The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-23

shall, thru whose influence with rail-
road officials, the building of the hut
was brought about. Hussey saw the
work the committee was doing at a
time when he was at the station, and
noted the difficulties the women had
climbing the stairs to their old quar-
ters. The gods were kind in sending
Hussey to the station on a rainy day.
His efforts on behalf of better quar-
ters for the workers began at'once.
The Union Pacific has used several
hundred dollars more in building the
hut than the original allotment pro-
Yided for
The building is made of large,
hewn logs, with the chinks filled in
with cement, making the structure
tight and warm. Prom the flag pole
floats the Stars and Stripes, and be-
meath the national colors waves the
Red Cross canteen emblem. On each
corner of the building is hung shield
bearing the emblem of the commit
tee.
Interior of Comfort.
The interior of the hut leaves Moth
ing to be desired in the way of COM
fort and convenience for the workers
some time in the building between
trains. On three sides of the room
are rows of windows, on>each of which
IS pasted a small Red Cross, and on
the sills are growing flowers and ferns.
A long counter across the south side
OF the room furnishes desk space for
the officers Of the committee, a dis
tributing place of supplies to the
workers. and a storing place OF sup
plies in the space back of the counter.
great stove, like an overgrown big
brother to the friendly old heating
plant of the country school house,
keeps the room at a comfortable. even
temperature. A tank of water boils
perpetually on the top of the monster
heater On shelves at the back of the
room are boxes, labeled according to
the companies that work on different
days, which contain the personal eff
f-cts of the canteen girls
In one corner of the hut is piano
given to the committee for its use by
E. 3. Guild, and victrola, brought
to the hut by Horace Hall. adds its
share to the committees facilities for
esta blishment an electric sewing ma
chine, which the women can use dur
ing the spare time they are obliged
to spend at the hut.
Books and magazines, tables and a
writing desk, and a number Of easy
chairs, complete the furnishing of the
ROOM George Stansfield will provide
table in his drug store where maya
zines can be left for the hut He will
see that the contributions reach the
Work is Systematized.
A blackboard by the door, gives
final instructions to the last workers
t. leave the building In the evening
These instructions constitute a sort OF
final warning to put the cat out and
leave the bath room door open and
shut down the windows.
The hut is wired for electricity and
is provided with city water.
Every morning the company in
charge for the day reports by 1880
o'clock, the members respond to roll
call, and receive instructions from the
officer for the day or the canteen
committee chairman, who is Mrs
Charles L. Mitchell, Then between
trains the girls knit, or sew or visit
obliged to- remain on duty. to make
the trains at the other stations. and to
be ready for work whenever they are
needed.
A crowd of home coming soldiers
found the canteen hut a real refuge
Ole evening, when a group of men
gave up their berths to some wounded
comrades and waited over for mid
night train. And these young fellows
returning from the wars, had before
them a trip all the way to San Fran
cisco. A canteen hut puts it all over
railroad waiting room as place OF
rest for the travelling soldier, and
naturally they prefer to the silent
ticket agent, q group of good looking
committee women who are fired with
patriotic enthusiasm and an ambition