The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-29
Many Loved Ones Visit Camp
First and Third Saturdays.
Use Railroads, Interurban AM
Autos in Getting to Funston.
TO SEE HOW SOLDIERS LIVE
First. Stop Is Hostess House,
Then Information Bureau.
The Folks Enjoy Visit to Bar
racks Where ~BOy' Lives.
BY sERGr. H. @. BENYvEN.

BY SERGT. H. @. BENYvEN
MAS, pas and sweetheArts'' as well
as mothers, fathers and sweethearts"
flock to Camp Funston on visitors day
to Ssee their Soldier boy who is a
member of the most democratic army
on earth, to find out how he is. how
much weight he has gained or lost as
the case may be. and above all to find
out the conditions under which he Is
living in his new life.
These visitors come from near and
far, and use all available modes OF
transportation, the railroads, inter
urban lines and the automobiles They
arrive early in the morning and stay
until the camp is closed to them. The
first place they stop is usually at the
hostess house, where they can get into
telephone communication with their
boy" The hostess house is on the
north side of camp, at the foot of a
bill, and is in the sweep OF every
breeze that blows.
Stop at Information Bureau.
The second stop made by the vfsi-
tors is the information office. where
they seek a pass admitting them to
camp and to see the quarters OF the
soldiers. This is quite an exciting
moment for the visitors, and in some
cases they want to tell the military the
entire history of their hoy" before
leaving, while others don't want to say
as much as is necessary for them to
obtain a pass.
After the formality of securing
pass has been completed, the visitors
then inquire the direction to the bar
racks of the soldier. These are cheer
fully given and then party after party
depart, going IN as many different d.
rections to the several homes" where
the boys live
Ask Many Questions.
Due to the unfamiliarity with the
contour of the camp, all the civilians
usually have to ask several persons on
the way how to get there and most
of the visitors seem to think that
every soldier they meet on the streets
thru camp must know their boy"
evidently not thinking that this is .
vast community where it is possible
to know but a very few persons.
At last they arrive at the barracks
where the lad lives. They stop in the
orderly room, the place where the
commanding officer of the company
has his office, and ask for the hoy"
The top CUTTER" meaning the top
sergeant, then sends an orderly to get
the boy" who comes in with a grin
on his faIe from ear to ear and all
dressed up like a sore finger. Greet
inSs are passed.
See How ''Boys" Live.
The next step in entertaining the
visitors is to take them to the bunk
iron cot. comfortable springs.
couple of blankets. a couple of COM
forters and usually a wooden box
where his "all" is kept. These boxes
are about three or four feet long.
about foot and a half across and
about foot deep. They carry every
thing that is possessed by The lad.
"a M ha he hor Hot e.
sued to every soldier is next to be in
spected. These bags are made of
rough heavy blue material, strong
and durable. Whenever soldier
moves, his baggage Is packed in his
bag, and it is not an uncommon sight
to see a squad of soldiers packing
their belongings from one barracks to
another in the barracks bag. The in
spection passes on to the uniforms. the
shoes and the other various articles of
apparel that are issued, including the
gun and bayone-
Inspect Mess Kits.
In most cases after the inspection,
which also includes the mess kit of
the so!oier, the family will sit in the
barracks and chat for a couple of
hours or will take a stroll thru the
camp. Every barracks is put in spick
and span condition prior to visitors day
ana everything presents an excellent
appearance.
Dinner hour comes and the soldier
proudly takes the family into the bar
racks mess hall, a large hall with
smooth boards for tables and seats. for
this meal. The best of food is served
on visitors day and many of the COM
pan1es have fried chicken, with all veg
etables that are appropriate to accom-
pany that dish, and a dessert of ice
cream and cake. The family is fur.
n1sbed, in many cases, aluminium mess
kits which consists of a meat platter,
lid. which fits tightly over the plat
ter. knife. fork and spoon and a cup.
The kit il a compact affair and at the
same time sufficiently large to handle
the huge quantities OF food that the
soldiers eat
Parents Go Thru Camp
The afternoon is spent in taking the
parents thru camp. The Zone" as
it is known in camp is one Of the chief
attractions. This is the place where
the soldier spends his pay. Everything
that a soldier needs in the way of
equipment, shaving materials, soap,
and a large variety Of articles are sold.
including nick nacks of every descrip-
ton. The Zone" also has two thea
tiers and a picture show. One of the
theaters runs to vaudeville and the
other to musical comedy.
They Visit Y Buildings.
1t would not be fair to print an