The Washington herald., 1918-09-15

OF the Wellesley College uaIt inst
went overseas last spring. Miss FL
len i. Pendleton. president OF weiie--
ley. has received word from Homer
folk. director Of civil affairs in Paris.
that the Wellesley unit has been
placed at Lyons. where It will work
under Miss Marion Perkins. OF the
Department Of the Rhone. AS work.
ers under the Red Cross. the men,
/. bers Of the unit were put TO work
as individuals, and no one report
can cover their activities for the first
month. Miss Mary Whiting. of Bos-
ton. and Winsted, Conn, leader of
the unit. was put in charge Of the
refugee relief bureau In the Hotel de
Vile at Lyons. Her office Is a room
once occupied by the Empress Eu-
genie. and most Of the work con-
sists in furnishing the families of
refugees with the very simplest fur
niture which will enable them 70 set
up their household in lodgings Sc
cured for them. and, IL necessary,
cleaned and made habitable by the
American Red Cross: the families
contracting TO pay for furniture in
/, ,installments OF 50 much a month ac-
NOi 70 TtsOufCtSs Inc CON-
fusion of tongues and dialects is
simply deafening, as will be readily
understood when II is noted that in
June, for instance, 132 famIlies-near-
ly 500 people-were installed, and not
far from 400 other refugees aided in
various ways. All clothing made by
Wellesley clubs is distributed from
this office.
Miss Harriet Roo Of Ohio. was as
signed as visitor of families Of
refugees In the suburbs and little vii
lagos around Lyons. She writes that
the refugees who are. pitifully. near
ly all women. although they have euf-
fered everything still have their pride
and will not accept gifts. preferring
to pay. IL only a small monthly sum.
for the simple furniture IN which the
Red Cross deals. She tells how one
Of the members of the unit guarded
a package Of ''all-day suckers all the
way from New York TO Paris, and
then to Lyons. And how interest
ing children" who come TO the bu-
reau are given these sweets. often
they have not the memory Of candy.
and the smaller 'repatries' are not
familiar with the taste of sugar.
Sometimes the uses Of the suckers
have had TO be explained to them"
wish there was room for more Of
this simple and moving chronicle.
But there isn't II is most interest
ing in its homely details, and brings
many things vividly home TO one.
But on the other hand there are all
sorts Of interesting things being
done, both here and abroad, for our
allies and for our own. OF the rather
ambitious project Of the Interior De-
partment War Workers. I have al
ready told in an earlier column. It is
pleasure to note the efforts Of
smaller organization which is con-
tributing its mite to the happines Of
the boys who are about to go over.
The Arion Club Of the Signal Corps
and Air Service chartered the steam
er Charles Macalester for Saturday
evening, September IA, and arranged
a moonlight boat trip 10 Indian head
for its members and the workers Of
the War Department The club had
as its special guests as many Of the
convalesoent soldiers from Walter
Reed Hospital as were able to get
passes for the evening.
The Engineer Band from Washing
ton Barracks and an orchestra played
alternately during the evening. An
opportunity was afforded those who
desired it to leave the boat at Mar
shall Hall, take part in the dancing
and other diversions which the amuse-
ment park offers and board the
steamer again on its return trip.
Mrs Fred bennett. who has been
spending several months in New York
City, will return 10 Washington to-
day. Mrs. bennett will be accom-
panied by her son. Midshipmsn Rod
ney bennett, OF the United States
Naval Academy at Annapolis, and
her daughter. Miss Dorothy bennett
who has been attending the Cniver.
sity Of Wisconsin for the past year.
Miss bennett and Midshipman Den.
nett win spend the remainder Of their
vacation with their parents. Mr.. and
Mrs. Fred bennett, at their home in
Washington, 1873 Q street. where
they will be at home to their friends
for the next ten days.
| Ensign n. Rolnick has returned "a
the city after a short stay in New
York. the guest OF relatives.
| Ensign Julian Eiseman, who spent
a short time in town during the past
|