Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-08-15
BY ROBERT n. MoULToN.

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A AR brought the men Of America to
the camps OF the country. 1t
N brought the women, too--mothers.
wives, sisters. auntS, sweethcarts.
W The government had made It's
plans for the men, but 1t had made
them without thought Of the WON.
en-. Thenflte women came to WIS.,
It their soldier relatives. The camp
commanders looked at the stream Of femininity
coming steadily oward them, and asked what was
to be done. Theu the war department began
TO think of the women, and finally 1t asked the
Young Women's Christian association for help.
The Hostess house was the answer.
Eighty-fve Of these unique establishments
are now either In operation or are definitely un'
der construction. They are put up only at the
direct request of the camp commentaries. Some
of The commanding officers were a little doubtful
at first as to the practicability Of the scheme.
Now these same officers are asking for second
snd third Hostess houses in their environments.
Wherever colored troops are stationed, build.
ings are erected for their use and social wei.
fare work under trained colored leaders Is car
rlol on.
These centers Of hospitality are under the
supervision Of the war departments commits
sion on training camp activities. They are
a part Of the governments war work. The war
work council of the Young Women's Christian
hSSuSlutlUu IIOulOttS tliclh I'D pho mus VA so
assoclation's work for the country In this ma
tonal emergency.
Since women are allowed to come to canton
ments to visit their soldier folk, places must be
provided for their recreation. Camp Lewis at
American Lake. Washington state, Is seven miles
long. Camp Lee, Virginia, contains 10000 men.
Each camp covers acres Of ground laid out In
the bewildering monotony of company streets
-lined with barracks.
Ta- ---.A a A. 4nsnyn tnn nltn II
often extreme. The thermometer went down
to II degrees below zero at Camp Devens, Mass.
last winter. The Kansas mud at Camp
Funston could be put In a mucilage bottle and
used for glue. Camp Doniphan, Okla, some.
times hides itself in dust. And as for
heat 10 summer no visitor has been able to
decide where the thermometer goes the high.
est. The Hostess houses are refugees for the
elderly parents, worried wives, and admiring
friends. whose love Of the soldiers draws them
to the camps
Ono phase alone Of the Hostess house work
would Justify their existence. Each house Is
a directory, a street guide, a map, a telephone
exchange, a finding bureau. and a writing room
for visitors. When q soldier Ia under orders
for France" his family come to bid him good-by
II It Is within coming distance. At one canton
( nent a father. mother and three sisters came
! ~hurrying. Their particular soldier was not al
the entrance where they were to meet him. Lke
! sensible people they went straight to the Host
ass house. There they lenfned that the carI
had three entrances.
The hostess by the aid Of telephone and mes
senger PACED each Of these stations. The maj
was found at one Of them and brought to tn,
Hostess house.
This 10 surely a great improvement on tn
game Of 'cross tag 80 often played by excitet
families with their impatient soldier sons anon!
the barracks. At Balboa Park, Cal. they cal
the hostess 1.-THE lady who finds your friends.
An interesting feature Of the Hostess. hous
as TINT the architects In charge Of the construc
ton are women. Miss Julia Morgan ID on tn
Pacific coast. Miss Fay Kellogg has charge 0
the Southern field. Miss Katherine Budd build
In the middle West.
J. The general plan Of construction ID the same
adapted to local conditions. A large room
usually divided into two parts BY a huge chin
ncy with hreplaces on both sides. In winter
leaning hre gives cheer and warmth. In sun
sacr evergreen branches oil the big stone ooei