The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-05
Copyright, 1918, by The Ellis
Service.)

lOnQOn.-h req lnQldn from the
Canadian Northwest had gone with
the multitude OF Canadians to the
Eagle Hut. on the Strand. Prob
ably he would not have gone, had
the drift not been that way, for his
feet had become sadly tangled in
london's tirewater. He wanted a
bed, but he also very much wanted
to pay for it. SO two or three times
while the secretary was good-natur-
edly steering poor Lo to the room
reserved for such as he. the liberal
minded soldier insisted upon paying
for his quarters. At least twice be-
fore settling down to sleep, he
emerged to insist again upon pay
ing for his accommodation. On one
OF these sorties the military police
examined his papers and, finding
that he had long overstayed his
leave, hailed him off to less kindly
quarters. Now one OF the minor
problems of the Y. M. G. A. secre-
tary is to know what to do with the
money that belongs to the Canadian
Indian. and that would have been
returned to him when lie sobered up.
Speaking of financial problems,
there was another, which also | tell
only to illustrate the sort of men
who are wearing the Red Triangle
in the service of the soldiers. This
time it was a Scot, mellow, but reso-
lutte. He was going out to make a
night OF it. No arguments or
counter attractions could avail to
prevent him. Would he not at least
leave his money behind? He had his
races aversion to parting with cur
rency, but he was willing to discuss
with the secretary the best means
of concealing it on his own person.
So that secretary, who is in some
quarters supposed to be engaged in
works OF piety himself unrolled the
puttees of the semi-intoxicated sol
dier, and concealed the bank notes
underneath, so that at least the man
would have his money when he re-
turned from his debauch--the spree
itself being limited by the withdraw
al of the larger part of the mans
financial store.
If there is any place short OF
heaven where earth's failingS have
more kindly judgment given than in
the average Y. NJ. c. A. hut for sol
diers | should like to know about it.
Again and again | find myself re-
turning to this Eagle Hut, just to
see practical New Testament relig-
ion in action. While talking with
the secretary one evening our atten-
ton was called to an Australian lad,
near the door, who had become
completely intoxicated; and the sec
retary excused himself while, with
the held of soldier, he gently car
ried the victim of London hospital
itv off to bed. There was 20 cen
seriousness, no aloofness, no phar
asaism about the secretary's con-
duct. He stands in loco PARENTS to
these boys, and is as patient with
them as a mother could be. He has
no false pride, or fear OF being con-
taminated; he is simply taking the
soldiers as they are, and helping
them in any way that comes to hand.
Nor would ! give the impression
that any large part OF the work OF
this American Eagle Hut, on the
Strand. in the heart OF old London,
is taken up with the care OF intoxi-
Gated men. As matter of fact, the
number of these is seldom more
than half dozen a night, and some
nights there are none at all. Drunk
enness among the soldiers is far
rarer here than in Philadelphia or
Chicago. ! merely cite these eX-
treme instances to show the state OF
mind of the workers, who represent |
what seems to me the new mood OF
religion, as it is expressed among |
workers with the troops. This pre-
vailng spirit is surely closer to that
displayed two thousand years ago in
ludea and Galilee than to that which |
has been conventionalized by the
home churches-tflough II emanates
from. and represents. the Christians
Of America and Great Britain.
Where Colonials and Americans
Fraternise.
There are large political meanings,
which it will be time enough to dis
cuss after the war is over. to the
fact that the British colonial troops
and the Americans so readily frater
Mise. This Eagle Hut exemplities
he situation. 1t was built when
there was the expectation that
soldiers would be in Lon
Ion in large numbers. Next to the
New Zealand. or Shakespeare Hut.
t is the largest in the city, and con-
,ededly the most attractive. 1t fol-
owS the general lines OF large, one
,toried wooden building, with vari-
ous wings and extensions. 1t is at
ractively decorated, with a large
.agle as its dominant emblem. There
ire open fire places and easy chairs
md writing tables and few-too
'ew-magazines. \ Quiet Room.
md an auditorium and a restaurant
md 4 large dormitory and bath
'oomS and check room are the es-
.ential features.
While there is usually a sprink-
ing of American soldiers and sailors
present. the most OF the men are
Canadians, with a generous repre-
OF men from the other
overseas colonies. The men them
elves say a hundred times A day.