The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-10
BY ROBERT n. MoULToN.

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Up yEsTssSE2 AR brought the of America to
WAe&sS 4 the camps of the country. 1t
NA&SAE brought the women, too-mothers.
ExdSSW YIN wives, sisters, aunts Sweethearts.
Kew VI \ The government had made its
MA plans for the men, but it had made
! them without thought of the wom-
en-. Then the women came to Wis.,
it their soldier relatives. The camp
commanders looked at the stream of femininity
coming steadily toward them, and asked what was
TO be done. Then the war department began
to think Of the women, and finally it 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 are definitely I'M
der construction They are put up only at the
direct request of the camp commandments Some
of the commanding officers were little doubtful
at first to the practicability of the scheme.
Now these same officers are asking for second
and third Hostess houses in their environments.
Wherever colored troops stationed build
ings are erected for their use and social well
fare work under trained coored leaders is car
ried on.
These centerS of hospitality are under the
supervision of the war departments commits
sion on training camp activities They are
part of the governments work. The war
work council saof the Young Women's Christian
association promotes them one phase Of the
aSSOcllIlOnS WOrk LOT country III LulS ma
uonal 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.
The discomfort of the camps for visitors is
,fto Tba OTTO wont down
ITO u degrees below zero at Camp Devens, Mass.
last winter. The Kansas mud at Camp
Funston could be put in mucage bottle and
used for glue. Camp Doniphan Okla, some
times hides itself in dust. And as for
heat In 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.
One phase alone of the Hostess house work
would Justify their existence Each house Is
q directory, a street guide, map, telephone
exchange finding bureau, and writing room
for visitors. When soldier Is under orders
for France" his family come to bid him good-by
IL 1t is within coming distance. At one canton
ment father mother and three sisters came
hurrying. Their particular soldier was not at
the entrance where they were to meet him. Like
sensible people they went straight to the Host
less house. There they learned that the camp
had three entrances.
The hostess by the aid Of telephone and mes
senger PACED each Of these stations. The man
was found at one Of them and brought to the
Hostess house.
This is surely a great Improvement on the
game of "cross tag so often played by excited
families with their impatient soldier sons among
the barracks At Balboa Park, Cal- they call
the hostess "the lady who finds your friends"
An interesting feature Of the Hostess house
rs that the architects In charge of the construc-
Ition are women. Miss Julia Morgan is on the
Pacific coast Miss Fay Kellogg has charge OF
the Southern field Miss Katherine Budd builds
IN the middle West.
The general plan Of construction is the same,
ADAPTED to local conditions. A large room Is
usually divided into two parts by huge chin
Iney with freplaces on both sides. In winter
leaping fire gives cheer and warmth 10 sum
Imer evergreen branches fill the big stone OPEN