Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-04-30
Y. NJ. C. A. WORK IN WAR CAMPS
is VIVIDLY DESCRIBED BY
THE0PKfL GRAUER

Theophil Grauer, son of Rev. and
Mrs. E. G. Grauer of this city, who
is stationed at Ellington Field, (an
aviation camp Houston, Texas, in
the Y. M. G. A, describes the army
"Y'' work in a most interesting way.
Following are few extracts taken
from several of his letters in regard to
this great work.
Yesterday our Y. M. c. A. Ford
came, so we now have a benZine
wagon to run around in. Yesterday
l took Mr.. Skeggs to Camp Logan,
which is about forty miles from here,
and of course, had blow out on our
first trip. l amc ertainly glad that we
have the Ford. 1t will come in handy.
The engineers here are working on
a basket ball court and a skinned base
ball diamond now. This will make
about five athletic fields that l will
have to supervise. We certainly have
some good games and some very fine
athletes.
Received a letter from home today,
also the three boxes, which came in
fine shape, all except the one with
the eggs in it. You surely sent me
enough eats to keep me going for a
while. l. also received a cake today,
so l surely am well supplied. The
fellows asked if | couldn't arrange to
have birthday at least once a month.
Tomorrow is my day off, so will
most likely go to Galveston and cele-
brate, probably by going in swimming
1t certainly is hot down here now,
such:a sticky heat, and your under
wear just sticks to you like glue. We
have'a cold shower right in the build
ing just across from my room, and
that thing is in use every night be-
fore we go to bed.
Yesterday we had an accident here
on the field. 1t seems strange that
on most days we don't have any Sc
rious accidents, and then again some
thing happens occasionally.
Five hundred new men came in yes
terday. Our "Y" is a good deal toe
small now. We try to have as many
things outside in order to accommo-
date the crowds.
Anderson and Shannon, both "Y''
secretaries here at Ellington, have
gotten their orders to be ready to go
to France at any minute. The "Y''
certainly must be doing a big work
over there from all you hear and read.
l suppose you think it is rather
queer that you haven't received mail
from me for a while, but it isn't
strange at all. I just came back from
Wednesday I had a sore throat and
in> the evening l had to lie down as
l felt so bad. Thursday the fellows
called a doctor, who called al am
bulance and took me right to the OBJ
servation ward. They gave me 5000
units of antitoXine for diphtheria
which gave me a lovely sore back
Had 103 As fever and must have been
some sick. / can't hardly believe that
l had diphtheria, but any way l am
out of the hospital again, where they
certainly treated me as though l were
Major General, and am back on my
| feet again.
. Tomorrow is my day off, but our
days off are so much like all the other
days, that you can't tell the differ
ence. However, expect to go to
League City, about eight miles from
here and go swimming tomorrow af-
ternoon.
The weather down here is getting
unbearably hot, and the natives say
that this is nothing yet, so you see
what we are up against as far as
| weather is concerned.
Yesterday we had election down
here for Wisconsin men. The poles
were at the Y. NJ C. A. and l was
official ballot clerk. There were nine
fellows from Wisconsin. Most of then
| from Milwaukee and one fellow from
Lacrosse, whom l used to know {
little.
Everything is running along NIGEL!
here. Skeggs, our building secretary
is sick today with a bad headache, anC
says he would like to die. The fac
that nobody asks him not to, add
greatly to his misery. l suppose HI
will stay sick It least until most o
the work is done in the morning.
Tonight we had a movie show;
Japan picture, which was really cleve
and funny.
/ The box of Easter eggs and cand.
arrived Friday. but never lasted unit
today. The eggs were surely in de
mand, and they got here in fairly goo'
shape.
One of my best friends down here
whom l have possibly mentiol55 il
some of my previous letters, left las
night for Los Angeles, to teach fly
ling in some new aviation field on
there.
4 We are getting lot of new mel
in here now. Some of the old one
are leaving for France"
II ION next Tuesday we will give an
other interesting account of 'fY' wor
at Ellington Field. written by MI
Grauer.l