The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1918-04-11
MRS. DAVIDSON
TELLS EXPERIENCES

Mrs. H. F. Davidson, who spent the
winter in New York eIty with her hus-
band, has returned here with mes
sages for scores Of Oregon mothers
from their sons, who, on the way TO
England and France, have passed
through camps in the vicinity Of the
metropolis. Mrs. Davidson has little
leather bound book that she calls her
soldier book" Ii contains the ad-
dresses of the families of many SOL
diers and messages from men some of
whom are now perhaps on the battle
front. Mrs. Davidson was scarcely
settled in her apartments here when
mothers began to call TO ask about
their boys and hear the interesting re-
citals of New York war work. She
has spent most of her leisure moments
since last August in an effort to add
to the pleasure of and comfort Oregon
boys. When she and Mr.. Davidon left
last year Mrs. Davidson instructed her
friends to write or telegraph her when
she might expect the arrival of Oregon
men at New JERSEY or Long Island
cantonments. and many soldier lad
has been pleasantly surprised by visit
from her and gift of apples.
''0utside my visits with the boys, "
says Mrs. Davidson, zone of the most
interesting things observed the past
winter was in connection with the
postofiice. One day ! visited the Office
with package to be forwarded to a
boy in the expeditionary forces. ] ear
ried my needle and thread along, and
when my package had been inspected |
took out little bag and sewed the
articles securely in it. The postal
clerk remarked that he wished every.
body would be so careful. He then
told me that hundreds and hundreds of
packages, that had been insecurely
wrapped, arrived in the office without
the least scratch of an address. Mr..
Davidson and | happened to be living
in the same apartments with postal
official and his wife, who had. become
friends of ours. ! was interested in
what | had learned, and became even
more so when our friend confirmed it.
He told me that approximately 1896
sweaters and socks, forwarded by rel.
atives and friends. were lying in the
/ New York postoffice unbelievable, be-
cause the wrappings had become brok
en- and the addresses lost. Frequently,
he told me, boys expecting such arti'
cles. would write in an effort to trace
them. In such cases postal officials
would go down to the general heap
and pick out articles corresponding t
the description of the letters.
Lnt - 49,
and socks?' | asked.
''He told me that they would be
kept for three months, according to
law, and that then they would be SOLE
at auction. This didn't seem right t
me. That law, told him, was made
before we had war. Those sweaters
and socks, made with such care ant
love. belonged to our soldier boys.
Finally decided to visit Red Cros
headquarters and tell them about wha
had learned. My visit was evidentl,
effective, for | learned later that th
knitted garments, after the expiration
of three months. would be turned owe
to the Red Cross for distribution
among soldiers.
1--WE have heard great deal of crit
icism of the postal authorities, bu
think they are doing their best i
most instances. We ought to tax
more care with our packages. In tn
case of garments, the names of tn
donees should be sewed to them, an
papers with the names on them. shoul
be placed in socks. Then if the wrap
ers are broken or destroyed. the art
cles can be rewrapped and sent on
Recently Mrs. Davidson has spen
the greater part of her time visitin
Base Hospital No. in New York cit
and comforting Oregon men who ar
there
II learned that Oregon boys wer
there, accidentally, while accompany
ing a friend to the hospital" say
Mrs. Davidson. Since then | hav
called for Oregon boys, and twice
week | have gone out to cheer thei
up. Some of the boys are awful
homesick, and how they hate to see
home caller leave the hosnitalb -