New-York tribune., 1918-12-02
Mysterious Benefactress
Has Kept Regiment in To-
bacco and Sweaters
Name Still a Secret
Gift of $1,000 for Christmas
Celebration Is Her Latest
Aid to Fighters

In France every woman has, as all the
world knows, adopted a soldier for her
own especial care. But it has been re-
served for an American woman to play
"godmother" to an entire regiment
The regiment so favored is the 165th
Infsntry-"New York's Own" tho old
ssth. And now that the enemy has
been beaten into submission the old
69th declares that its chief business is
going to be the ferretting out of this
same "godmother," so that it can clasp
her hand and call her by name and tell
her just exactly what it thinks of her.
For thus far. though the entire regi-
ment has benefited through her kind
ness, she has preserved all the best
Gaelic traditions and remained strictly
and anonym ously q fairy godmother.
Appears When Needed
The only thing the boys know for
certain about her is that. like all really
we'll trained fairy godmothcrs. she in
variably makes her presence felt at just
the timo it is reeded most. The first
occasion was on August 9, after a par
ticularly hard fight, when more of the
UONS were WCuNOcu ana III uCSplIStl
than the old seth to-day likes to re-
call.
Then, through the Ladies' Auxiliary
of the Veteran Corps-or maybe it
was tied to the end of broomstick;
both explanations have their adnerants
she sent $1,000 to be expended on
comforts.
little later she waved her wand
again and there appeared in the hand
Of Father Francis Duffy. the regimental
chaplain, an order to pay for 10000
cigarettes, 1900 packages of chewing
tobacco and 1856 pounds of plug cut.
Then, on September 10, when the winds
were growing cold and the early rains
began to beat in from over the Chan
mel. she sent 400 flannel jackets to the
boys.
$1,000 for Christmas
And now, with the holiday season at
hand and the big adventure trium-
phantly concluded, she has forwarded
another $1,000. to be spent by the regi-
ment In celebrating Christmas "in
whatever way they can get the most
pleasure out of it,
One reason the boys believe they will
ultimately succeed in identifying their
good fairy is because they are per
suaded that both Father Duffy and
Miss Fitzpatrick, of the Ladies' Aux
iliary, although they both smilingly re-
fuse to say word, are IN on the secret.
And like the prosecuting attorneys, the
boys say they have letters to prove it.
Here Is one Of them, written by Father
Duffy in acknowledgment of the first
$1,000:
"Dear Miss Fitzpatrick have just
written letter, delayed too long by our
inoessant campaigning, to our dear good
friend. Mrs. ---, to thank her for
her kindness. Now it remains to thank
you and the other good friends of the
Ladies' Auxiliary Veteran Corps, 69th
Regiment, for your interest in us, and
your successful work in our behalf
"The Acknowledgement has arrived
from the Paris bank of the receipt of
the 1000 donated by Mrs. --. The
tobacco is yet to come; it will always
be welcome.
"The permission to send the 400
sweaters should be obtained from that
side by some of our good friends VINO
arc in touch with military affairs. We
shall be glaf to get them.
81 extend to the members of the
Ladies Auxiliary Veteran Corps the
thanks Of the colonel Of the regiment
and all the officers and men,