver
Concert company of Sioux City;
Margaret Huntoon, singer; Mildred
Barnes. pianist, of Kansas City, and
many Des Moines artists are found
in the list of those who will enter
tain the rockies Some excep-
tional films have also been secured.
| Open House in the Huts.
The Y. M. C. A. huts are holding
"open house. for the new men and
entertainment programs and re-
freshments with abundant Opportuni-
ties for getting acquainted are being
offered. While the old men pose as
seasoned veterans before the new
men and show a disposition to act
slightly condescending, they are also
genuinely kind and demonstrate that
they have not forgotten the home
sickness and fears of their own first
days in camp, the Y. M. C. A. workers
declare.
The Y. NJ G. A. has learned that
the "rookie" is a tirelesS letter.
writer, so large supplies of stationery
have been provided in all the build
ings Arrangements for organizing
the new educational and religious
classes with all speed have also been
made by the secretaries in charge.
Many of the trains which bore the
drafted men to Camp Dodge carried
Y. M. c. A. workers. In many cases.
they were the Y. M. G.. A. leaders
from various home communities.
| They distributed reading matter and
writing materials among the men,
organized "sings" and answered in
Vulnerable questions.
The Iowa Secretaries.
| Among the Iowa secretaries who
served in this way were w. H. Wing,
EClinton; E. T. Bear, Dubuque; E. A.
Head, Waterloo; Eugene Palmer,
Cedar Rapids; J. B. Northcott, Mar
shalltown; A E. Wolf, Burlington;
Ed Weston, Mount Pleasant; W. E.
Brugeman, Keokuk; N. HI. Johnson,
Storm Lake; c. e. Rigg, Sheldon;
Leslie Brown, Sioux City; J. B.
Manville, Boone.
Before the new men were hardly
established in their barracks the
camps Y. M. G. A. workers supplied
the first big demand which was for
stationery. From one of the seven
Y. M. G. A. buildings which acted as
distributing centers for writing
materials for the new arrivals who
were Immediately quarantined, $4,000
sheets of paper and 1000 envelopes
were taken ont and given away in
one day. Scales, wrapping paper and
| Irvine were brought into the barracks
and the new soldiers given chance
| 10 oi ole inc
| Stamps were sold.
200 Entertainne Given.
! Approximately 200 entertainments
were given in the $50 barracks hous-
ing the new draft contingent during
| the two weeks of their quarantine.
Almost 300 religious meetings were
held. Since it was impossible to
bring outsiders into the barracks, the
Y. M. C. A. men, who are we'll known
as Jack of all trades; did much of
the entertaining, singing and preach
ling themselves.
Zone Sunday morning, I gave one
continuous sermon, beginning at $50
and lasting till Cwelve," said Mr..
Hansen. 81 don't know how many
different barracks l talked in, lost
count"
Hearty cooperation of the army
chaplains and other officers was
given in this work, Mr.. Hansen
stated.
Piano Is Installed.
In Y. M. G.. A. building No. "a,
which serves the ammunition train,
the supply train, and two signal bat
talions, Building Secretary F. E.
King had piano put on the back
lporch, where frequent entertainments
were given the 500 new men from
Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, Colorado,
New York and New Jersey, who were
forbidden because of their quarantine
to enter the building but who formed
a most appreciative open-air audi
ence.
Over 100000 Lets Get Together
cards were distributed through these
buildings, and filled out by the men
during their period of enforced lei
sure, Mr.. Hansen stated. These
cards gave the men an opportunity
to enroll for the Y M. G. A. classes
} in French, English and Bible study
to signify the classes which they
!, were competent to teach, and tc
: register for the forms of athletics