Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-09
10000 SOLDIER
BOYS CHEERED BY
CANTEEN SERVICE
Harrisburg Red Gross Branch
Furnished Refreshments
to Many Enlisted Men

bers of the Bureau of Canteen Ser
vice, American Red Cross, since the
local committee was organized the
first of the present year.
The people generally of this city
have but little knowledge of the
wonderful good that is being done
by these women for the benefit of
the soldiers, sailors and draftees of
all classes; irrespective of race,
color or conditions. This work is
being now carried on daily in a
systematic manner, and has been so
successful that the citys generosity
has again been heralded from coast
to coast, according to letters re-
ceived by Mrs. Francis J. Hall, cap
tain of the Harrisburg branch.
System Perfected
The committee is part of a state
organization with headquarters in
Philadelphia. By reason of an
arrangement with the railroad COM
panies notice of the time of the COM
ing of the boys is received in ad-
vance. The system is so perfected
that there are no Implications; as
for instance the boys that are met
by the Philadelphia, Altoona or
other committees are not met the
same day in Harrisburg; thus fa-
Vors are equally distributed, al
though the work at the point is more
difficult by reason of the fact they
come from the north, east, south
and west The Harrisburg commit
tee in several instances have met
SIX and seven thousand a week, and
on Monday last gave supplies to 500
colored men from Philadelphia.
It's all worthwhile.
The spirit of the boys on their
way to war is wonderful. True
American hearts all of them, and
every one OF them understanding
the principles of true democracy. To
those of a philosophical turn of
mind who have watched the women
going about their pleasant duty,
handing supplies to the soldiers and
offering them words of encourage
ment, see something deeper in the
work than may appear on the sur
face. Many boy has written a
postal to some dear one before en-
barking for France; perhaps his last
letter bearing the postmark of This
city. Scores of them with troubled
countenances have been made to
smile and become more content by
reason of little cheerfulness and
words of help from a Harrisburg
canteen worker.
Appreciate Postal Cards
Perhaps of all the articles that
are given the boys the postal cards
are the most appreciated. They are
stamped by the local committee
without cost to the senderS, and
since the committee has taken UP
this work in this city, $4,000 of these
stamped postal cards have been fur
nished. The boys are asked to write
home before the trains leave the
station; after which the cards are
censored to see that they do not con-
tain any information that the army
regulations prohibit. The boys are
also given chocolate, chewing gum,
tobacco, magazines, newspapers and
fruit in season. Suggestions have
been made that they be furnished ice
cream, but the great number that
are served in this city and the snort
length of time will not permit this
being done. Not one cent is ac-
cepted from the boys for anything
received by them.
Serve Sandwiches
Arrangements have also been made
with several of the restaura r Is
whereby sandwiches and coffee are
furnished the boys, but this is only
done upon advance advices from
those having the trains in charge.
and the committee at it's own cost
has never and will not turn down a
request Tor anything desired. Ere
quently passengers at the railroad
stations who witness the activities of
the canteen workers contribute 10
the general fund, and only the other
day an old woman whose appearance
indicated she had but little of this
worlds wealth, gave a fe wpennies
to a canteen worker with the remark
that she wanted to do something be-
cause she had her only son in
France.
It's all worthwhile.
Work Has Wonderful Effect
The general effect upon the SOL
dier boys to have some one in a
strange city take kindly interest in
them; offering them words of help
fulness, farewell wave of the hand
as they depart, or some other little
Kindness is ample recompense of
the immense amount of work that is
being accomplished. In several cases
where there had been trouble on
the trains with the inexperienced ed
draftees, the appearance at the sta
ton of the Red Cross workers in
their blue uniforms of veil and gown.
handling them articles with a cheer
ing word and smile, has brought the
men to keener sense of the reallza-
ton and deeper understanding of
that which is expected of them, and
as the trains leave the station, it can
easily be seen that the Kindness
shown is their first great lesson in
this worldly conflict.
Think First of Home Folks
Those who censor the postal cards
and $4,000 of them have been read
are given an insight into the little
secrets, the home life, and the love
cherished for those who were eft
behind. Some of the writings are
pathetic; others humorous, but al
ways the thought is carried for the
welfare of those at home rather
than selfish idea for the writer's
own welfare. OF the thousands Of
postal cards passed upon by the
members of the local canteen com
mittee, a very great majority of
them are written to mothers. but
Dad Is not forgotten. 1t is al
ways asking them not to worry; that
their boy will come back and many
of them express the faith that God
will protect them in battle. Not
Cnca do thaU rnantiop tba daogors