Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-02-07
The Y. M. G. IN. Hut
,cnrsstian Science Ason,torl


not constitute the he-an and the end
all Of the hut at the front. There the
mon 60 for relaxation and such anhllse-
ment ~ may be found in an impromp-
III club. How, some one has said. the
letter writers manage to survive the
clamor and laughter Of tho surround
iMge 10 q puszle, But the clamor ana
the laughter must be positive mental
relaxation after the pounding Of the
big runs and the dropping Of shells
and Erenades at any and every mo-
ment.
It 10 not only, however, at the front
that tho value Of tho hut Is appreciate
ed, though It Is quite possible that It IS
appreciated more there than elsewhere.
II has an immense value In the towns,
In keeping out Of mischief the thous-
ands Of men returning, not merely to
bases. but actually home for their per-
!oa,c leave Hundreds Of thousands OF
men on leave pour into London and
Paris and the other great towns. every
year In this way. II they have no
home, often even II they have, they are
subjected, In an instant, to all those
temptations OF which every great city
is center. Then it Is that day or
night the open door or the glowing
windows OF the hut offer their welcome,
with the result that feet which might,
and undoubtedly would. otherwise be
turned to the public house or the cab
aret find their way to the pure atmos-
phere and the clean recreation afforded
BY the foresight and labor Of the y.
NJ. c. A
These opportunities do not, however.
by any manner Of means exhaust the
usefulness OF the hut In few places,
indeed L. Its usefulness moro felt than
In the camps themselves and in the
great cities and towns in the nedghoor-
hood Of the camps. In these camps IN
America especially. where great armies
are training for the front and In the
towns which the men there training
can easily visit, there IS a peculiar do
mand for the hut. The trenches fur
ntsh an excitement which Is fortunate
" all their own. The man on weeks
leave is generally fully engaged In
finding legitimate or illegitimate
amusement to take the place Of the
excitement Of the front. But the man
In the training camp Is working hard
In the somewhat dreary monotony OF
learning TO be a fighter IN record
time. The terrible excitement Of the
trenches ls not here. and. as a result
cut off from home and from the COM
partnership Of his friends. his outlook Is
liable to become somewhat drao
during the periods given him
for relaxation. 1t - then that
the hut in the camp. or the great build
ings in the neighbortng towns. offer
him opportunities for recreation, the
value of which, 1t Is difficult to over
estimate. Here there are dormitories
where for twenty-five cents he may
obtain a nights lodging In comfort and
cleanliness Here also are gymnas-
iuns, bowling alleys. and billiard
rooms, places whore he can 90 Tor re-
creation without being subjected to all
the Temptations OF drink and those
other temptations which go with drink.
ANYBODY who knows anything about
armies knows that the hardships OF
the maneuvers, and tho dullness OF
harrack life are far moro difficult TO
bear than the inIneaSurably greater
hartlshtps OF active service which, IN
It's very ins!stence, largely nils mems
time. The necessity for the endurance
Of hardshipe, once the campaign opens.
Is a thing no soldier questions but
there u always q certain que0donan6
whether It takes audSols form or not
a. to the necessity Of much that hap
pens on maneuvers or In training
camps. It IS, therefore. IN filling the
spare hours Of the men engaged IN
these training camps and on these
naneuvers that the Y. NJ. 9. A huts
and other buildings arc SO Invaluable