davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
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called has been suggested as model for the organization of camp workers in this country. This corps, which was formed shortly after the war broke out in 1914, has been the solution of the problem presented by the employment of women workers in English camps. It has a definite military status and its highest officer is directly responsible to the War Office. The "Tommywaacs' have their own uniforms, sleep in bar racks and live generally the life of the soldier.
 Then, there is the attraction that khaki has for girls which forms an- other problem which the Commission on War Camp Activities and the Y. w, c. A. are working to meet. The Girls Patriotic League has been formed with over one hundred thou sand members extending from coast to coast and it is the object of this league to express patriotism in wom- anly conduct. The league has club houses, and the girls are encouraged to play all sorts of games, take long hikes and devote their spare time to spirited activities. The superintend- ents of manufacturing companies who employ girls and the managers of large boarding houses for girls say this league is just what Is needed and that it renders the girls a definite service.
 It is not an easy task that the Y. W. c. A. and other departments of the Commission on Training Camp Ac- tivities are trying to accomplish. So- ciaI standards are a problem for rapid changes are taking place and ideas and manners need adjustment. The fine manhood of American men and the nobility of American women will surely win the day.
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
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shell fire. It was impossible to move him. I have had his field gear col lected together to save what was val uable and forwarded to the regular depot, from which place it will even- tually be sent to you. He had a trunk in storage which I will try to locate. As I remember it, he had some things stored with friends or relatives in Paris, but I know of no way to find out unless you know.
 "It is useless to try to tell you how sorry I am, I simply can't express it. know how much of blow it must be to you-it is a blow to us all. We have lost one Major and two Captains killed and three Captains wounded in this battalion, so it would seem as if we had had our share.
 Allen did not die in vain-he left his mark, a shining example to all the officers of the battalion to influ- ence their conduct to make them bet ter able to lead to the ultimate vic tory which is sure to be ours.
 Please let me know if I can do anything for you.
 "Your cousin,
 "LittIeton."
 In Belleau Wood, Walter Spearing, of 1532 Fifty-fourth Street, Phila- deIphia, Pa., University of Pennsyl- vania man, who had been one of the first Marines to ship over' received the wounds which caused his death. His comrade in arms had been "Sol'' SegaI, of Alliance, Ohio, barely 20 years old. And when the grave had been filled, "Sol" sat beside it and, upon paper captured from a German dugout, wrote letter of consolation to Spearing's mother that is destined to become classic--in the Marine Corps, at least.
 At the Front, June 26, 1918. Dear Mrs. Spearing:
 There is grief in my heart and in the hearts of all of my comrades for the great sorrow that this war has unite to express our heartfelt sym pathy and condolence to the mother and family of one who has fallen in a cause as imperishable as will be the names of those who have fallen to defend it. Should there be anything my comrades and I can do to miti- gate your grief and to allay your sor- row-some little keepsake of Walt as Marine perhaps; but name it dear lady and it shall traverse the ocean to you.
 Because you do not know me, please do not think it presumptious
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
who miss him greatly.
 With kindest regards,

With kindest regards,
 Very truly yours,,
 Nelson M. Shepard,
 Private 23rd Co.,, 9th M. G. Btn., U. s. M. e.
 "P. .S.-Since writing this, I have learned that among others killed in action, your son has been recommend ed for a Croix de Guerre.-N. M. S"
 With a requiem of whining ma chine gun bullets, two men laid a comrade to rest and placed two crossed bayonets above his rude hewn grave. Then, when the battle had died away, one of them sought paper and pencil that he might write the following letter to Mrs. F. B. Probert, SIP South Whipple St. Chi cago, III.
 My Dear Mrs. Probert:
 Am sending you and your family, the company's sympathy over the death of your son.
 Am glad to say, Mrs. Probert, that Frank, died like a man and a soldier. He was killed about o'clock last - afternoon in an advance. Machine guns were sweeping the fields. It ""' OLe u Iu6Se Ludt SOe u4II'
 Am writing this, for I know there are many mothers who never know how things were at the end.
 Your Frank died in my arms as l was preparing first aid, only a few seconds after being hit. After that, it meant instant death to stand up, so we had to wait for night, but just after dark Private Sheets and I car ried Frank into our lines and buried him. can truthfully say soldier Marine killed in action never had a ! better burial under fire. i His grave is marked by two | crossed bayonets and if come 1 through all right I will be glad to
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05

en come to camp to visit them. Some of these women find work and live in the vicinity and often they cannot speak English. Here the hostess comes to the rescue and the man is sought, told lis wife is waiting and when he can get the time he comes to the hostess house for his visit. This part of the work has grown to such an extent that many of the workers are expected to speak two or three Ian gUages so that they can contribute to the comfort of non English speaking guests.
 Typical Hostess Houses
 General Allen was one of the first to advocate a hostess house at Camp Funston, and it began it's work before the building was completed. No one doubted that it was needed when the record for the first day showed two hundred guests. Here are open fire places, tables for picnic lunches, and a convenient location was chosen not far from the railroad station. and not far from the entrance to Camp Funston. This hostess house cost eight thousand
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
The Most Popular Spof In Camp Is inc HosfessHouse Here Soldier and Visitor Find a Home Atmosphere Where All fire Welcome
Copyright 1918, by The International
 Syndicate.

~ HERE ARE In the United States approximately one hundred and "A fifty military camps and canton &P ments and in them there are at times a million and a half men. They have mothers, wives, sisters, sweet hearts, and often these women desire 10 visit their soldier in camp. How can they do it. The Young WOmen's Christian Association solves the prob lem by providing a meeting place where the soldier can visit with his friends This Association has erected and is maintaining hostess houses in most of the camps. It is but part of what the Y. ". c. A. is doing but it is an important undertaking and the houses are appreciated by sol diers and civilians alike.
 These hostess houses are not alone meeting places for families and friends for they serve as bureaus of information, refuges for persons in distress, and they are places of joy and sorrow. Each house is provided with hostess, a director, a cafeteria director and an emergency worker. It is estimated that nine huAdred thousand dollars will be used in this work and there is a constanU call for hostess houses in those camps which are not already provided with them.
 The hostess horses are headquarters
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
just gone through.


 Nothing that I can say, l know, can console you in the loss of such brave young son, only I want to let you understand how deeply we miss him, who have drilled with him, lived with him and fought beside him. But it may help to tighten your anxiety to know that he died so quickly that there could have been, no pain. And he died at his gun post, like the good faithful soldier he had always been. You have every reason to be proud of him, as I was proud of him.
 "Before we came here he asked me to write to you in the event that any thing happened to him-and however deeply I deplore it, I cannot but help feel that there is some satisfac- ton in meeting death as bravely as he did.
 "AlI the boys liked Fred-he was always cheerful and encouraging when things themselves were not cheerful nor encouraging, and he lived a straight, clean life. You have every reason to feel proud that you were the mother of such boy.
 "Fred's body was buried on the spot where he fell, June 12, in the Bois de Belleau, near the town of Lucy de Sabothe. I trust that his body and those of others of our com rades who were buried in those woods will be reburied when that is possible. Anyway, Mrs. Riebold, it is a fitting place to lie, where one has fought and died.
 Believe me, you have my heartiest sympathy and those of all of Freds comrades in the company. I am sorry l if have re-opened r1cmories by writ ing you like this, but I know you will be glad to know that your son left ] behind him others besides yourself
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
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of our captain to go get that sniper,' Bab' and two comrades went after him on the double. A shell hit just ahead of the three, and a piece of shrapnel killed him instantly. Death was painless and a smile was on his lips.
 "The Bible which I am sending you is the one 'Bab' always carried With him and one that he prized very much. The bill is one someone sent him, and he kept it as a souvenir of the States. I hope these do not cause you added sorrow by their presence. Rather, I hope that they will recall that when the nation called, your boy was ready and willing 10 do or die.
 His was a great sacrifice, but paid at once. But 'Bab's' life has not been in vain; he has only gone before the rest.
 | q feel unable to express my sym pathy to you in your sorrow 'Bab' was my pal. He was like brother I to me and felt his loss keenIy. Trust ing to God that time will ease the pain of the shock, which, by it's sud denness seems unbearable, I remain, "Your Sons Bunllie, Private James A. Flynn,
 "96th Co.,, 9th Reg., U. s. M. C.,
 When Private Frederick Louis Rie- bold and Private Nelson M. Shepard, of the 2Srd Company of the 9th Ma chine Gun Battalion, United States Marines, faced battle, they too made the promise. Riebold fell. Weeks la ter, Mrs. Mary Riebold, 1887 N. Dur ham St. Baltimore, Md, mother of the fallen Marine, received the follow ing letter of consolation from her sons bunkie:
 "My Dear Mrs. Riebold:
 Tn writing you this, I am fulfilling : a wish made to me by your son, short. ly before we went into this battle
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05

build club home and dormitory to care for the large number of girls who have come into this town of less than five thousand inhabitants since the camp was located. This is another problem with which those interested in training camp conditions are strug- gling. It is one of the many problems which must be met for every army camp vicinity employs numbers of girls and women in telephone office, shops, laundries, etc. In few instances have adequate housing facilities been provided and to help these conditions the War Council of the Y. VIC. A. has begun to erect houses where the girls may be cared for in pleasant quarters at nominal expense. They also hope to provide rest rooms in down town centers for women travel ing to and from trains on their way to the camps. This service will be especially appreciated by the foreign born women.
 "TommyWaacs'
 All these features of training camp work are carried on in harmony with that of the Commission on Training Camp Activities, Red Cross and Gov ernment. The advisability of employ ing women workers in the military camps will be decided by a committee of six women and three men. The living conditions of women who are at present working in camps will also be investigated and there is some pros pect that the Y. w. c. A. will not be alone in struggling with this problem but that the Government will provide facilities for their living in the towns near camp. The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps of England or Tom
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05

FEN SPITE of the blood-lust and the
 maddened roar of battle, the
 tenderness within the heart of M man will and must come to the surface. So it is that from the zone of death have come some of the most beautifully pathetic writing of this war of wars.
 In the archives of the United States Marine Corps at Washington, is a col lection of Ietters-letters that later will form the basis of the history of the Sea-Soldiers' participation in the great struggle. And in these letters are to be found masterpieces of sym pathy-the letters written to the mothers of dead comrades, telling their story of sorrow.
 Now and then, before the roar and plunge of battle begin, promise is made between Marines:
 If either of us should faIl-write Mother"
 And when the smoke of the con aict has cleared, more than once dur mg this war; a Marine has haltingly gone at his task of fulfilling that promise. Such a letter was that which travelled from Private James A. Flynn, seth Company. 9th Regi- ment, United States Marines, to Mrs. L. Lehman, 141S Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, H., telling of the death of her son, Kerlin, a letter inspired by genuine tenderness and grief:
 @My Dear Mrs. Lehman:
 ~'Bab,' as everyone knew him, was only boy. But he did a mans work And he did it well. He was liked by everyone who knew him and the news of his death caused a shock to his pals even in the awfulness which fol lows battle.
 We were advancing across a wheat field. Ahead of us, in a clump o1 trees was sniper who was picking nH some of our men. At the command
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
supplied.
Popular Meeting Places

Popular Meeting Places
 Tales without number could be told by the workers in these houses, There is the young man who has only an hour in which to see his mother and sister and who rushes to the hostess house to see if they are waiting fearful fest one precious minute be lost. There is the aged mother who came to see her son and who must lie down before she is strong enough to start for home and there is the young man who wants to see the young woman he is going to marry and who needs a proper place in which to talk with her. Then there is the home cooking which appeals to all the men.
 Not alone American but foreign born women have hailed with grati- tude these hostess houses. Many of the soldiers are not versed in English and their wives, daughters, mothers and relatives want to visit them. Some of these men feel that they have left wife and babies with business matters hastily adjusted. They want to talk affairs over as well as to see the wife and kiss the babies and so their wom-
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
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give you the location, although you may rest assured that France will place a tri-color there. The kind French people will never let the grave die. It shall always be green.
 Am sending his photos and case. It's all his personal property.
 Your true friend,
 Ben R. Roberts,
 Private Sheets and company"
 Private and officer aIike-when death comes to those they love, the thought is of home and of those who will suffer. Thus 1t was that the fol- lowing letter went forward from Ma jor L. w. T. Waller, Jr, to Mrs. Mary Sumner, when Captain Allen M Sum- ner, her husband, was killed in the beginning of the Allied counter-at- tack, July 19:
 My Dear Mary:
 q have been trying to get the chance to write to you for some days but it has been impossible to do any thinsx Now that a few moments have turned up, I want to tell you about Allen; and Mary, please believe me when I say that I am more sorry than it is possible to express at having to write this letter to you. Of course, by now, you will have received the | bare official notice of his death. His end came as he would have wished it, at the head of his company at about 10 A. M on July 19-the second morning of the big allied attack, now still going on. He was struck by a fragment of a high explosive shell in the stomach and died shortly after ward. His death was painless and he was unconscious from the moment he was hit. He was buried about two hundred yards south of the cemetery of the small town of Vierzy, which was about ten kilometers inside the German lines when we started the ad- vance. His grave is marked with a cross and his name and is a matter of record in the files of the S1st com pany.
 Allen was with one of the pIatoons of his company waiting for the sig nal to advance They were under very heavy sheIlfre and he had placed i his men under cover as much as DOS sible while he remained exposed to watch for the signal. He was hit while so doing. His company buried him where he fell under very heavy
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05
"Devotedly, (Si edl nSnl Sacol v

So it is that the archives of the Marine Corps. where are gathered the of letters written home by the fighting Devil Dogs, there is some thing besides history. It is the knowl- edge that even the horror of war can not drive out the love and sympathy that lives forever within the heart of the American
The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-12-05

for me to write. You are Walters mother-I was his inseparable friend and comrade. that makes us two kindred souls in common grief for our nearest and dearest. Then too, this letter fulflls a duty that I am bound by oath and will to perform.
 Many months ago, Walt and l prom ised each other, that, should the God of Battles call to one, the other
 would console the sorrowing mother. Now Walt has gone West to Home and to you forever, but his figure, his voice,
 his wonderful personality will al-
 ways be living truths to me. I, my self, should the great call come, will go gladly, confident of reunion and
 with faith in the eternal truth of that cause for which I die. "Beneath the green in Belleau Woods forever connected with the Honor of the Marines lies Walt with two comrades, dead on the Field of Honor Above their graves the stately pines sway in their grandeur, an imperishable monument. But
 greatest of all epitaphs is that en- graved within the hearts of his com rades. "A man. than whom there was no peer in kindliness, in understand ing, in comradeship, beyond compare. We alone know what could have been, had circumstances so willed it. What ever befaT whatever sorrow fills us, one thirg I swear to you, here hard by that lonely grave-the very paper that I write upon taken in a captured German dugout, I swear that Walt is well avenged, that he has not died in
 vain, for his spirit leads us on to ul- innate victory. You are proud I know, for you are the mother of a martyr
 martyr in holy cause, Freedom and Liberty.
 Dear lady, the very thought that you are in grief tears my heart. Do
 not sorrow, death, after all is not so terrible, and here-Why here it is
 glorious.
 Mother, in the name of tke 2Srd company, in the name of the Marines. I salute you and all my comrades sal ute you.
 "Devotedly,
 (Sfgned) "Sol SegoI."
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-06-28
SWAT THE PROFTTEER

Here is what Herbert Hoover has
10 say about the perniciOus profteer:
No person in the United States has
a right to make one cent more profit
out OF any employment that he would
nave under pre-war conditions.
do not care whether this refers 70
the farmer, to the laborer, 10 the
manufacturer, to the middleman or TO
the retailer. Every cent taken be-
yond this standard is money alb
stracted from the blood and sacrifice
OF the American people.
EXtortionate profits are not neces-
sary TO secure the maximum effort on
the part Of the American people in
this war. If we are going 10 adoDt
that theory we have admitted every-
thing that has been charged against
US of being the most matenalistic, the
most avaricious, and the most yenal
people in this world.
II we are going to admit that the
government, in order to secure the
supreme effort Of its citizens in pro-
duetion, must bride them with money
TO this extra exertiOn, We have adj
mitted a weakness Of American char
acter, OF American civilization and of
American ideals that puts Us on a
plane below German kultur.
Do not mistakS that / am saying
that prices and wages must return to
the pre-war normal, because the incl
dent Of war before we Joined In IL had
lifted u costs Of operation and there
must be compensation in every direc-
ton.
Nevertheless, l hold that any man
who has made more than his neees-
sary living out Of the cost this nation
is giving in the blood Of the boys we
are sending to France should not
stand out as a benefaetOr to his com
munity.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-06-28
THE SERVICE FLAG

Say, pal What Is a service hag7
/ see them everywhere.
There's little stars sewed on them
What are they doing theref
Sometimes there's lots Of little stars
And sometimes just a few.
Poor Widow Jones has only one
! saw her crying too.
My darling boy, those little stars,
Upon a field Of white,
Are emblems Of u glorious boys
Enrolling for the right.
The border, as you see, is red,
Which represents their blood;
The stars are blue, the heavenly hue,
The white is always good.
Each star you see means some brave
boy
Has left his hearth and home
And gone to fight for Freedoms
cause
Wherever he may roam.
So when you see a lot Of stars
Lift up your head with Joy,
And when you see a single one
Pray for some mothers boy.
They go away, those gallant lads,
Across the wreck-strewn sea;
They go TO pledge their country's
faith
For God and liberty.
The Stars and Stripes they bear aloft
To join the British flag,
And, with the colors of brave France,
They mean TO end "Dar TaOb
And soon, my boy, that service flag
Born in the nations heart,
Will show the world that, when un.
furled,
We proudly take our part.
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-06-28
Increase in Pensions.

Washington, June 25. C
gresham w. B. Walton is in Be-
ceipt of a communication from
the Commissioner of Pensions
relative to the new pension law
just passed which will undoubt-
eddy be of interest to the Civil
war veterans of New Mexico.
The commissioners letter is as
follows:
The act of June 10, 1918,
amending the Sherwood pension
law of May II, 1912, provides
the rate of $50 per month for SOL
diers and sailors of any age who
served 80 days and less than six
months during the Civil war and
were honorably discharged, and
who are now receiving a lower
rate. Those who are 72 years of
age, or over, and who served six
months, are entitled to receive
$32 per month; those who served
one year $35 per month; one and
one-half years, 1913 per month;
and two years, or over, $40 per
month. These increases will be
granted automatically, and with
out application of any kind to
the Pension Bureau, to all SOL
diers and sailors now p~ensioned
under the act of May II, 1912,
and who have attained the re-
quired age and served the neces-
sary length of time"
Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-06-28
Solar PIexus Blow for Boot
Leggers in Arizona.

The emergency measure pass
ed at the special session of the
Arizona legislature which closed
last week, providing for the con-
tiscation of automobiles used in
the transportation of liquor is
going to be decidedly effectivein
checking the bootlegging bust
mess. 1t means that hereafter
when a bootlegger is caught on
the road his car, as we'll as the
liquor, is to be taken from him.
This will cripple him almost be-
yond repair.
In the past bootleggers have
sometimes made enough money
out of one trip from Rodeo to
pay for a car, but if every arrest
of a hootlegger in the future
means the conhscation of one car,
it is going to cut down the net
profits to the point of discour-
agement.
Federal officers do the same
thing in smuggling cases.