The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-08-09
BY MAMMALIAN FOSTER.

BY MAMMALIAN FOSTER.
War work In France is n crucible.
thousands who have gone abroad vi
sioning themselves as heroic figures at
the very battle front, only to find that
there Is much more drudgery than
glory for the volunteer, have stood the
test. Some, who were insincere I'm
their purpose, have weakened. They
have been sifted out and probably are
back In America. Only the pure-gold
man or woman is permitted to remain
and do the hard, prosaic work which
will help the men In khaki to win the
war.
Just to show one side of what work
means over here, take one of the con-
ventional Y. nj. @. A. huts outside the
war zone. Up at the front, of course,
there is plenty of excitement to leaven
the toll. the drudgery; but until q man
or woman has been tried out and found
able to make good, the red triangle is
chary about sending that man or wom-
an there. And so they are tried out
where there is nothing but work--just
work. DIR. Charles Parks cafe for
soldiers at Tours is such q place.
The name of the establishment is
the Old Port Duquesne canteen.
Originally 1t was cafe, one of those
big fyblown, smelly buvettes so char
acteristic of this part of France. In
January last, when Doctor Park, q
resident of Santa Barbara, Cal, went
there the cafe was going out of busi-
ness. The war had put crimp In its
trade. The location was just the one
| Doctor Park was seeking, so he bought
out the proprietor.
They Did Much.
With the doctor were Mrs. Park, her
daughters, Miss Betty and Miss Nancy.
They had agreed with the Y. M. G. A.
not only to pay all the expenses of the
place, but also to do all the work. On
January 21 last the cafe opened its
doors, the staff at the time consisting
of the Park family and half dozen
paid workers. These latter did the
cooking, the dishwashing and the
scrubbing of the floors. The Parks
did all the rest.
And what they did was much. The
first meal. breakfast, regular Amer
lean meal. was served at a. m. That
meant that someone-the Parks, IL
happens-rose every day at six o'clock
or earlier. When breakfast was fin
ished they galloped on, getting ready
for dinner. And when dinner was
finished that did not mean the days
work was ended. Till ten o'clock be-
lated soldiers from all over France
kept dropping in, demanding fried
eggs, fried potatoes, coffee, chocolate
and tea.
The Sunday the writer was at Tours
one had literally to fight his way In.
side the cafe. Seventeen hundred meals
were served that day. And after II
was all over, Doctor Parks two daugh
ters and the six assistants who now
wait with them at the tables fell into
the nearest chairs. They had been on
their feet, all of them, anywhere from
ten to fourteen hours.
No Romance in War.
"Romance?" inquired the older Miss
Park. "There isn't any such animal
not in this mans war, at any rate"
The other Miss Park shrugged hel
, shoulders disgustedly.
"When this wars over / hope Il
goodness I never lay eyes on food
!, again. The whole wars nothing else
than foods; eggs, fried potatoes, ther
fried eggs, fried potatoes, after them
fried eggs" Again she gave shrug
"Food UghI"
But hardly had she said 1t when she
leaped to her feet with smile and &
quick, CHEEKY greeting. 1t was q be
lated soldier, boy In the transport
department, she welcomed. "How d.
you do, Eddy. Fried eggs? Why
certainly" And off she sped as gayl.
, and cheerfully as ever, seeking thu
days last eggs for hungry, tired lat
! In khaki.
And there you are. All work an'
no play makes Jack a dull boy, ant
this war over here is filled with that
, Just the same there are a lot of then
: in France, all volunteers In the work
{ that get good, sound, honest joy on
: Of the work they are doing. 1t ma,
t not be glorious, that work, but 1T
D work that counts. Most of the fight
ing in this particular war is being don
J behind the lines.