The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1918-03-01

ing efforts of the Secretary, Earn
est w. Owen under whose efficient
and effective administration the
Y. M. C. A. is becoming an i'm
portant factor in daily life of the
regiment. Sunday morning and
evening there are, of course, di-
vine services. Three nights q week
there are movies'-passing good
films shown to the accompaniment
Of appropriate music, sweet, senti-
mental melodies, or jingling rag
time (really the piano does double
duty. AS write there's q show
in progress and the strains Of "Oh
Johnny" come to me through the
clear night air, punctuated now
and then by bursts Of laughter.
On these nights there is always q
crowd fringed with awed villagers,
that makes it necessary to let down
the sides of the tent. The chief
objection that the boys make is
that they cannot read the French
captions, but this may be largely
removed when the French class is
started, Judging by the large num-
ber that have signed up. One
evening past was given over to
classical program at which talent
ed violinist was the principal en-
tertainer. Wednesday evening
each week is delegated as stunt"
night.
Here is a typical Wednesday
night bill. 1t happens to be re-
account Of the events of the open
ing night. To begin with there
were songs. Back Of many Of the
popular songs there is a depth of
meaning that many persons do not
realize. At Mr.. Owens sugges-
tion and under his able direction
boys sang a number of familiar
choruses with spirit that put
real significance into the words.
Pack All Your Troubles in Your
Old Knit Bag" was a good starter
and it took. Il Want Girl just
Like the Girl that Married Dear
Old Dad," then follow "The Long,
Long Trail' = called for and
sung with the proper expression.
Keep the Home Fires Burning
Till the Boys Come Home" was
properly included and many others.
With everyone in good spirits sew
eral individuals were reluctantly
induced induced to go on the plat
form where after taking particular
pains to explain that they were
afflicted with colds. rendered vari-
Gus selections, mostly about Ire
land, in a most entertaining fash
ion and were loudly applauded and
recalled two or three times, from
which fact it might be inferred
that goodly number Of the regi-
ment is of Irish descent. A trio.
next on the program, drew forth
wild applause and cries for more.
Several more songs and some reci-
tations followed and an hour and a
half slipped by almost unnoticed.
The last feature was the able re-
cital Of Bob Services well known
poem 1.-The Spell Of The Yukon.
The piece struck home and in the
tent not SO much as rustic was
heard. The speaker through. Mr..
Owen jumped to his feet and said"
All stand and sing one verse OF
| America. The last notes had not
died away before he cried Nov
like they are doing on the French
and British front let US repeat the
Lords Prayer" And before any
one realized it. scarcely. from many
lips, some Of which had not been
open in prayer for years no doubt.
came the prayer Of prayers. utter
ed with true reverence. It was
over and everyone filed slowly out
into the darkness, freely remark
| ing about the good time they had
had and that the ~" was pretty
good thing. And, no doubt. not
few looked up at the stars above
that night with just bit of thrill.
Such is the work of the Y. M. C.
A. with the 10Th engineers. This
is one Of the nine regiments sent
Ito France for railroad construction.
On the whole. it is made up of a
| fine lot Of fellows. There are
many who know how to do right.
but who need just the things that
the "Y' offers to keep them as
they should be and as those who
are dear to US want them to be.
Again there are those who scott at
the things the organization stands
for and who use it only as it serves
their own immediate needs in a
concrete fashion. Yet this class OF
men, too, whether they realize il
or not, are gradually being reached
- -. l~0:~r von,11lol s.nInr fhc