Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-09-20
MOTHER TO THE SOLDIERS.
Splendid Woman Who Thinks Only OF
Their Comfort.

Splendid Woman Who Thinks Only OF
Their Comfort.
| \ hot stove does not appeal to q
man. although he does very much ad-
mire and appreciate what comes from
the aforesaid stove when there's cap
able woman nearby. We are told much
about the worries that our wives and
daughters face at that same stove.
Now from over the seas comes new
stories about a new style OF cooking
by capable women there who are try
ing-and succeeding-in bringing the
, home stove to the men. We are hear
ing through the Y. n. c. A. bulletins
about the American women who are
cooking and baking for the American
boys with their helmets and gas
masks on the shelf. next the baking
powder can: learning Of the casual her
oines who see nothing remarkable In
making hot chocolate in shacks where
the rain and snow come in on them
through the fresh shell-holes in the
roof.
One OF the heroine cooks Is Mrs.
Clara Simmons, who hailed from Graf
ton, near Boston. When the war
broke out she and her husband felt
called to give up all. and signed up
with the Y. NJ. c. 4. He had a lively
experience in Petrograd. escaping
with teapot and a samovar. which
are now working overtime in Vladi-
vostock. Mrs Simmons is in Finance.
Says a recent Bulletin:
She Is as close to the front line
as any woman is permitted to go. For
many days. during the active fighting
just over the hill from her. she was
the only woman In the entire area.
That didn't bother her at all.
The boys wanted hot chocolate, and
she could make 1t. SO there you are.
And there she was.
She is a little bit OF America, OF
American womanhood dropped right
down in the middle OF the fighting
zone. She looks more like home to
the boys than anything in the world.
except letter. She has no pictur-
esque ideas about carrying culture
and uplift to the soldiers. She's there
TO work for them.
She works with q huge mixing bowl
half full OF pulverized chocolate. and
seven or eight open cans Of condensed
milk on the table. On the rickety
stove where the old fireplace used to
be. n great kettle of hot water Is sim
mering. She stirs and pours. and
pours and stirs. till the air Is as frag-
rant as that Of the little candy-s store
at home.
A convoy of camions rumbles past
her door. They are almost at the end
OF their journey. German territory
isn't half a dozen kilometers away
Mrs. Simmons knows that OF course
but she huns, under her breath. at
her work. Then she glances at her
wrist watch, and smiles. She will be
ready for the boys when they come.
While her chocolate Is simmering,
she opens her boxes of cookies and
tfa;sMH Sue 6ffznges heaps ol cake
chocolate and cans Of peaches and
pineapples. She puts out her cartons
of cigarettes and cigars and smoking
tobacco-yes, and OF chewing tobacco,
| for she knows. as well as any one
knows some OF her soldiers are posted
in places where the smallest fash OF
fire would draw bullets.
Even before the hot chocolate Is
quite ready. the boys begin to arrive.
They come in tin hats with gas
masks hanging on their sides. Her
own helmet and mask are on the
shelf behind her.
Hot chocolate ready?" the first one
asks.
"All ready" she says. as she stirs
II with her long spoon. She fills one
of the tin cups from the mantelplace.
"Um-m-m!" says the youngster.
That's good and thick. Give US a
package OF cookies"
Some of the boys stop to gossip
| WITH tHe euse 10 tdheH VA tHSi t"io'
and hunger.
Remember Bill Johnson" they ask
Mrs. Simmons. She does. He was the
boy who always took three cups of
chocolate.
| He won't any more for while"
they tell her. stopped one on the leg
last night"
"Oh, that's too bad" she says. just
the way she would say It at home II
she heard that Jonnie had the meas
les.
That's the thing about Mrs. Sim
mons and such a woman. She brings
to the boys a constant reminder Of the
woman they have left behind. Of their
mothers and their sisters and their
wives. She talks In the most casual
American way about things that are
neither casual nor American.
Fritz drop any shells in here last
night?" some one asked her.
"A few" she replies. as she washes
and dries the empty tin cups. I'VE
/ SlOOu ou thC otSpo anu hASH'
for an hour or so."
After the last of her soldiers has
put on his tin hat and gone down the
hill into the valley from which they
start for their outposts. she begins
talking very simply about her work.
There is not a mother or wife or
sister OF any one Of these boys who
wouldn't give all she has to be where
II am day" she says. Just think
what a privilege It is to talk to them.
and to see that they are well and hap
py, and that their clothes are whole.
Women who know. worry most about
their uncertainties. II / could only
tell the people who are worrying
about these boys how husky and
cheerful their youngsters are! That's
what would make them happy. Every
time get tired. just think how many
thousands OF women would be the
happiest persons on earth II they could
be where I am. Oh. It's great"
N