The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-09-12
FROM T. B. MCCALL

II. B. Mccall, one Of Upton countys
sailor lads:
To the Good and Noble People OF
Upton county:
/ will endeavor to throw a light
on the good work Of the Red Cross
as | have recently experienced it on
long trip home from Boston, Mass.
In the first place I will say that any
one who has never actually experience
led the good fruit of the Red Cross
does not know how wonderfully they
have helped your boy, brother OF
whomsoever have in this great conflict
who is dear to you. My trip from
Boston home was burden on my
mind up until the time / left, as to
how would make all the changes
Of trains in the larger cities, as
had never Travelled a great deal, and
naturally would be a little bit ner-
vous. But I found it quite different
when made my first change of cars,
which was in Albany, N. Z. AS !
stepped from the train someone slap
ped me ongthe back, and with sweet
smile asked me where I was going,
land as soon as | had told her she pi-
loted me through the station to am
other train as fast Us she could, and
lsaid "Here is your train, leaving now
for Buffalo, M. "" This lady was a
Red Cross helper; and had it not
been for her, you see where / would
have been. / would certainly have
missed my train and probably !
would have stayed over in Albany
for eight or ten hours that would
have been very dear to me at home.
So by the aid Of these good ladies
II managed to make perfect connec-
tions all the way home. And it Is
that way everywhere one goes all
over the States.
On my return to my ship / happen
ed to mix up with the Seats" OF the
Red Cross more.
But lust a minute; | will say some
thing else about the trains. The Red
Cross ladies know the exact time all
trainss are leaving the cities and just
when YOU get to your next stop, pro-
lvided YOU are not late after you get
out Of their care. If you happen to
get into a town and have 40 OF
l5O minutes to stay over, she knows
lit by the time you are off the train
ALMOST, and has your baggage put
away into her office. and you steI
Into another door and behold You
see something that makes you want
Ito eat up your hat everything gooo
Ito eat Fruits Of all kinds, cakes
sandwiches, hot coffee, ice cream
Then after begging and tempting you
with everything they have to cal
more, and when you are SO full YOU
Ican't see how you can get up from
Your seat, another will come with
Ibip box of cigarettes and matches
land then you are in for a good smoke
III often wonder where they get sucE
eood-looking girls to help in the
llunchrooms. / don't see any 50 good
looking any place else, and II they
don't wear the smiles that those 40
lit must be the costumes they wear
Il can't figure anything else.
/ Just another word or two. For IN.
stance, you pull into town anc
lyour train doesn't stay more than y
minutes, or probably not so long. i
lis early in the morning or late al
might, and there is no diner on tte
train. You are hungry, but you cant
Iget off, SO you decide that you'll Just
lie down and go back to sleep. But
Won no more than lean back in your
seat than you hear a rapplng on the
window by your seat. Then you
wake up and raise the window, and
Ianother sweet voice, always accom-.
panied by the most bewltchlng o.
smiles. stands there with a big bas-
lket Of sandwiches. fruit, ice cream
cigarettes, matches, and then a bas-
lket of post cards, pencils, stamps, etc.
and asking If you don't want to write
card home. In order to do this you
must hurry, because she is waiting to
take it and mail it for you. Imagine
ladies all down in the railroad yards
searching for soldiers and sailors
like a detective looking for Grim
linal in the dead hours of night, o.
the wee hours Of morning, with ev-
lerything for ones hunger. They di-
rect YOU to the best and cleanest
lplaces Of amusement in the towns, the
liz. M. G. AS, etc. Magazines and
papers to read, writing material fur
lnished them by Y. NC. A. Both col.
ored and white, officers and men, arr
treated alike.
Now, after you have read this shor1
mote Of a soldier boys experience,
Ifeel quite sure that when the tins
comes to aid them in any way, yor
Twill know a little more about What
Iyou are doing with your money wher
you give it to the good workers. es.
Ipecially if you have someone who Il
dear to you in the service.
The Y. M. C. A. is equally as good
for the reason that your boy, o.
whatsoever it may be, when he goes
ON shore leave or liberty from shiI
or training camp, doesn't have to g
to some hotel and pay an enormous
Iprice for lodging, for there is
|lY. M. C. A. in all towns of any sizI
where they can get meals, rooms ant
the best Of all that is good, and 'ex
ceptional shower baths. And it is s
cheap that it is just like gift t
Them. Of course, there is some ex
lpense to the upkeep of a Y. M. G. a.
land they have to charge just small
amount.
/ hone ] haven't tired YOU out wit